I developed tinnitus by using an iPhone app that produced a high frequency tone that was too high pitched for me to perceive. I turned up the volume hoping to hear something, but could not perceive the high pitch. I brought the iPhone towards my left ear. When I got within a few inches my ear started to hurt and I developed a ringing in the left ear. Things improved somewhat, but my left ear continued to ring, and it was sensitive to noise. I had developed tinnitus, a constant ringing in my ear, and hyperacusis, where normal noise levels caused pain in the ear.
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I had trouble adjusting to the tinnitus. After suffering for about four months I asked my otolaryngologist what else could be done. He had no medical treatment for tinnitus. He recommended talking to either Dr. Paula Schwartz regarding tinnitus retraining therapy or the University of California, Irvine, online. I wanted a local provider so I went to see Dr. Schwartz. She explained the theory of tinnitus and the theory of tinnitus retraining therapy. She prescribed hearing aids that acted as noise generators. 

The low-level background noise from the hearing aids has helped me live with the tinnitus. During the day, I wear hearing aids that generate a background noise in both of my ears. Wearing the hearing aids has helped me a lot. I still have a few days when the tinnitus bothers me, but most days it doesn’t bother me much and sometimes I even forget about the tinnitus. Before trying the hearing aids, I was very nervous and had serious trouble sleeping. My days are much improved by the using the hearing aids with the background noise. 
I generally sleep with a sound machine app on my phone. I play brown noise as a background sound at night and sleep a lot better than I did before. 

I have worn the hearing aids about 17 months. The hyperacusis is long gone. The tinnitus is still present, but my reaction to it is much better than it was. I have an occasional bad day, but am much happier than before the tinnitus retraining therapy treatment. I am also sleeping better than before the tinnitus retraining therapy. 
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T. P

I came to the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic in misery and left in relief.  I was a drummer and a gunner in an era when hearing protection was not even talked about.  Now, not yet 60-years-old, I have bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The tinnitus had gotten so bad that I had no quality of life. 

Dr. Schwartz and her staff brought me back from the brink of destruction with their quick, kind, and attentive services. State-of-the-art technology recommended by her helped me to experience the world anew. I follow her advice religiously. I have been rewarded with better hearing and far less bothersome tinnitus.

I got my life back.So can you. See them.

M.S., South Suburban Twin Cities

Age 59

As a musician performing in the wind band setting, Over the past several years I had been experiencing ringing and buzzing in my ears. Many of my musician friends told me it was tinnitus. This came to be such a problem that I really felt I was experiencing major hearing loss. It seemed like ne matter how much I tried, this noise was getting louder and louder. I had decided that my tinnitus was the result of the percussive nature of all the sounds going on around me. I got my hearing tested and had slight hearing loss detected. So I got myself fitted for musician’s earplugs. While I did think I was experiencing some relief in the performance setting my tinnitus was still as bothersome as ever.

I did a little more research and learned about Dr. Paula Schwartz and the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic. When I first visited there a couple years ago I didn’t even know how to pronounce the word tinnitus. The sound generation therapy we agreed on has been quite rewarding. It really helped me to understand my relationship with my tinnitus. Now having been successfully habituated, I actually can embrace it. My tinnitus has become an ally aiding me to actually hear better. As I have come to understand that my tinnitus will always be there, I am again very much enjoying my performances and have had so much more relaxation.
/VD

In around April of 2011 I started to notice a constant ringing in my ears. As time went by it seemed to get worse. After about 6 months, during my annual physical I mentioned it to my doctor and he said it was tinnitus and there wasn’t much to do about it. I’d have to live with it, but suggested seeing an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. We did the normal checks; hearing test, MRI, and everything was normal. I have asymmetrical hearing loss in one ear at a sound well above normal hearing, a typical sign of tinnitus. The sounds kept getting worse. One night I could not sleep, the noise was bothering me so much. I followed up with the ENT and he referred me to Dr. Schwartz at the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic. By now it had been almost 2 years and my concern was if it keeps getting worse, what will happen in 5 to 10 years. Will I go crazy?

In my meeting with Dr. Schwartz, she explained what was going on and that it was very typical for someone with asymmetrical hearing loss. It made sense and helped me adjust my attitude toward the tinnitus. I no longer worry about the long term affects and do not have problems sleeping due to the tinnitus. I am doing the tinnitus retraining therapy (TNT) and it is helping me manage the ringing. The ringing is still there, but for the most part I don’t notice it, and when I do, I don’t let it bother me.

Since I’ve had tinnitus I’ve been very surprised by the number of people that have it. It is much more common than I realized. At first you think this can be very debilitating, but then realize many people live with it. I hope someday a cure will be found, but until then I will be managing my tinnitus with TRT and not letting it get the best of me. Dr. Schwartz and the staff at the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic have helped me manage my tinnitus. I’d recommend them to anyone with it.

In October of 2013 I woke up one night to a loud ringing in my head that did not go away. After a week had gone by I started having panic attacks, not sleeping, and could not get a handle on how to live the rest of my life with this. As I was told it will never go away. Fast forward to February of 2014, and it literally has been days since I have even noticed it. It is still there. I just don’t think about it, therefore it does not bother me! I owe you folks for giving me the knowledge and the tools to getting myself and my life back on track again. Should you ever have a patient who would like to talk to someone who has been down this road feel free to give out my name and number, as one of the best things I did was to talk to people who had successfully dealt with this. All the best to everybody there!!!
Jerry

Thank you so much for your kindness and support for me regarding my hearing issues.  As you know, because of ongoing hip pain, I became depressed and angry, and as a result, clenched my teeth extremely hard in December 2012.  Because of clenching my teeth, I developed Tinnitus and Hyperacusis. In May 2013, you examined me and fitted me with my hearing devices.  At that time, I was in a very distressed state of mind...

I've had tinnitus for many years due to a career in the Auto Body Business and as I got older it started to bother me more and more. I talked to several doctors including an ENT and was told the same thing "You just have to learn to live with it". Well I started looking online and came to the Tinnitus Clinic in Edina and started reading about sound therapy and thought "what have I got to lose" so I made an appointment even though I live 150 miles away I was desperate....

I had hyperacusis for at least nine years. It made my life miserable in many places. High frequency noises like shopping carts squeaking in grocery stores, chain-links jangling on the playground swings, automobile brakes shrieking, utensils clanking and whining fluorescent lights were excruciatingly painful to me. Noise levels that did not bother other people sounded deafening to me. 
I tried a listening program to treat the hyperacusis, but it only gave me temporary tinnitus. Several nutritional supplements that my mom make me try were ineffective...

I wanted to drop you a short note and tell you about my Tinnitus treatment to date. It has been approximately 5 months since I begin the treatment using the Neuromonics method prescribed by you.  I have now moved to the second phase of the treatment and it seems to be progressing smoothly. 
As you recall, I was diagnosed with sudden on-set tinnitus in January of this year. (2007) Prior to meeting with you and your staff I was getting no help from my health care providers, They pretty much said “learn to live with it, there is nothing we can do for you”  Finally after visiting with University of Minnesota doctors, they recommend your clinic to me. ..

It has been six months since I first contacted Audiology Concepts and Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic about Neuromonics. At the time, I was not able to sleep and suffered from a complete lack of hope to the point of ending up in the emergency room. My tinnitus had overtaken me to the point of despair.
After visiting with the friendly and trust-inspiring staff at the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic, I was at least able to see some light at the end of a very long tunnel. I followed the process laid out for me and within a few weeks, started noticing some relief. With consistent use of the processor and a few more visits, I gradually relearned to live with a reduced level of tinnitus. My treatment still goes on and I am optimistic that continued progress with follow. 
I recognize Neuromonics is not a cure for tinnitus, but it seems to be the most effective treatment out there. I think of it as "despair repair". My thanks go out to the wonderful staff at Audiology Concepts and the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic for all their dedicated care.
C.W. (age 50)