Tinnitus

Hi Debs

I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting ms 2006, began suffering with tinnitus in one ear about 3 years ago. It was driving me made too, had everything turned up in attempts to drown it out.

Spoke to both my gp and ms nurse about it and I was referred to the hospital hearing department. Was given a little ear bud thingy that plays 'white noise' that really helped distract me from it.

Unfortunately I have since lost about 90% of hearing in that ear, I thought my tv speaker had broken! Now I have a full hearing aid, can hear in stereo and still no tinnitus.

When talking with the audiologist he said it makes sense it could be caused by ms if the lesions are on the nerves involved with hearing. Much like when they can appear on the optic nerve and we are diagnosed with optic neuritis.

Apparently hearing loss is an unusual symptom of ms that approximately only 5% get it (ms society's info). Yours could well just be tinnitus but I would suggest you get a referal to hearing department to try one of those ear bud things to help drown it out

Kerry 

Thanks for this, very useful information. 

My first symptom on MS was with the trigeminal nerve, 2 1/2 years ago. I never had tintitus before this and it started in October 2 years ago. 

I have had hearing test and so far so good. Seen a consultant from ENT, really helpful and seeing someone for advice on living with tintitus this week. I will ask about ear bud then.

I did read only a very small percentage with MS suffer with tintitus and I recently had another MRI and will be asking my consultant next time I see him about where my lesions are in relation to hearing nerves.

Thank again 

Debs :)

No problem Debs let me know how you get on. I wish I could remember the name of the ear bud thing. It's like one of the hearing aid that sits inside the ear, pretty discreet and drowns out most of the tinnitus

Kerry