Tinnitus

Disclaimer

The information contained within this page is for informational and educational purposes ONLY. The information here is NOT intended for diagnostic purposes. Please consult with a health care professional for a diagnosis.

Information

Tinnitus is the ringing of the ears. It can occur in one ear or both ears. The noise can be constant or intermittent. There are many causes of tinnitus, including prolonged exposure to loud noise, misalignment of the jaw, fatigue, and stress. There is no cure for tinnitus.

My Experiences

I have not been officially diagnosed with tinnitus. But, from what I've read and experienced, I know that I have tinnitus. I just need to get a referral to see an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist).

Tinnitus affects my right ear and is usually intermittent. Since late 2000, I've noticed that the ringing in my right ear is becoming more frequent.

I first noticed a ringing in my right ear in August 1999. I had been working some long hours at work for nearly four months. In August, I woke up one morning to find my right ear was ringing. I could hardly hear. People sounded far away when they were talking. I couldn't hear even talking from a short distance away. This went on for two or three more days.

During October 1999 while experiencing a bout of tinnitus, I thought that I was going crazy with the noise in my ear. Thus I started doing some research online about tinnitus.

From August 1999 to January 2000, I had at least five bouts of tinnitus. I worked a lot of overtime during that period. But, none of the bouts prevented me from working.

I still have bouts of tinnitus but nothing like I experience between August 1999 and January 2000.

In April 2000, I had another flareup of tinnitus. I find that it is more annoying than anything. It really affects my ability to hear well.

Since April 2000, I've had a few more bouts of tinnitus. The ringing in my right ear is becoming more frequent. I think that fatigue as well as stress causes my tinnitus.

As of October 2001, I still continue to endure bouts of tinnitus. I just had a bout of it within the past two weeks.

I find that my tinnitus is caused by fatigue as well as stress. I try to get as much rest as possible. I also try to reduce the amount of stress in my life.

Links

A good page to check out is the Tinnitus FAQ.

American Tinnitus Association
Tinnitus Association of Canada
British Tinnitus Association

Please feel free to email me with links to information and/or support for people with tinnitus.