Sounds to Mask Tinnitus

The tinnitus has been ringing in my right ear for years now.

I have always had a weak vestibular system, and after being struck by severe dizziness and tinnitus over 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease at a hospital, and since then, it has repeatedly improved and worsened.

I have been to various hospitals, undergone numerous tests, treatments, and medications, and have researched it extensively myself, so it has been stable recently.

Although I have found the best strategy for the dizziness, the tinnitus continues to ring.

The volume changes depending on my daily physical condition, but even in a good state, it rings at about 70 decibels, and since there is nothing that can be done about this at present, I have no choice but to live with it.

How loud is 70 decibels!?

• Noisy street

• Telephone ringtone

• Noisy office

• Vacuum cleaner noise

• Train (cicada-like) bell

• Stereo (at night, 1m in front)

It is easy to understand if you imagine a 'pee' or 'bee' sound of this volume ringing constantly.

It is especially loud today.

I have adapted to the point where I don't notice it when I am concentrating on work, but when it is bad, it rings at about 90 decibels, which is unbearable.

Right now is exactly like that, and I am writing this while feeling that it is very loud and painful.

How loud is 90 decibels?

• Loud chorus

• Inside a noisy factory

• Inside a subway car with windows open

• Inside a pachinko parlor

• A dog barking (at a distance of 5 meters in front)

• Inside an arcade

It would be incredible if it were this loud, wouldn't it!?

Masking sounds

It is currently impossible to eliminate tinnitus, and it changes with the fluctuations in one's physical condition, so the only way to drop 90 decibels down to 70 is to rest slowly.

Even getting to sleep is an ordeal, and because of the noise, sleepiness doesn't come either.

So, as a way to mask it, I listen to sounds.

I've tried various things, such as white noise, environmental sounds like a babbling brook, wind, or rain, natural sounds, and listening to my favorite music to help me concentrate.

When it's around 70 decibels, these are somewhat effective, but in cases like what I'm experiencing now, where it's over 90 decibels at its worst, they have no effect at all.

While I was searching for something else, I came across something called 'Tinnitus Cancellation Sound x Babbling Brook Sound,' which is a mix of natural sounds, noise, and mosquito sounds.

When I listen to this in my left ear, even at a low volume, it is significantly alleviated.

This video channel features various sounds for tinnitus, and while a normal person might feel they all sound similar and not understand the difference, for someone with tinnitus, they are completely different, and this type 3 was the one that suited me.

I'm even listening to it right now.

Ideally, even if the tinnitus doesn't disappear, it would be better if the sound were reduced even more, but I'll just have to keep trying various things in the future.

The troublesome part is that it's a sound only I can hear, so it's very difficult to explain to someone else or even at the hospital.

Even if I look normal on the outside, no one knows that a loud 90-decibel tinnitus is ringing in my right ear.

Well, today, I'll spend my time listening to this sound until I can fall asleep.