Chris is my partner, and he's in a really bad way. He's a drummer - has been for 30+ years (a very good one too).

About a year and a half ago his T started, at the same time as he lost the hearing in his left ear. It's pretty ferocious and nothing seems to help him. It's got a lot worse over the time.

He's had an MRI scan and that was fine. He's been going to the ENT and seeing a counsellor, but he's not really got any faith in them. They have given him ear plugs and a hearing aid, and now recently a device that emits sound to try to mask the noise - trouble is he says the noise is much louder now and it drowns out everything else!

Chris is now becoming suicidal, and I am terrified for him. He is spending more and more time in isolation (He was in bed till 5pm today - got up for an hour and then went back). He knows this is not good and that he should try to find things to occupy him and try to trick the brain into thinking of other things rather than focusing on the noises, but he cant help himself. Nothing I can suggest or say helps him - how could it!

I have suggested he gets on this forum and speaks to others who have the same terrible symptoms, or may be musicians that are suffering with T, to see if there is anything else he can try.
I'm at my whits end as to how to help him.

Any ideas?

I found this post on the RNID forum I thought it might help: "Hi I have posted replies before and I am always interested when posters ask about habituation as I feel it is the most important aspect of getting your tinnitus down to a reasonable level which you can live with comfortably. Movie miscreant is quite right in that masking does not work. I am deaf and cannot use masking or retraining therapy simply because I cant heat the sounds. I habituated some years ago and it has to be through your own brain getting used to the noises in your head, if you add noises to mask out the tinnitus you are simply confusing your brain. Once your brain gets used to the noises you wont notice them as much although they will never go away.
Dennis"

I think it's a good idea getting your partner to talk to people with similar problems. It helped me a lot. You should also get him prescribed some antidepressants as they will lift his mood and help him on the way to habituation. Did you try to look for help on other forums like http://tinnitussupport92262.yuku.com/?

Suicidal thoughts, staying in bed, isolation, depression are common problems of tinnitus sufferers especially in first months but most of them get better sooner or later. Get him on forums to talk and avoid loud noises.

ok please take my advice and go and see this guy, his name is julian cowan he is a craniosacrial therapist,basically he calms down your central nervous system and guess what THE NOISE GOES it might go alltogether or it might come back depending on how stessed he is but at least he will know that its possible to go and hes on the right track or just phone him he will be happy to talk to him,he is a really good person and he is not after your money.he is on utube or call him on 07910315167,i was in the same position and he helped me a lot,Jonny,hope this helps

Thank you so much Artur and Jonny - I've passed the info on to Chris. He's finding it hard to come to the forum - he thinks as there's no cure no one can say anything that will help! I'll keep trying tho - thanks. I've found out some info on cranial osteopathy which he now has and I'll pass on the info of Julian Cowan - see if I can get him to check out this guy - thanks so much. I'll keep trying to pursuade Chris that this forum is a good thing - there's so many other people in the same boat, and I'm a firm believer in sharing info, experiences etc.
Thanks again guys! Sue

Hi sharley.
Sorry to hear about chris,s acute tinnitus,i to have suffered this way,my support group has just folded after eight years and I am looking at groups on line to talk to,I have had my tinnitus since 1976,and have managed to live with it for all these years,although its not been easy,getting off to sleep has been a problem,although with my new electric blanket it helps a lot,I also use my wireless headphones,to help me hear the television over my noises,the worst thing you can do is take to your bed, where you focus all your thoughts on your problems,also join the BTA,and recieve there magazine QUIET,which have lots of useful advice,try to persuade chris to join in online forums,or a local support group,although theres no magic cure,speaking to fellow sufferers can help,I wish chris all the best in the future and would be pleased to hear from him at any time.
Regards
Ronnyb.

Sharley,

Look you've got to get Chris to think positively about this. I've had T for over 3years from playing in bands. Loud noises are definitely the cause. The noises are loud sometimes and quiter at times..but they are always there. He has got to use his mental capacity to overrule these noises. The brain's capacity to heal the body is huge and we in modern times only use a fraction of the brain's power. Get him on to the forum. We are ALL in the same boat. We all use different coping mechamisms because we are all different. T can be beaten by brain power, but he must think positively.