Mine is most likely from cumulative exposure to loud noise w/o protection before I was 20 (power tools, firearms, fireworks, live rock, punk, & heavy metal, etc.). That or the time I had a bad ear infection with a perforated ear drum (possibly cause by a Cacophony show in a little dive bar).
I used to hear my own pulse, especially when I would meditate, but no chance of that now, with my constant companion high pitched whine.
Stress, excessive alchohol, loud noises, or extended use of earplugs as noise suppression are all sure fire ways for it to make it more severe, but at least the latter isn't as bad, helps avoid the effects of loud noise, and usually the levels go back to "normal" soon after. Excessive alcohol is easy enough to avoid, so that just leaves stress. That's ... less easy to avoid.
Sorry to hear about your particular affliction. At least if it were just one sound it'd be a little easier to occasionally mask or tune out.
One thing that happens to me during particularly bad flare ups (like right now -- is it just me or does thinking about it make it worse?) is that I think I hear things nearby, but it's either mishearing something faint or complete audio hallucinations. One annoyance on top of another!
And yes, the best time to start wearing hearing protection is before your first exposure to potentially damaging noise, but the next best is now!
Yeah, me too.
Mine is most likely from cumulative exposure to loud noise w/o protection before I was 20 (power tools, firearms, fireworks, live rock, punk, & heavy metal, etc.). That or the time I had a bad ear infection with a perforated ear drum (possibly cause by a Cacophony show in a little dive bar).
I used to hear my own pulse, especially when I would meditate, but no chance of that now, with my constant companion high pitched whine.
Stress, excessive alchohol, loud noises, or extended use of earplugs as noise suppression are all sure fire ways for it to make it more severe, but at least the latter isn't as bad, helps avoid the effects of loud noise, and usually the levels go back to "normal" soon after. Excessive alcohol is easy enough to avoid, so that just leaves stress. That's ... less easy to avoid.
Sorry to hear about your particular affliction. At least if it were just one sound it'd be a little easier to occasionally mask or tune out.
One thing that happens to me during particularly bad flare ups (like right now -- is it just me or does thinking about it make it worse?) is that I think I hear things nearby, but it's either mishearing something faint or complete audio hallucinations. One annoyance on top of another!
And yes, the best time to start wearing hearing protection is before your first exposure to potentially damaging noise, but the next best is now!