Tinnitus and OSA

schaefage · Post by **schaefage** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:25 pm

Hello all,

I was just wondering if any of you have tinnitus in any way related to your OSA. If you did, what did your doctor say about it and what have you done about it? Did it get better with treatment?

The only reason I am asking is because I do have tinnitus, and I'm not sure if it is associated with my osa or not, but it seems like my tinnitus had gotten worse when my osa was at it's worst and it has gotten better with treatment.

Thanks,

Kent

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:37 pm

Hi Kent

I have tinnitus. I've had it since I was a kid - I may have been born with it - I don't really know. Until I was in my 20's I thought it was the way everyone hears.

I do have days when it seems worse, but I haven't noticed a pattern.

Sandy

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:56 pm

When I was diagnosed with it in the early 70's, I was told it was caused by loud noises. (I worked on the flightline in the military, and later in life spent a lot of time on the shooting range) I don't think it's connected with OSA in any way.

Snooter · Post by **Snooter** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:07 pm

I have tinnitus. And think that it is exacerbated by OSA. I sometime will wake up with the sound being more prominent. I have also noticed that if I tighten the muscles in my jaw it will also change the pitch. I have read several places that tinnitus can be caused by OSA.

I've had it looked at several times and the only thing I get is a bill. I think the medical community is clueless on tinnitus. I also have Tendonitis which has nothing to do with OSA :0)

Snooter

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:16 pm

I have tinnitus myself; I will keep a non-focused eye (or ear) on it to see if it improves. Have had enough improvement in my digestive system to know for sure it's better as a result of xPAP treatment, and also am fairly certain that the effects of apnea are global. Consequently, I have a reasonable expectation that the positive effects of treatment will also be global. (Although I'd be very surprised if it were to cause any improvement in my 'degenerative changes' in my vertebrae.)

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:50 am

I have used tinnitis as an example in many posts.
Tinnitis is VERY common in people and varies greatly in severity.

I remember some pharmacy patients with this condition and have a general empirical observation.

I think some patients tend to hyperfocus on this condition that others simply ignore.
If I concentrate on it, mu ears are constantly ringing and could be very distressing if I did not tune it out and not think about it.
It becomes a part of my background noise.

I am concentrating on it now- it is really ringing!
If a person hyperfocuse on it, it becomes distracting and if they get obsessive over it, it gets to really be problematic.

I do not know how a patient trains him/herself to ignore, but I think this is the key.

I do not know how an expert would explain this or even if they agree, it is my personal observation.
tomjax

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:40 pm

Thanks everyone for the replys.

I guess I will just try to ignore it right now, which I am able to do I will also in the same breath, try to keep an unparanoid eye on it.

The tinnitus developed about 6 months ago, but before that I had none. I also had extreme irritability at this time and fatigue (which were all symptoms of my osa getting worse). So now as my OSA gets better, my tinnitus is improving somewhat, but not completely. I can live with it.

I am also exploring subclinical hypothyroid disease (which has recently become marginally clinical). In any case, I just need to take really good care of myself and optimize my APAP treatment.

Thanks,

Kent

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:45 pm

There's lots of information and sites on the Internet about tinnitus.

Here's a couple to give you somewhere to start. I just found out some things about it that I didn't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Ring ... -Treatment

Yep, I've got it, too.

Best wishes,

Den

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:12 pm

Snooter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have tinnitus. And think that it is exacerbated by OSA. I sometime will wake up with the sound being more prominent.

I think this is a valid consideration as my tinnitus has just started for me since starting C-Pap therapy and I have never worked around loud noises except for that which is involved with raising 4 children.

I have never had it checked into and most of the time I can tune it out. My hearing seems fine otherwise and the tinnitus has taken a back seat to other major health issues this past year--
Everything is relative and tinnitus is a fair trade-off for breathing!