High frequency hearing loss.

[mommysboy]

I'm getting to grips with a lot of long standing issues that I have been reluctant to deal with. But I am losing my fear of tests or illness, so went to the hospital today to kick off a few tests.

One is my hearing. I suffer from mild tinnitus in my left ear. I was not surprised to find I have high frequency hearing loss. But am mystified, I don't really feel bothered by it.

I didn't get much advise, am I right in saying I just live with it?

[attrayant]

Yes. I have it pretty bad in both ears, but most of the time can ignore it. It's usually caused by broken sensory nerve endings (often referred to as hairs) in the cochlea. The damage is interpreted by the auditory nerve as a genuine signal, which your brain registers as sound.

White noise can be used to mask it if you're having trouble sleeping. I think some hearing aids also generate white noise, which might be worth trying in extreme cases.

I try to keep an ear out for the latest in tinnitus research, but don't see anything positive on the horizon.

Perhaps the best advice for you, since you've only got a mild case, is to protect your hearing from this point onward. I keep earplugs in a small case in my pocket because Thailand seems to love turning the volume up to 11 on everything.

Edited June 15, 2015 by attrayant

[mommysboy]

Yes. I have it pretty bad in both ears, but most of the time can ignore it. It's usually caused by broken sensory nerve endings (often referred to as hairs) in the cochlea. The damage is interpreted by the auditory nerve as a genuine signal, which your brain registers as sound.

White noise can be used to mask it if you're having trouble sleeping. I think some hearing aids also generate white noise, which might be worth trying in extreme cases.

I try to keep an ear out for the latest in tinnitus research, but don't see anything positive on the horizon.

Perhaps the best advice for you, since you've only got a mild case, is to protect your hearing from this point onward. I keep earplugs in a small case in my pocket because Thailand seems to love turning the volume up to 11 on everything.

It's mild thankfully, sometimes not at all.

But it is the high frequency hearing loss I am a bit concerned about, not that bothered though.

I can't hear any sound over 6000 Hz.

Is it likely to worsen ? When I was younger I went to heck a lot of loud concerts, Queen for instance used to really belt it out, sometimes couldn't here properly for a couple of days.

[faraday]

I got the Tinnitus also & some High Frequency loss in one ear. Don't really notice much difference with hearing things...but then if I can't actually hear them, how would I?

Tinnitus doesn't really bother me too much, but wish I didn't have it.

Had it about 5 years, hasn't changed.

[Sheryl]

Certainly if it doesn't bother you then just live with it. Most people have some decrease in hearing acuity as they age.

[Suradit69]

Certain pain meds like Celebrex or Ultracet seem to make the tinnitus worse for me when I take them. But even then if I don't think about it, it's easily masked by other sounds in the environment. Saw a doctor to check on it, but he essentially said there's not much that can be done about it.

[ezzra]

It could be a blessing in disguise if you're married to a screaming shrew... the silver lining

if you like.... you can always pretend to hear her...

[AlQaholic]

Yes. I have it pretty bad in both ears, but most of the time can ignore it. It's usually caused by broken sensory nerve endings (often referred to as hairs) in the cochlea. The damage is interpreted by the auditory nerve as a genuine signal, which your brain registers as sound.

White noise can be used to mask it if you're having trouble sleeping. I think some hearing aids also generate white noise, which might be worth trying in extreme cases.

I try to keep an ear out for the latest in tinnitus research, but don't see anything positive on the horizon.

Perhaps the best advice for you, since you've only got a mild case, is to protect your hearing from this point onward. I keep earplugs in a small case in my pocket because Thailand seems to love turning the volume up to 11 on everything.

Yes I have it too in the left ear, kinda of mild.

Once you realize how incredibly small the cochlea is you will understand the difficulty in diagnosing and fixing the problem. I just live with it and as Attrayant, I also keep an eye on tinnitus research.

There can be numerous other causes for tinnitus than what is mentioned already. I have a peculiar heart condition where the heart occasionally skips a beat (takes a rest) and when that happens the tinnitus sound stops completely. That has lead me to believe there is some connection (in my case) between blood pressure or blood flow in vessels near the cochlea. Or I might just be experiencing a malfunction in the ear due to loss of blood flow, I'm not a doctor.

A few years back my brother in law started to have tinnitus in both ears just like that out of nowhere. I think tinnitus is more common than people think, it is just not talked about very much, because those who do not have it cannot understand it and someone who have tinnitus appears otherwise healthy.

I am just lucky I have it in only one ear. I can still hear OK with 50% hearing loss in the left ear.

Many musicians (famous once) have tinnitus and it is believed to be caused by constant loud noise.

There is a tinnitus center in Bangkok Pattaya hospital I think.

Edited June 17, 2015 by AlQaholic

[dotpoom]

I'v had Tinnitus for 49 years now. Sometimes the "noise" in my ear (left I think, got it from firing the rifle on the ranges during my time in the army, no ear protection in those days, but I was right handed so would have thought it would be my right ear that would have been affected) gets really bothersome and of late seems to be getting worse. I have always needed a radio or TV on to get to sleep. I miss the sound of Crickets at night time. When in company and there's background "clutter" noise I cannot hear what a person is saying to me. I find myself nodding in agreement and sometimes I get an odd look and realize I have just agreed with something that i obviously shouldn't have.

I remember in the early days when I wanted to learn all about it I came across famous people who had it. One confessed to almost committing suicide to get away from the "noise". (like tuning between stations on a radio).

Edited June 17, 2015 by dotpoom

[MrBrad]

Here's a fun little experiment to gauge your hearing loss. Use headphones, and test each ear individually as well as together. Caution: turn the volume down to begin with, and increase it as necessary.

It's true that as we age, hearing high-frequency sounds diminishes--for all of us. Ask someone younger than, say 20, to check his or her hearing with this same test. You'll be amazed. (Often kids will have a high-frequency ring tone on their cell phone so that their parents or teachers cannot hear their phone ring.)

http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/can-you-hear-this-hearing-test/

Edited June 17, 2015 by MrBrad

[neeray]

About 25 years ago, I was doing hobby woodworking and borrowed a router from a friend. I had my head down close to the screaming machine so I could see what I was doing, dahhh. The next day, I had this high pitch squeal in my ears, a noise much like a million crickets in a field would make.

Then I noticed my hearing had decreased but not seriously enough to wear aids.

When the squealing started, I felt like my life was over. Do I really want to live like this ?

But after a decade or so, I guess I learned to tune it out. Actually, I seldom hear it anymore (at least not as loud as I used to). The loss of hearing never got any worse. Fortunately, I do not visit bars and taverns because when there are competing sounds, that is when my hearing shows worst.

And accents pose a problem; and here I am engaged to a heavily accented Thai lady, ha ha.

So just learn to live with it as there is no cure.

Best of luck and health.

[Anon999]

You do not say which hospital you consulted. Bangkok hospital have a very good ENT department and provide proper testing and consultation with one of their specialist professors. One of the leading providers of hearing aids is Eartone, they have 3 offices in BKK and are the Phonak distributor but have other brands too. Avoid the many and various consultants who often consist of a one man and his dog operation and quote you prices that are extortionate.

Best of luck.

[quandow]

It's all a part of the aging process. I've been a musician since I was 4, just turned 58, and wore hearing protection at every gig. My fellow musicians used to laugh at me, who's laughing now?

I also taught music and recording techniques at Regent's, and part of my audio lessons were playing different frequencies to see who could hear what. Above a certain level, people past the age of 40-ish can't hear it. Kids used to be smart and would set their ring tones at that frequency so old people wouldn't know they were getting a call. I believe most youth are too stupid or just don't care any more to bother.

[sprq]

Recommendation: Bangkok Hospital Hearing Centre (Rama 9, Bangkok), Dr Apinan, a sympathetic veteran specialist.

[timmyp]

I have had tinnitus since I was a kid. I just ignore it. Because I am thinking about it now, I am very conscious of how loud it is, and that is unpleasant. It is several different frequencies in both ears. But in 10 minutes I will be able ignore it again. I dislike silence, because I become very aware of my tinnitus. I prefer at least some white noise in the background, such as a fan or children screaming.

I'm totally kidding about the children screaming. But white noise is good.

Protect your ears. I should really do a better job of this... Thailand is ridiculous about loud music at shows and events. I think they will get more sensible as appeal of the unbalanced subwoofer and volume for the sake of volume fades.

Wear earplugs. People will think you are being silly, but you really need to protect yourself, just like insisting on a helmet when taking a ride on a motorcycle taxi. Everyone will think you're paranoid, just let them think that. Incidentally, all serious drummers and sound engineers I know in the U.S. use earplugs, usually custom-made in-ear filters or monitors. In Japan, I only met a handful of engineers and drummers who protect their ears, and I lived there playing music for about 15 years. I've never met a single sound engineer or musician in Thailand who uses some kind of ear protection (I'm sure there are some, I'm not that social with musicians here).

Like everyone is saying, high frequency hearing loss is inevitable with age. In a hearing test I took, I got rated as being 50-55 when I was 40. Not so horrible, but worse than it should be. I probably listen to music too loud when exercising, and I should do a better job of protecting my ears at shows I attend.

Incidentally, I usually use clear ear plugs, so that people can tell that I'm using them. This is insecure and silly of me, but I avoid having to defend my choice to protect my ears.

[mommysboy]

Thanks for all the answers. Just to reiterate I am more concerned about the high frequency loss. I did an online test. My hearing cuts out at 6000HZ, that is pretty poor, but thankfully still above all normal sounds such as talking, tv, telephone. So that is why I am unaware and unbothered.

Hopefully, it won't progress, and I will certainly avoid loud music in bars, etc.

[attrayant]

Incidentally, I usually use clear ear plugs, so that people can tell that I'm using them.

I think you meant to write "can't tell". Mine are bright day-glo orange. I want people to know when they're being loud to the point of obnoxiousness. Hopefully my bright orange earplugs make the statement.

[misterphil]

These worked for me. Only issue is you have to take them everyday forever or the tinnitus comes back within a few days.

Lipoflavonoid

[timmyp]

Incidentally, I usually use clear ear plugs, so that people can tell that I'm using them.

I think you meant to write "can't tell". Mine are bright day-glo orange. I want people to know when they're being loud to the point of obnoxiousness. Hopefully my bright orange earplugs make the statement.

Yes, you are totally right, I meant "so that people canN'T tell that I'm wearing them." I caught that later, but the "Edit" option was no longer available.

I understand you're approach. So far my comments to my band-mates and others that "loud is good, but it doesn't have to be SO loud, can't we just take it down a notch or two?" are just met with mockery. It seems to me there is something about living in Thailand that really brings out the teenager in alot of expats.

So I take the secret non-confrontational approach and wear my secret clear earplugs.

[Yooyung]

I played the drums for the age of 13 - 26. I played in all kinds of bands including some pretty heavy ones....baby. I rarely used protection......I was young and it was rock and roll!! I now have tinnitus I used to love the power of the drums, the noise but its f*cked my hearing good and proper. These days I play the guitar. At night I go onto Youtube and stream things such as 'sounds of the ocean' or 'rain on tin roof' to get to sleep. These sound files go for a full 8 hours. They help, but dont listen to them too loudly!!!

[newarrior]

I have had tinnitus, hyperacusis and hearing loss for 19 years..All are getting worse

My regimen

37 db ear plugs for loud places

30 db Foam ear plugs for emergencies when I don't have the good earplugs

25 db plus customer molded to my ear canal that allow for speech

Gingko biloba 2x - 2x a day for tinnitus

An amino acid for hearing loss prevention

Melatonin for sleep and tinnitus

White and pink noise for sound enrichment, tinnitus and hyperacusis

Regular massages

Diet high in anti oxidants

No alcohol

No loud places

Daily exercise

Stress reduction

Counseling

Regular visits to an ENT

Bioflavanoids

Lots of omega fatty acids

Ginger

Daily multivitamins

Frequent baths

Vegan diet with fish

Lots of veggie and fruits

[newarrior]

You do not say which hospital you consulted. Bangkok hospital have a very good ENT department and provide proper testing and consultation with one of their specialist professors. One of the leading providers of hearing aids is Eartone, they have 3 offices in BKK and are the Phonak distributor but have other brands too. Avoid the many and various consultants who often consist of a one man and his dog operation and quote you prices that are extortionate.

Best of luck.

Will they replace and repair the aids if I damage or lose them ?

[newarrior]

These worked for me. Only issue is you have to take them everyday forever or the tinnitus comes back within a few days.

Lipoflavonoid

I have heard good things about them !

[newarrior]

I have had hearing loss, balance issues, tinnitus and hyperacusis since 1996....My biggest concern regarding moving to Thailand or Asia is the noise..I wear customer $200 earplugs and still the noise can be too much...I don't know how these middle aged and elderly expats can stand around bars and blast their bodies with loud noise and alcohol...I stopped drinking over 20 years ago; would rather exercise.......Back to the ears--I am an expert..I've been treated by some of the leading researchers in the world...Happy to answer any questions regarding this serious subject.