So,,, im 22... and im in school... still trying to figure it out... Ive had T going on 2 months now... and its very very hard for me to study,, or even
read!! all i hear is the ringing! i feel like i cant even learn.. like im disabled..
How do i over come this? alot of you are older, already finished school.. have careers.... How did u do it? my education is very important to me.... and i
really need to figure sumthing out! ... I wanted to say thank you, to all that read my post as well as others.. and are so helpful and inspiring...its been
amazing for me to feel such compassion...I love to pass it on....
I REALLY NEED TO KNOW!! IMPORTANT!!
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 JULIAN818 |
I REALLY NEED TO KNOW!! IMPORTANT!! |
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Posts: 16 (07/01/09 6:54 PM) |
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rutski |
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Posts: 72 (07/01/09 7:30 PM) |
And I'm 19, so there!
Jokes aside. I've learned to read and study again. It's important to keep in mind that one is capable of reading a book while on, let's say, a noisy train. So, the brain definitely has the capacity to filter arbitrary sounds out of consciousness. It's a bit harder to apply that brain function to tinnitus, but once you do it, it's just like old times again. The following book helped greatly: http://www.amazon.com/Tinnitus-Retraining-Therapy-Implementing-Neurophysiological/dp/0521088372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246505140&sr=8-1 |
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hilary |
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Posts: 54 (07/01/09 7:45 PM) |
Julian
You are still early on (i.e. 2 months) in making all the emotional adjustments to this. I happen to be 46 and while not in school, still had my day job and needed to concentrate either on the computer, running meetings, writing documentation or reading material. Even 'enjoyment reading' seemed so difficult at first. I also have twin boys who are 7 so reading to them was an issue at first as well. Debilating and disabling for sure. Today (9 months later and I'm not suggesting it will take you that long - you are getting advice earlier on than I did as I first stumbled awhile before finding this board) - I can easily read a book, work in front of a computer, manage writing documentation, and read to my boys. I've recently been laid off (and okay about it) and am starting my own business which requires even more energy now but since I'm so 'focused' and I've come to adapt to the sound - there are days when I just get into what I need to do and realize an hour later I didn't even have music on and did not pay attention to the tinnitus. What did I do - believe it or not at the time the tinnitus started I did not own an ipod. So I had to buy one and in fact I'd still be without it if I didn't have the tinnitus. I downloaded a bunch of music that seemed to relax me and cover up/mask the tinnitus so I could concentrate at my technical day job. I tuned my radio as well to our local clasical music station and stopped talk radio (I'm a big NPR junkie) for months. Whenver and whereever I needed to I would put the music on. I bought one of those sound machines and would put that on and rather than read 3 books I would attempt a chapter to my kids or one book and then my husband would handle the rest. I took a 8 week/stress management class so techniques I learned in there I've added into my daily routine (mini meditations/yoga) along with my regular intense workouts - when I get 'challenged' with the sound and what I'm trying to concentrate on I take a step back and try a 10 minute breathing/meditation excercise and then get back into it. You might try and find some short guided meditations to download and use those when you need them. The other key thing is getting a good nights sleep. I can't recall if you are sleeping okay or not. If not - you *absolutely* need to address that as it is a critical factor in getting everything else lined up for 'healing'. I have some input on the sleep thing only if you are not getting it successfuly My thoughts are with you Hilary |
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Oz Greg |
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Posts: 14536 (07/01/09 11:25 PM) Under the Southern Cross. |
Julian
I found reading to be quite difficult. The ringing kept drawing my attention and I often found that I forgot what I had just read. I think the key to it is that you have to direct your whole focus to the text in the book and try to subconciously block out the ringing. It's not impossible! You could also try an MP3/iPod with white noise at a low volume while you are reading. I use Wavepad(free) to convert cd's etc... and loop downloads of white noise then copy them to my small MP3 player. The sound machine is also a good idea. If you can try to avoid being angry/upset this will also go a long way. regards greg |
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Aquila |
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Posts: 46 (07/02/09 3:02 AM) |
I'm 18 years old and still studying. I'm very sad that I can't read a book in silence, however, I study/read now with my music or computer on. It
covers up the tinnitus for quite a bit and if you're interested in what you're reading you sometimes completely forget for a few moments. Also you
could consider reading outside - the sound of nature (blended with some human noises as that highway/railway in the distance) covers it up really well as well.
The funny thing by the way is that my grades actually became better since I have tinnitus. It's accidental but still a funny thought, haha. |
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Rob x 2 |
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Posts: 1589 (07/02/09 8:54 AM) |
I'm going to hang out with the cool kids for a while.
Julian, I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time studying and reading. When tinnitus is in its earliest stages, like it is for you now, it can be tough at first. It sure was for me, and this is true for many people. You're not alone. The good news is tinnitus often is not nearly so tough to deal with as time goes by. A lot of folks get used to tinnitus naturally and other folks get used to it by learning a bit about tinnitus and some basic things to do that will make it easier to handle. At bedtime, you may find it helpful to have a neutral sound in the room that will partially cover up the sound of the tinnitus and give you another sound to focus on. A sound machine serves that purpose beautifully, and you can find a good one at Brookstone. This device, which you just plug into the wall, has an assortment of different sounds you can select, and it's particularly good to play it at bedtime and sleep to it. As everyone has suggested, playing background music or another background sound to help compete with the sound of tinnitus may help you study. You don't need to play the music loud. Just play it so that you hear it and it doesn't annoy you. That will help. Another possibility is to get Aquila to study for you. You've got a few years on him, so if you order him to do your homework for you, maybe he'll help you out. Hang in there. You're not disabled and you won't go thru a permanent hard time with tinnitus. Give yourself a chance to get your bearings, learn a bit about what you can do, and let a little more time pass. Soon you'll be studying again with the best of them. rob x 2 |
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billie48 |
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Posts: 64 (07/02/09 10:38 AM) |
Julian,
http://tinnitussupport92262.yuku.com/topic/5799/t/Tinnitus-Film-4mins.html I don't know how she or other deaf people could overcome constant and unmaskable tinnitus, but she did it and I always think of her when my tinnitus is spiking loud behind my masking ipod. Zoe, her name, does not even have that chance. So, Julian, like her, it is doable to study with tinnitus after you get more used to tinnitus. Masking it is a solution to help direct your attention away from tinnitus. Look beyond and borrow the examples from some of these people. Just remember that we are all with you, and we understand your challenges at this stage of your tinnitus. Be patient and focus on the positives each day instead of the tinnitus. Expect setbacks but it is just normal. Consider when you first had tinnitus, wouldn't you think you have made some progress in coping with it in some way? So a year from now, you will be less threatened by it. I am a computer software engineer having to read & analyse complex software programs daily. I had similar challenges like you when my tinnitus was new. Reading and writing program codes of complex logics was difficult at first as it was hard to concentrate when tinnitus was spiking. Now it is just like a background noise and I have no problem concentrating on the programs. So, take it easy Julian. You will be there. Just have patience & relax and you will be all right. God bless. Billie |
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Elsyfer |
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Posts: 116 (07/02/09 12:43 PM) |
Wish I could help you. I'm not in school anymore.
Last Edited By: Elsyfer
07/02/09 12:49 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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TammyAScuirus |
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Posts: 869 (07/02/09 3:12 PM) |
Julian,
In the early days of t, I kept wondering how the heck I was going to live with it, and it dominated my thoughts. Since it wasn't totally maskable, it asked for my attention. Sound in the background helped a lot for distraction. There are CD's for masking on the internet, and all kinds of nature sounds, background types of music, and sound effect CD's. Experiment to find what works for you. Sometimes just having a fan on helps and doesn't distract you from studying. Avoid sitting in the quiet or your mind will focus on the t. You'll find it gets easier with time. When I am having trouble with a loud spike, I keep background sound on. A lot of times I don't need it now. Background sound can do a couple of things for you. It masks your tinnitus, and it also makes you forget about it for awhile. It's funny because nowadays I'll have the tv on, and after shutting it off I'll forget I have tinnitus because I'm still thinking about the show. Things like that will start to happen and the t will get your attention less and less. It's difficult at first, but like with any chronic disorder, it takes awhile to adjust. Experiment with different things. Exercise can help take your mind off it for awhile and is a great stress reducer. Relaxation techniques work too. Some people find yoga or dance helps them cope better. Things will settle down for you and it will get easier, but in the meantime, have some kind of non distracting sound on when you study or read. Susan |
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painterdude |
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Posts: 737 (07/03/09 3:12 PM) |
Julian...the advice above is the best that you'll get. I'm way past school age and I got T out of thin air one night 4 years ago. The emotional stress
is different in all people. The way you cope and mask(if it's possible) will vary from person to person. As a parent of a child who went thru some changes
and difficulties during college my advice to you is simple. If the T is bothering you so early in your travels with this "thing" and you don't
think you are up to studying...you might consider taking a semester off until your coping skills are more honed. My son wanted to drop out for a time...my
immediate response as a parent was to tell him to work thru his situation. After a real talk I realized that he had every intention of returning once he got
his motivation back. This is what he did and he did return and graduated one semester late. He has been a science teacher now for 5 years and jokes about what
interupted his studies at the time. I'm sure many will disagree, but if you are a serious student and it's important to you...and you think this will
hurt your grades etc...taking a time out might not be such a bad thing. Hopefully at your age you have a relationship with a parent or an older confidant with
which you can sort things out. Either way...though it's hard to believe this will pass. Either the noise or the bother...after a few months it never was
more than an annoyance to me. It will be so with you also. best of luck. pd
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Daedalus |
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Posts: 125 (07/05/09 12:33 PM) |
Hello Julian,
To answer directly your question here: when i got tinnitus i couldn't even read a comic strip nor think clearly. I have old emails from that time (2+ years ago) and they really look like if they were written by a dribbling idiot. I tried to concentrate on books but could not make it. And after three months, i was able to concentrate again on a book while my tinnitus was still there and still bothering me like the first day. Now, i can do engineering math again. I feel it like a disability i learned to compensate. like if i learned to walk with a prosthetic leg or something. At first you think you'll never make it but you DO make it. So, yes, that debilitated state is temporary, don't worry about that. |
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st4rk |
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Posts: 13 (07/07/09 1:03 AM) |
JULIAN818 wrote:Hey Julian sorry to hear you're struggling with school because of tinnitus. The odd thing about me is reading did - momentarily - bring out the tinnitus. But as I got engaged in whatever I was reading it went away instantly. There are times when I have to do boring monotonous things at work where the tinnitus is right there in my head. I deal with it and learn to ignore it. It takes great amount of practice, and after several months it was second nature - like breathing. All the time when I'm bored at work I hear it, but it just motivates me to do something engaging so I don't hear it anymore. The only thing I can say is keep studying, school is super important. I don't want to sound like a parent heheh. Think about it, does your tinnitus bother you when you're studying something very interesting to you? Does your tinnitus bother you when doing something really fun or engaging? |
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egoprofit |
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Posts: 220 (07/09/09 7:42 AM) |
Hey Julian, I'm 26 and I've had T for about 6 years. I am fortunate to have a job and not do much studying, but the times that I do study I just have
to really concentrate on what I'md doing. You'll eventually learn to adapt your daily routines around your T, I used to have a very difficult time at
work and dealing with people over the phone. It has since become much better, I have some days when my T doesn't affect my life at all. I have other days,
like today, where my ears are constantly giving me problems. I had a balloon pop next to my head yesterday, which is a nightmare for someone like me with
hyperacoustic hearing. One day at a time... good luck.
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rutski |
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Posts: 85 (07/09/09 7:54 AM) |
egoprofit wrote: Isn't hyperacoustic hearing fully expected to be curable? |
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But I also come across a young lady here in this board, who at 15 became totally
deaf. She does not even have the luxury of masking the loud tinnitus she was having 7/24. But she went on to university to finish her degree. As a project in
university, she even made a short film on tinnitus which she makes available to this board. You can read through her thread to see if you can learn how she
manages emotionally to deal with this. Here is the link: 