Why's it so loud in here?

Gallen · 06-10-2007, 09:54 PM

This may sound like a silly question (no pun intended), but do most deaf people "hear" phantom noises?

I could hear well for over 40 years, and I guess my brain still thinks I can. All day long I get constant but random snippets of songs in my right ear (Jethro Tull, Mozart and Glen Campbell just in the last hour). Often I get what sounds like weak AM radio reception in my left ear at the same time. But when I get tired is when thing really get annoying. The more tired I get, the louder the background white-noise roar becomes. Eventually as I get sleepy enough to go to bed, any motion or physical contact sets off a painful sound explosion in my head so intense that if my eyes are closed I will see a flash of white. I wouldn't mind being deaf so much, if I actually couldn't hear anything!

Does this happen to anyone else? I'm wondering if it might be one of the many medications I need (transplant recipient, nine months ago).

Thanks

sr171soars · 06-10-2007, 10:44 PM

Sounds like you have tinnitus (use google to find out more). It is a very common problem among those with hearing losses. One theory why it occurs is that the cochlea has been deprived of hearing and therefore generates it's own "sounds" to make up for the lack thereof. Another is that the cochlea is damaged and therefore generating phantom "sounds". Another idea is certain medications can bring it about or enhance it. You might want to check that out with your doctor. Most people if they have it, have a mild manifestation of it.

Sorry to hear that you have a very bad case of it.

deafskeptic · 06-10-2007, 11:33 PM

Or it could be musical ear syndrome. I had that before I got implanted and I'd hear things like Beethoven, the radio and what sounded like someone speaking on the radio. This is fairly common for those with little auditory simulation and it used to drive me crazy when I wasn't wearing my HA. For some reason, I haven't heard from my unwanted radio station since I got my implant.

No, you're not going insane if you're hearing things like that.

Aleser · 06-11-2007, 12:43 AM

As far as I know, the cyclosporin or whatever you're taking wont induce hearing loss, but the antibiotics you're on or have been on might, which yeah, can include (for me anyways) hearing random buzzes and bits that don't happen to be there. My own hearing loss is from Tobramycin, which I'd been using inhaled for several years before the problems became "out there".

Just wondering, what'd you have transplanted, and why?

Hear Again · 06-11-2007, 01:41 AM

I'm sorry you're experiencing this...

My CI surgeon explained that when the body loses a sense (such as vision or hearing) it compensates by creating false visual images or auditory sensations.

A friend of mine who became totally blind (after having normal sight) told me she saw all kinds of flashing images as well as random letters, numbers and colors.

After both of my CI surgeries, I experienced many of the same symptoms you describe (I heard 70s/80s music and people talking) which was extremely LOUD. I also heard several different sounds (a car engine turning over repeatedly, ocean/whooshing sounds, a freight train, high pitched beep tones, high/medium/low tones) that alternated between each other. Not fun.

I'm happy to report that the music I heard (and my bilateral tinnitus) has improved significantly and is something I can ignore 95% of the time.

I have a list of medications that cause musical tinnitus on my computer and will see if I can dig it up. If I can find it, I'll post the information here.

R2D2 · 06-11-2007, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallen

This may sound like a silly question (no pun intended), but do most deaf people "hear" phantom noises?

I could hear well for over 40 years, and I guess my brain still thinks I can. All day long I get constant but random snippets of songs in my right ear (Jethro Tull, Mozart and Glen Campbell just in the last hour).

I was born deaf but my residual hearing decreased significantly in October 2005. After that, I experienced the musical sensations that you describe. It's basically a by-product of sudden hearing loss. Eventually after a few months it was replaced with just a constant roar, like a Boeing 747.

There is a theory that when you lose your hearing, these sort of sounds are created by the brain to keep the hearing nerve stimulated - a sort of act of self preservation.

The phantom sounds improved by about 60% after I got my cochlear implant. I still hear it at night when the CI is turned off but I'm used to it now and it doesn't bother me really. I just made it a part of me.

jillio · 06-11-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallen

This may sound like a silly question (no pun intended), but do most deaf people "hear" phantom noises?

I could hear well for over 40 years, and I guess my brain still thinks I can. All day long I get constant but random snippets of songs in my right ear (Jethro Tull, Mozart and Glen Campbell just in the last hour). Often I get what sounds like weak AM radio reception in my left ear at the same time. But when I get tired is when thing really get annoying. The more tired I get, the louder the background white-noise roar becomes. Eventually as I get sleepy enough to go to bed, any motion or physical contact sets off a painful sound explosion in my head so intense that if my eyes are closed I will see a flash of white. I wouldn't mind being deaf so much, if I actually couldn't hear anything!

Does this happen to anyone else? I'm wondering if it might be one of the many medications I need (transplant recipient, nine months ago).

Thanks

Since you had hearing and lost it, what you are experiencing is a neurological phenonmena that is similar to the phantom pain one experiences after having a limb amputated. The limb is no longer there, but the pain they experience where the limb used to be is very very real to the person experiencing it.

Phillips · 06-11-2007, 11:47 AM

Interesting and something that I learning! Hope you find a cure.

Good luck

Dixie · 06-11-2007, 09:52 PM

So this explains the repeating play over of Paul Oakenfold's Ready Steady Go in my head at night.

For a while I was getting DJ Venom's "Insomnia" of all things at night or if I saw a red light.

Now Ive gotten to the point that I'll start remixing the music in my head into one continous song.

Sounds freaky but maybe thats my way of coping with musical tinnitus.

Gallen · 06-12-2007, 12:46 AM

Thank you all for your responses. I may still be plagued with "Rhinestone Cowboy" all day long, but at least now I know that's normal - sort of.

It sounds like maybe this wasn't a phenomenon known to everybody, so a few people are learning along with me. That's what it's all about. As long as we're learning, then we're not stagnant.

jillio · 06-12-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallen

Thank you all for your responses. I may still be plagued with "Rhinestone Cowboy" all day long, but at least now I know that's normal - sort of.

It sounds like maybe this wasn't a phenomenon known to everybody, so a few people are learning along with me. That's what it's all about. As long as we're learning, then we're not stagnant.

Ewwww! I didn't realize you were stuck with Rhinestone Cowboy! That's more serious than I thought!

06-10-2007, 09:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gallen Recently deaf Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baltimore / Washington Area Posts: 17	Why's it so loud in here? This may sound like a silly question (no pun intended), but do most deaf people "hear" phantom noises? I could hear well for over 40 years, and I guess my brain still thinks I can. All day long I get constant but random snippets of songs in my right ear (Jethro Tull, Mozart and Glen Campbell just in the last hour). Often I get what sounds like weak AM radio reception in my left ear at the same time. But when I get tired is when thing really get annoying. The more tired I get, the louder the background white-noise roar becomes. Eventually as I get sleepy enough to go to bed, any motion or physical contact sets off a painful sound explosion in my head so intense that if my eyes are closed I will see a flash of white. I wouldn't mind being deaf so much, if I actually couldn't hear anything! Does this happen to anyone else? I'm wondering if it might be one of the many medications I need (transplant recipient, nine months ago). Thanks

06-10-2007, 10:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
sr171soars Cyborg since March '05 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,376	Sounds like you have tinnitus (use google to find out more). It is a very common problem among those with hearing losses. One theory why it occurs is that the cochlea has been deprived of hearing and therefore generates it's own "sounds" to make up for the lack thereof. Another is that the cochlea is damaged and therefore generating phantom "sounds". Another idea is certain medications can bring it about or enhance it. You might want to check that out with your doctor. Most people if they have it, have a mild manifestation of it. Sorry to hear that you have a very bad case of it. __________________ But trailing clouds of glory till He comes... Foolishness is not a virtue

06-10-2007, 11:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
deafskeptic AAACCK! I got BORGED! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,450	Or it could be musical ear syndrome. I had that before I got implanted and I'd hear things like Beethoven, the radio and what sounded like someone speaking on the radio. This is fairly common for those with little auditory simulation and it used to drive me crazy when I wasn't wearing my HA. For some reason, I haven't heard from my unwanted radio station since I got my implant. No, you're not going insane if you're hearing things like that. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th.

06-11-2007, 12:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Aleser Woosh. Yes, Woosh. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 568	As far as I know, the cyclosporin or whatever you're taking wont induce hearing loss, but the antibiotics you're on or have been on might, which yeah, can include (for me anyways) hearing random buzzes and bits that don't happen to be there. My own hearing loss is from Tobramycin, which I'd been using inhaled for several years before the problems became "out there". Just wondering, what'd you have transplanted, and why? __________________ "She thinks... she can make people do what she wants or needs, what is right, by the sheer force of her own talent, not by forcing them... she can teach them and persuade them... that they'll catch it from her. This is still faith in their rationality, in the omnipotence of reason. The mistake? Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them."

06-11-2007, 01:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Hear Again Proud Beeper/5150 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin and my own little manic world... Posts: 7,302	I'm sorry you're experiencing this... My CI surgeon explained that when the body loses a sense (such as vision or hearing) it compensates by creating false visual images or auditory sensations. A friend of mine who became totally blind (after having normal sight) told me she saw all kinds of flashing images as well as random letters, numbers and colors. After both of my CI surgeries, I experienced many of the same symptoms you describe (I heard 70s/80s music and people talking) which was extremely LOUD. I also heard several different sounds (a car engine turning over repeatedly, ocean/whooshing sounds, a freight train, high pitched beep tones, high/medium/low tones) that alternated between each other. Not fun. I'm happy to report that the music I heard (and my bilateral tinnitus) has improved significantly and is something I can ignore 95% of the time. I have a list of medications that cause musical tinnitus on my computer and will see if I can dig it up. If I can find it, I'll post the information here. __________________ Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with Freedom BTE (Implanted: 12/22/04 \| Activated: 1/18/05) Right ear - Nucleus Freedom (Implanted: 2/1/06 \| Activated: 3/1/06) Deafblind/Postlingual What is bipolar disorder? What are the different types of bipolar disorder? "All things are difficult before they are easy." -- Thomas Fuller

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

06-11-2007, 11:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
Phillips Lets ride horses! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spaceship Posts: 7,192 Blog Entries: 3	Interesting and something that I learning! Hope you find a cure. Good luck __________________ *Enjoy life today, Yesterday has past and Tomorrow may never come.*

06-11-2007, 09:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dixie Hooray its November! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,199	So this explains the repeating play over of Paul Oakenfold's Ready Steady Go in my head at night. For a while I was getting DJ Venom's "Insomnia" of all things at night or if I saw a red light. Now Ive gotten to the point that I'll start remixing the music in my head into one continous song. Sounds freaky but maybe thats my way of coping with musical tinnitus. __________________ Visit my Deaf Blog Signature banner created by me, please do not steal!

06-12-2007, 12:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Gallen Recently deaf Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baltimore / Washington Area Posts: 17	Thank you all for your responses. I may still be plagued with "Rhinestone Cowboy" all day long, but at least now I know that's normal - sort of. It sounds like maybe this wasn't a phenomenon known to everybody, so a few people are learning along with me. That's what it's all about. As long as we're learning, then we're not stagnant. __________________ Please consider organ donation seriously. It saved my life, and could save so many more.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode