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There is no permanent relief or treatment. Lots of snake oil. That's not what this recent book [1] says, at all. In Ducth, but [2] is a translation of the main

by stinos 3y ago

There is no permanent relief or treatment. Lots of snake oil. That's not what this recent book [1] says, at all. In Ducth, but [2] is a translation of the main point in an interview. As far as I'm aware, this guy is rather far away from snake oil. What is true though is that not all audiologists are caught up yet. Which is a bit weird because I already read about multidisciplinary approach working a couple of years ago IIRC. Which does obviously not mean it works for everyone, but also not 'there is no permanent relief'. [1] Bart Vinck: Tinnitus, een schaduw van geluid [2] Can tinnitus disappear completely? "Absolutely, it happens very often. It's to say: we all hear sounds in our heads, only we don't experience them consciously. After all, the brain forgets sounds that are not relevant, just like I don't feel the glasses I'm wearing now. "Our brain does nothing but sort out stimuli: this is important, that is not important. Logical too, otherwise we would go crazy with all the stimuli constantly coming in. "My message is not to learn to live with that beep, but to train your brain to classify that sound as harmless, allowing you to forget about it. Feel free to call it an auditory reset of your brain." What does such a treatment look like? "It has been proven that a multidisciplinary approach works well. Through an intense therapy bath, we try to reset the brain so that that beep or squawk is no longer threatening: patients receive 20 hours of therapy over four days. "You also have to find other ways to vent tension and take care of yourself. Physiotherapists and osteopaths additionally work on the physical problems. Our patients often suffer from other psychosomatic complaints: they clench their jaws or have tense neck and shoulder muscles. "Some 96 percent of our patients report afterwards that the impact of the tinnitus has been greatly reduced. Unfortunately, psychotherapy is barely reimbursed."

Twirrim 3y ago
> "My message is not to learn to live with that beep, but to train your brain to classify that sound as harmless, allowing you to forget about it" This is essentially what I do. I've had it tinnitus for some 20 years now. Both ears, a constant high pitched ringing. Most of the time I honestly don't notice it, even in quiet rooms. As soon as something reminds me about it, or I'm trying to listen for something quiet, or certain high pitch sounds go off (my least favourite is flashbang like effects on TV or in games), it'll come back with a vengeance. So e.g right now because I saw this HN post, it's feeling especially loud. It'll probably be about an hour before I'll forget to think about it (for want of a better description), and I go back to not noticing it.
- guntherhermann 3y ago
  Same, I have had tinnitus since a child. The more you focus on it, the worst it gets. Best to accept that you have it and once you do the issues goes away (mostly), I still wake up sometimes noticing it, but it goes away. I think this is a good approach to many mental & physical ailments, however it is easier said than done.
  - cnity 3y ago
    Meditation helps with this. Befriend the tinnitus. It is easy to let go of something for which you have only equanimity.
- linsomniac 3y ago
  Same here. Your reply sounds like I could have written it. Until I started reading this thread, I don't remember when the last time I noticed my tinnitus was. Maybe a week or two ago I noticed it and just thought "oh right" and went back to ignoring it.
- wanderingstan 3y ago
  Same for me. I’ve had mine my whole life probably due to ear infections as an infant. As a small silver lining, my tinnitus now serves as an audible “alarm system”: too much stress in my life? Drank too much coffee? Overdoing it at the gym? All of these will raise the ringing volume and signal me to make changes.
- davely 3y ago
  Exactly the same for me. I’ve had it for as long as I remember and chalk it up to going to too many punk rock shows as an angsty teen (and never wore ear plugs because I was “too cool”). It’s always there for me but I usually forget about it and only notice it when something draws my attention to it. According to an app I’ve used on my phone (Mimi Hearing Test), I have about 14db HL in each ear. Somewhat related, but I just cannot follow conversations in a noisy environment, like a pub. All the background noise and chatter just washes out the voices of people I’m around. Anyway, I now bring earplugs every time I go to a show.
consp 3y ago
> Unfortunately, psychotherapy is barely reimbursed Is this correct and not physiotherapy? Psychotherapy (if send via gp and dianosed) is at least 75% reimbursed if done at a non-contracted practitioner unless you have the shit-insurance, then it's only 50%.
- stinos 3y ago
  I don't know the details of it, but note this is in Belgium.

by stinos 3y ago

Twirrim 3y ago

> "My message is not to learn to live with that beep, but to train your brain to classify that sound as harmless, allowing you to forget about it" This is essentially what I do. I've had it tinnitus for some 20 years now. Both ears, a constant high pitched ringing. Most of the time I honestly don't notice it, even in quiet rooms. As soon as something reminds me about it, or I'm trying to listen for something quiet, or certain high pitch sounds go off (my least favourite is flashbang like effects on TV or in games), it'll come back with a vengeance. So e.g right now because I saw this HN post, it's feeling especially loud. It'll probably be about an hour before I'll forget to think about it (for want of a better description), and I go back to not noticing it.

guntherhermann 3y ago
Same, I have had tinnitus since a child. The more you focus on it, the worst it gets. Best to accept that you have it and once you do the issues goes away (mostly), I still wake up sometimes noticing it, but it goes away. I think this is a good approach to many mental & physical ailments, however it is easier said than done.
- cnity 3y ago
  Meditation helps with this. Befriend the tinnitus. It is easy to let go of something for which you have only equanimity.
linsomniac 3y ago
Same here. Your reply sounds like I could have written it. Until I started reading this thread, I don't remember when the last time I noticed my tinnitus was. Maybe a week or two ago I noticed it and just thought "oh right" and went back to ignoring it.
wanderingstan 3y ago
Same for me. I’ve had mine my whole life probably due to ear infections as an infant. As a small silver lining, my tinnitus now serves as an audible “alarm system”: too much stress in my life? Drank too much coffee? Overdoing it at the gym? All of these will raise the ringing volume and signal me to make changes.
davely 3y ago
Exactly the same for me. I’ve had it for as long as I remember and chalk it up to going to too many punk rock shows as an angsty teen (and never wore ear plugs because I was “too cool”). It’s always there for me but I usually forget about it and only notice it when something draws my attention to it. According to an app I’ve used on my phone (Mimi Hearing Test), I have about 14db HL in each ear. Somewhat related, but I just cannot follow conversations in a noisy environment, like a pub. All the background noise and chatter just washes out the voices of people I’m around. Anyway, I now bring earplugs every time I go to a show.

consp 3y ago

> Unfortunately, psychotherapy is barely reimbursed Is this correct and not physiotherapy? Psychotherapy (if send via gp and dianosed) is at least 75% reimbursed if done at a non-contracted practitioner unless you have the shit-insurance, then it's only 50%.

stinos 3y ago
I don't know the details of it, but note this is in Belgium.