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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Tinnitus / October 2004A hypothesis ?
Ben's comment about hearing aids making his T worse whereas they make mine better, got me trying to sort out some thoughts I've been having about tinnitus for some time. I hope the medically-qualified here will comment on what I'm going to say - I don't mind at all if you shoot me down in flames - I can only learn something... Could there be two major classes of tinnitus ...?? 1) 'Front end' tinnitus. Typically: associated with damage to the cochlear hair cells, caused by exposure to excessive sound levels, tends to be associated with hyperacusis, made worse by the use of hearing aids, usually concentrated on one hearing side only. 2) 'Back end' tinnitus. Typically: associated with disorders of the hearing processing system, ie mainly in the auditory nerve and auditory cortex, caused by muscular shock or tension in the neck, blood supply disorders, unknown causes, neuroma, not associated with hyperacusis, improved through the use of hearing aids, often central or binaural in perceived origin. Ideas ? Comments ? Steve O > Ben's comment about hearing aids making his T worse whereas they make mine > better, got me trying to sort out some thoughts I've been having about [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > often central or binaural in perceived origin. I think your comments are very astute. I just got a BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) recently for single -sided deafness (caused by a failed stapedectomy) and the use of this device has caused my tinnitus to increase in intensity to a level that is very disturbing. To make it even worse, once the BAHA is removed I still retain the incredibly high pitched tinnitus!!This is quite contrary to my oto-neurologist reassuring me that the BAHA could only help reduce my tinnitus and actually cause a residual inhibition once the device is removed for the day. Talk about being in shock the first day of wearing the BAHA and finding that it actually IS making the T worse!! So that tells me either I'm crazy or that there are actually types of tinnitus that will respond differently to treatments. frank > > Ben's comment about hearing aids making his T worse whereas they make mine > > better, got me trying to sort out some thoughts I've been having about [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > So that tells me either I'm crazy or that there are actually types > of tinnitus that will respond differently to treatments. So has your worsened tinnitus reversed itself yet once the device is removed? Have you wore anything that I posted on SoundidEars? They are using hearing device too. FP ================================= > frank In my book there are 2 kinds of tinnitus. Those induced by muscular tension - which is probably over 90% of the tinnitus population. And those with real ear damage of some kind. Which is probably less than 5% of the tinnitus population. Unfortunately most of the 90 percenters think they are in the 5 percenters group. There is a great site at http://www.yts.se/english/index.htm Tinnitus is a pain in the neck Elly's Tinnitus Resources http://eebee.net/ For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net >Ben's comment about hearing aids making his T worse whereas they make mine >better, got me trying to sort out some thoughts I've been having about [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > >Steve O Elly Byrne <elly@eebee.cjb.net.noway> top-posted: >In my book there are 2 kinds of tinnitus. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >>Could there be two major classes of tinnitus ...?? In my book there are two kinds of people with tinnitus: those who feel there are two kinds of people with tinnitus and those who don't.  SignatureJim Chinnis / Warrenton, Virginia, USA Want to discuss Meniere's? See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenieresDG Quoting Elly. >In my book there are 2 kinds of tinnitus. I am not the only one who thinks so. http://www.yts.se/english/index.htm Tinnitus is a pain in the neck Elly's Tinnitus Resources http://eebee.net/ For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net > 2) 'Back end' tinnitus. Typically: > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Ideas ? Comments ? I wouldn't dream of trying to shoot you down, but despite my aids making my T worse, I seem to fall under this group, which rather disproves your theory as far as I am concerned :( Ben > I wouldn't dream of trying to shoot you down, but despite my aids making my > T worse, I seem to fall under this group, which rather disproves your theory > as far as I am concerned :( Ben, as posted in reply before (7th Oct), do you know whether the audio response your digital aids were peaked to match - and thus cover up - your tinnitus frequency or they were just giving a general boost over all sound frequencies ? This could be crucial since if for example, I try feeding in a _wide-band_ masking noise this aggravates my own ('back-end' type) tinnitus too. BTW is your tinnitus affected by neck & jaw positioning - as is mine ? If so, this is symptomatic of muscle tension playing a role, re: Elly's comments, and I would think this is associated with the 'back end' type. I'd be surprised to hear of any 'front end' type (hair cell damage) tinnitus also being affected this way. Gets complicated - still trying to learn ! Steve O >> Ben, as posted in reply before (7th Oct), do you know whether the audio > response your digital aids were peaked to match - and thus cover up - your > tinnitus frequency or they were just giving a general boost over all sound > frequencies ? This could be crucial since if for example, I try feeding > in a _wide-band_ masking noise this aggravates my own ('back-end' type) > tinnitus too. My aids were/are programmed to match my hearing loss - high frequency. > BTW is your tinnitus affected by neck & jaw positioning - as is mine ? If > so, this is symptomatic of muscle tension playing a role, re: Elly's > comments, and I would think this is associated with the 'back end' type. I am 99% sure tension (general) and muscle (jaw clamping) do have some effect on my T, however, I can't change the tone or the T just by clamping my jaw, as I believe some folk can. I can lie down on my left side and it goes away - honest! I can't lie down all day though, can I? :( Ben I simply do not see anyone whose tinnitus is made worse by hearing aids. They can be improperly fitted and then sound is unpleasnat. But that is not the same as making the T worse. at least 80% of those to whom we recommend hearing aids for T get benefit. Another problem is that illnesses change. If Mr Jones had not had the aids his condition might have worsend too, without the aids. There are lots of anecdotes on the net, including the one that - after I started using the Widex aids, my dog died, but my brother used the Belltone and his dog is fine. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com > I simply do not see anyone whose tinnitus is made worse by hearing aids. Thank you for telling me this. I don't think I am going to use a hearing aid. I am doing just fine. > They can be improperly fitted and then sound is unpleasnat. But that is not the same as making the T worse. at least 80% of those to whom we recommend hearing aids for T get benefit. IN A NUTSHELL, would t be made better or worse by hearing aids? Is there anyway to tell ahead of time? Tks., FP ================================ > Another problem is that illnesses change. If Mr Jones had not had the aids his > condition might have worsend too, without the aids. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Murray Grossan, M.D. > http://www.ent-consult.com > I simply do not see anyone whose tinnitus is made worse by hearing aids. Sorry no photo, but here I am! Ben :) > I simply do not see anyone whose tinnitus is made worse by hearing aids. > They can be improperly fitted and then sound is unpleasnat. But that is not the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Murray Grossan, M.D. > http://www.ent-consult.com Maybe my situation is more unique or different because my hearing aid is not a traditional/conventional air conduction type - mine works by bone conduction transferring sound from my deaf side through my skull to my "good" ear. I'm wearing my BAHA (bone ancored ha) right this moment and the tinnitus is definitely higher in intensity with different sounds (snap, crackle, and pops)that I never had before.Is the bone conduction sounds causing my brain to react in the same way that sudden unexpected noises would cause my tinnitus to soar????? frank |
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