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Tinnitus + Autism

Jalapeno

One thing that led me to seek an autism diagnosis was my tinnitus.

Hearing tests showed no issues, but when I googled it, I found links between tinnitus, anxiety, and autism. That led me to take the Embrace tests and eventually to an ASD diagnosis.

As I haven’t seen any recent posts on this topic, I just thought I’d ask — does anyone else experience this?

I sometimes think mine acts as a gauge for my anxiety: at times I barely notice it (though I can still hear it if I tune in), and other times it seems as loud as the TV. For decades I’ve found silence hard to cope with - I need a certain level of background noise to mask the tinnitus and stop myself from focusing on it.

I’ve had CBT for anxiety, but not had any treatment specifically for the tinnitus. To be honest, I’m not even sure what can be done for it.

Not looking for medical advice — just wondering what others’ experiences have been.

  • in reply to Jalapeno

    Most of the time the tinnitus is not too intrusive. I do like to have a low level of background noise - the radio etc. - which helps. I think I have a fairly stoical disposition - when not stressed by social anxiety - which also helps. What can't be cured must be endured.

  • I suffer with tinnitus and as you said to varying degrees. It’s always there but sometimes worse than others. I believe over exposure to loud or multiple noise makes it worse once it’s quiet. Again as you said I had an ear examination and was not related to damage. I use an audio sleep mask at bedtime and listen to rainfall, thunder or crackling fire sounds which gives me a peaceful nights rest. 

  • in reply to Martin

    Thanks  

    Gosh that must of been quite worrying for you.  Sorry it impacted your fathers life to that extent. 

    How you coping with your tinnitus ?  

    I do wonder if our heightened senses, has anything to do with it ?  

  • in reply to Dwa78

    Thanks  

    also sorry you suffer too.  Interesting yours likewise changes a lot with stress levels - in some ways my therapist suggested I could use it like a measure, when i check in on myself, mainly for the anxiety.  But an off switch would be nice 

    have you found any ways to deal with it, especially when its more noticeable ?

  • My father took early retirement due to tinnitus. I woke up on the 6th of January 2020 with tinnitus - high pitched like a dentist's drill, not a clean sound a bit like white noise. Because it happened so suddenly I had a cat scan of my head, but nothing untoward was found. I think I get most of my autistic traits from my father's side, I suspect that tinnitus hitched a ride along with it. 

  • in reply to Billy87

    Thanks  

    Sorry that you suffer too, mine is very high pitched tone, sometimes it seems to be be two tones phasing 

    Thanks for reminding me ....I have some olive oil spray for ear wax but mine are generally OK

    Hearing test done and good, but I may go back to the GP to see if there anything else.  Will let you know

  • in reply to Billy87

    I'm newly diagnosed, but tinnitus began around a decade ago after a kind of internalised rage induced breakdown. Mine is mostly mild too a kind of hissing sound, but worsened by stress or lack of sleep. Feels to me like my brain formed a new emergency pathway for stress overload that I can't switch off.

  • I suffer terribly from tinnitus and have done for years. Sometimes it's so mild I don't really notice it and other times it's like there's a constant fire alarm going off in my head. 

    I'd make a doctors appointment for it if I were you. They can refer you to Specsavers for a free hearing test. Sometimes impacted ear wax can make it worse, it certainly does for mine