Tinnitus anyone?
 

For those of you who have tinnitus, like myself, from head injury the answer likely rests in that the cochlea of our inner ear has been damaged.

Notch dips on audiograms tend to show hearing loss at certain frequencies. Even if normal hearing is recorded an a standard audiogram the pitch of your tinnitus can be found on a distortion product otoacoustic test.

I thought i would post those who are trying to figure on the reason for head injury induced Tinnitus.

What i find incredibly unusual is posters on this board who claim Tinnitus has vanished after more than 6 months. Spontaneous recovery of hair cell damage usually does not go further than a recovery rate of 6 months and according to most if not all medical research inner and outer ear hair cells do not regrow.

My tinnitus never went away completely, but I do recall it being stronger during my PCS in 2012. It has returned in full force since I bonked my head in early December.

martin82,

From what I have read, they can not directly connect tinnitus to hair cells, at least not for everyone. There are many of us whose tinnitus comes and goes without any understandable cause. Mine will spike after a glass of water or eating something. It can become pulsatile tinnitus for no reason.

I found I can find the pitch of my tinnitus with a piano keyboard. Mine is at about 1108 hz or C#6 or slightly higher.

I think a better subject title could have been, "Tinnitus Almost Everyone" LOL
It is a very common complaint.

It might go away for some within the first week, less probable after a few months.

Did you have an audio test? Did you habituate again?

I like your title Mark..lol.. Tinnitus ALMOST everyone :)

Mark out of curiosity i'm wondering if you had a hearing test? In particular otoacoustic emissions to measure hair cell damage?

My belief is that the shock waves from the impact damage these hair cells similar to the way a blast would. The concussive wave knocks out certain hair cells that control certain frequencies.

As we age we all gradually lose ear hair cells as we age. The problem is that we might lose a few hundred every year however with a concussion we can instantly lose several thousand. As certain frequencies are instantly lost the brain cannot interpret the sounds and thus we are left with squealing, hissing or buzzing.

I would be of the opinion that 99% of post concussion patients with Tinnitus have some form of damage to the cochlea/ auditory nerve cells.

I have had a hearing test. I showed good hearing except a 10% loss in the high frequencies. Nothing out of the norm for my age.

My most recent concussion was extremely mild but it caused an increase in my tinnitus. Since, my tinnitus has increased with no further trauma. The fact that eating or drinking something can cause a spike makes me think it has something to do with blood chemistry.

What do you mean by 'Did you habituate again ?' ?

Hi Mark!

Interesting about the blood chemistry. I never thought about that nor have most doctors.

Habituate is a term used by TRT specialists as a way for people to learn to ignore there Tinnitus.

I'm in the same boat as you Mark. I have 10% hearing loss in the high frequencies which is normal. However when i took a DPOAE (Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions Test) the case was clear. The blow to the right side of my head destroyed the hair cells in the 1500-2000 htz range. The left side perfect however the right side certainly impacted.

If you ever take an otoacoustic emissions test it'll tell you the exact frequency of your tinnitus and where the damage occurred.

Had my incident in January 2014. My tinnitus happened almost instantly. I feel its gotten a lot worse in loudness wise, but im not sure if its that, or just becoming more aware and having the fog lift.

One thing I do notice is hearing fluctuates so much. Not sure why. Somedays my hearing seems "normal" and other days I can't hear anything. Usually I can't hear anything lately though. Also im sure its more of a cognitive thing and not my hearing, but I get what I hear jumbled up. Its like mud almost, i can hear the persons voice but I have no clue what they are saying.

One other thing, people say I mumble a lot now. Not sure the reasons for that though. Just wish the tinnitus would go away. Im about to make a bad joke, but all my good thinking I used to do on the throne is impossible now. Tinnitus takes over. Har har, ok im done.

Really sorry to hear about your accident Kev. At random times for a split second my hearing also goes out in my left ear. Like sound traveling across.

Was your hearing good prior to your accident? I assume you had a hearing test?

Thanks martin.

Nope, been dealing with a quack job neuro since march. Finally seeing a physiatrist tomorrow.

I actually had excellent hearing before incident. Could hear people whispering in the other room with a tv on. Was actually scary good how I could filter sounds as well. Now noises of certain pitches, or mechanical/repetitive in nature overstimulate the crap out of me.

Im hoping that maybe someone can correlate the fluid that leaked a lot out of my ears in the first few weeks and even occasionally now, with the tinnitus and hearing issues.

Hi Kev-

In your case with fluids leaking out it could be Hydrops. Do you have balance issues? Another thought is perilymph fistula if you experience dizziness.

Regardless get to an ENT and ask them for a standard hearing test AND otoacoustic emissions.

You'll quickly get to the root of your tinnitus.

Yes, i have really bad balance issues that im in physical/vestibular therapy for.

Tinnitus is a very common symptom after a TBI.

Even though people say it might never go away, it might greatly reduce in intensity and after recovering more and more you should notice the Tinnitus less and less. Just be patient.

Thanks,
-ProAgonist