I've had this, incredibly frustrating. It clearly a muscle spasm in my ear, and was like someone was beating a little drum (tympani) in my ear. For me it was mostly at night almost as soon as I leaned my head back on my pillow. This was already an indication for me that for me it was mostly about a physical issue in my neck. I searched half the internet and finally found what worked for me and a number of other people. Mind you: this may not work for everyone, but it can't hurt to explore. For me, it turned out the TTS was caused by muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. And they were indeed very, very tense (from stress, but also extra strain from weightlifting, poor posture sitting on a couch and behind a computer a lot) so when I read about others linking their condition to muscle tension in those areas, it really hit home for me. So be sure to check and see if this could be the case for you. What helped me was massaging and stretching my neck and shoulders, and I used a trigger point cane to work on muscle knots in my back and shoulders. All that gave relief from my TTS very quickly (the same day), though the tension was so severe I'm still working on getting those muscles relaxed 3 weeks later. I decided to also visit a chiropractor who scanned my spine for muscle tension, and the tension in my neck turned out to off the charts, so he's treating me for that. I intend to also have some fysiotherapy because I still have tense neck/shoulders/back, and the stress from the TTS spiked my tinnitus. But like I said: massaging and stretching my own neck/shoulders/back already did 90% of the job in terms of fixing the TTS. Strangely, my issue was almost exclusive to my left ear, but when I hit the shower my right ear would start having the same spasms. TTS is often triggered by sounds, and apparently my right ears was sensitive to the sound of the shower. And weirdly enough, the sound of water when I did the dishes in the sink. I'm still having some issues there so for now I'm avoiding those sounds by using ear plugs and playing music during those activities, hoping to give my ear time to disassociate spasms to those sounds while I fix my neck and shoulders. Again, this may not be what causes the symptoms for your, but at least check and see if you happen to have sore and tense muscles and muscle knots in your neck and shoulders and work on fixing that, it may also do the trick for you. Other than that, be sure to avoid stress, maintain an active lifestyle and make sure you have no nutrient defficiencies. Tensor Tympani Syndrome is a type of Middle Ear Myoclonus (MEM), you may want to join the Facebook group by that name for more info and help.
hi, i have the same reaction to tts when lying down on my left side. whenever i seem to be most stressed and have tense neck and shoulder muscles my symptoms flare up, i can even cause my ear to flutter by pushing the right muscle. It mostly(95%) happens in my left ear, and ive mangaged my symptoms through wearing earplugs when i sleep, which for some reason stops it completely. How are you going these days? did you manage to get it completely stop?
@@byrny111 For the most part, yes, but not completely. It has now been 5 months since I first experienced TTS, and I can say that I have things under control now. My left ear, which had TTS that originated in muscle tension in my neck is doing quite well. I had experienced zero symptoms for months, when a couple of weeks ago I lay my head down and noticed a soft thumping, maybe 20% the strength of what it had been. Knowing now what caused this I simply felt in my neck where there was muscle tension, and found a spot a bit higher than where it was previously, up against the bottom of my skull. I massaged the spot throughout the day, also spray magnesium on it and... presto, the muscles relaxed and the symptoms were gone! So for my left ear, with no issues for months and only a faint expression of TTS once that I was instantly able to get rid of, I consider it solved. My right ear is doing fairly well. Here the issue was TTS (same thumping as in my left ear) but not from muscle tension but a very specific sound: the sound of clattering water as it hit the sink or shower floor. The problem has subsided quite a bit, but still not 100% fixed. Especially the loud clattering of water when I take a shower can trigger the thumping, though it's a bit softer than it used to be, so I make sure to wear an ear plug when I shower. Not ideal, but very manageable. The right ear is also a bit sensitive to very loud sounds, so there is a link with hyperacusis, but it's less sensitive than it was three months ago. I believe this ear just needs to be spared certain (loud) sounds as it needs a lot of time to heal and fully relax. I'm still convinced time will get rid of it completely. Could even be a few years, who knows, but I don't mind the minor inconvenience of using an earplug in the shower and I'm patient.
@@JolledeWit thats great and inspirational. I used an ear syringe incorrectly and now just hear ringing in my ear with a change in pitch… similar to flicking tv channels on an old TV. No doctor or ENT can tell me what it is or whether it will go away. I’ve been dealing with it since December 2022
@@byrny111 That must be extremely frustrating! I know, because the stress from TTS caused me to have tinnitus (a high pitched 'beep' in three frequencies) as well. Gladly, I was able to reduce that by 90% as well over the past 5 months. It's hard to say if you have tinnitus, especially if doctors can't make a conclusive diagnosis, but it would seem like you do. For me for both TTS and tinnitus my GP and ENT were no help at all. Basically they both didn't know what TTS was, and for the tinnitus the common response appears to be: just learn to live with and get a hearing aid with masking sounds. I'm grateful to be the kind of person who goes looking for his own solutions, and like I mentioned, I've made incredible progress and expect to do even better in the future. I learned that tinnitus is likely a signal of the body that the brain stem is overstimulated by stressors (could be external or internal factors, could be a single event or multiple causes stacked together). For me (and this may not help everyone), the tinnitus 'fix' was not giving the sounds much attention, de-stressing, leading a healthy life (in terms of eating healthy, getting exercise, sleep etc.) and most of all: not panicking about the sounds. I used masking sounds (white noise) in the first weeks but this only seemed to make things worse, as if my tinnitus provided feedback to the sounds, so I switched to calm piano music and over a period of 3-4 weeks weaned off those as well, accepting whatever sounds I still did hear and learning to ignore them (listening to my own breath while doing some deep and heavy breathing helped a lot). In time, the sounds got softer, and now they're not noticable during everyday life, and hardly noticable when it's quiet (though I can still perceive a hiss when I pay attention to it, which I rarely do. As someone wrote in a book about tinnitus -great book, sadly only available in Dutch- "What you pay attention to, grows". I've found that to be very true for tinnutus). Anyway, I'm not saying all this will fix your problems, but maybe it can help a bit.
Dr Ben I have one question. I am a 22-year-old male and I have a weird fluttering thumping sound in my right ear only. it happens involuntarily. I went to my local health clinic they couldn't really diagnose me with anything. Is like a muscle spasm that happens without my will it's very annoying if I move a certain way or wake up in the morning or when I listen to music or exposed to noises it's spasms out of control even sometimes out of nowhere and it's very annoying I never had this condition before I don't have any health related conditions but all of a sudden two weeks ago it started and I cannot figure out why and what can I do for treatment options.
Thank you for reaching out! It sounds like Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTS). This is something that can be exacerbated when we are stressed or exposed to loud sounds. It typically is not concerning and will fade on its own. We have a great blog article that goes in depth on TTS. Check it out! treblehealth.com/tensor-tympani-syndrome/
I have all those symptoms: hyperacusys, pulsatile tinnitus, feeling of fullness, blocked left year, dizziness and slight pain in left ear, pain in the neck, but what bothers me most and is ruining my life is autophony. I call it autophony but I don't know if it is, the truth is that when I speak, it makes such a resonance and vibration that my brain hurts as if it were a shock to the brain. And if it happens that people talk at the same time as me, it feels like I have a short circuit. It's so painful that I distance myself from people so I don't have to talk, which is why I often miss work too. Sorry but I don't believe sound therapy is there any use, If all of this is because the muscle is malfunctioning, then it is a physical defect, sound does not have the power to repair a muscle, does it? In my case, sound has the power to ruin my life. One strange thing that happens to me though, is that listening to music with buds, even at maximum, doesn't cause me any discomfort, which is what has saved me when I walk down the street because of my hyperacusys.
Same as me, I hate this. I don't want to talk anymore to people. Mine has been happening for 3 months, how long have you been suffering ? How did yours begin ?
Mine flutter and thump mostly after burping - when that starts i then get it after stretching or yawning - sometimes it will just go off on its own - 90% right ear sometimes left - aug 2023 third instance of twitching - second was sept oct 2021 and first time was started by burping in august 2018 - first two times lasted about two months on and off- not sure if its tts or twitching of stapedius - strange that burps (deep burps) trigger mostly - havent been diagnosed- ENT useless
I have this happening often.I have Tinnitus in the opposite ear and had major hypercusis in the past.Seems like hearing aids and certain sounds aggravate the symptom. Also taking small dose of baclofen at night definitely helps it and lessens the frequency .Putting some steroid cream in the outer ear canal every other day helps with pain and general inflammation too.
dear doctor, is there no possibility of definitively recovering from this syndrome? Even with hearing loss, if you start to have a healthy and relaxed approach to life, are there any chances of recovery?
Hearing loss typically doesn't reverse, but it can be managed effectively with amplification devices like hearing aids. Tinnitus can also be managed through various strategies. I would recommend visiting your local audiologist for a thorough evaluation and guidance on managing both your hearing loss and tinnitus effectively.
So I have to ask. Did you have the symptom of it reacting to loud sounds? I know ppl take these meds of it spamming randomly and it helped. But in terms of sharp loud sounds did you have this symptom?
@@benstan4978Both, it can be triggered by noises... But also by yawning or burping... The right ear behaves differently than the left... It is important to take the medication every day and constantly without a break
@@rene4245 ok! I’ll do that! Cause I was only on 100mg a day and it barely did any thing. How long did it take for you to notice it helping? Also any side effects? Thanks so much for replying
Ive been suffering with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction since last October and tinnitus soon afterwards. Been to see Audiologists and ENTS and all been given the all clear. However my Inflammation from my ETD has persisted and unfortunately Ive just recently got this fluttering in my Right Ear! Its so fustrating and making me Anxious and Depressed as its even worse than just my normal tinnitus! I need to relax and start being happy as I believe its a major reason why this has started up. Living in constant fear and depression is never good for our bodies! Im hoping that surgery won't be required in the near future and I can heal my body naturally!
I am not a doctor, but have a autoimmune disease, probably MS. Get a blood test that will show the Thyroid Health ---T4, I believe....its the Data center of the brain and will be going into Hypothiroidism with autoimmune conditions, and inflammation is "MS" and attacks all organs and nerve sheathing and your ETD as well as TTS is a 1st Red Flag....
I have tinnitus, occasional clicking, my ears feel sore and clogged. I've had it for 4 years. But the worst symptom of all is that my hearing is muffled. I can still hear everything, I have no hearing loss but everything feels like it's behind a wall. Could that last symptom be cause by TTS as well?
When listening to some music my eardrum twitches, when i stop the music it stops, one song that triggers this is the song by A Studio, Greshnay strast.
Hi Dr. Ben, I believe I’ve developed Tensor Tympani Syndrome. I got random onset of tinnitus in one ear on Dec 4th, and it caused (and still does cause) extreme anxiety. Somewhere along the way I started getting occasional ear fluttering, in both ears but never at the same time. Now I also get a “thump” or crackle when I speak and when I hear certain sounds, like dishes clinking together. My ears also feel sore. I have a follow up with an ENT in a few weeks and am attempting to get in with a tinnitus specialist in my area. Do you truly believe that the TTS, especially if it’s related to tinnitus and anxiety, can go away or be improved with treatment such as sound therapy from an audiologist? My anxiety has been through the roof so a glimmer of hope that it might get better would be much appreciated. I can handle the tinnitus, but the Tensor Tympani thing is too much 😅 It makes me want to stop speaking entirely. Thank you for this video!
Carolyn, same issues but I have “thumping” in my left ear were I had inflammation that also developed “static” tinnitus. This thumping has annoyed me and got me more depressed.
I'm a damn mess then... I have all of it, in both ears. Tininnus, hyper-C, and this"new one" that I've never heard of. I thought the Hyper-C was the one with the clicking or popping noises, but now I find out that it's not? What in the world.... I'm a dang mess.... I've had this for far to long, and while I deal with it everyday, getting family and/or friends to understand the level of suffering I deal with, and the struggle to live life l, and the embarrassment of having to ask people to either repeat themselves, or ask a family member to repeat what someone else is saying, is beyond frustrating. I had the hearing aid looking devices(sound therapy) but they met an unfortunate accident (got washed in the washing machine). I've never been able to replace them, due to financial restraints. They did help a bit, but I needed more..... Help!?!?!
I am sorry you are so miserable! Do you have other sounds you hear, like the inner workings of your body? I know that sounds crazy but I had surgery to fix a tiny hole in the superior canal where the brain sits on the hole and I could hear my eyes move, jaw muscles, heartbeat and every step I took was deafening. I could not hear people talk unless I stood very still. Showers were like a jet plane. Surgery took care of it. Sorry about your hearing aids! That sucks!
i completely relate i have so many things wrong with my ear, ringing, thumping, and now involuntary tensor tympani. it just gets so hard some days where i wonder what i did to deserve this
So my issues started last year with an inner ear infection. After treatment I still have issues with my left ear feeling full, especially when just waking up. The thumping doesn't always happen, but when it does I notice if I'm watching a video of someone speaking the thumping will come in at certain words and if I turn off the video the thumping stops right away.
I don't know if it is connected but I got mine after Covid and a sinus blockage from that a couple of months ago, I have elevated blood pressure at the mo due to stress so I'm just completely confused as to whether its blood pressure and just a case of stress, or neither of these. How do you diagnose? Its such a random thing, when I was very stressed about a month ago I got it almost all day in just my ear, now I'm slightly less stressed and it went completely for a week or 2 , but now its back and I wasn't aware of being more stressed, my mind is equating the thumping to my stress levels /blood pressure but it may not be at all>.All I know is it came directly after a few weeks of sinus blockage from Covid and ive heard similar stories of late online about covid and thumping in ear.
Impacting ear wax can cause tinnitus. If the cause of tinnitus is solely due to impacted earwax, the tinnitus typically subsides once the earwax is removed.
Hi Ben I've reached silence like I mentioned to you previously. Have you done some research into dry fasting, low carb diet, meditation, exercise and getting natural sunlight but even muscle tension release with a lacrosse ball and even cold showers? Because this helped me. Could you maybe try a 30 day challenge on it to see if it helps you personally. Thanks olapa.
So in other words, you acknowledge that it exists but you also have neither an idea what is causing it nor do you have any treatment that outperforms a pep talk from a cat. 😕
@@kevinchrist1658 I tried remedies for magnesium deficiency to no avail. Unless there is something special to that glycinate form i can't see how it should be any different
Same. It's like a low frequency electric morse code. Sleep definitely helps. Oddly enough I have found that forcing myself to go to a music concert and let loose seems to cure it for a few days. Must be the anxiety and lack of sleep along with low magnesium.
But can it go away fully ? Or will my middle ear muscles be permanently in shock mode ? I already had some mild hyperacusis and quite bad tinnitus when 3 months ago a 2 year old girl, held in her mothers arms directly behind me in a queue, laugh/screamed with the most high pitch shrill noise I have ever heard for about 2 seconds, I immediately winced and put my fingers in my ears, my right ear went full and the next day I had such bad hyperacusis I couldn't go to the shops without protection, which was unusual for me (normally I only needed protection for power tools, vacuuming, hammering, etc). Now I am still left with some hyperacusis (it has improved somewhat) but my right ear still feels full, has a tugging/pulling feeling to the ear drum, and I get fluttering sometimes, and everything sounds like a broken speaker, I also have aching from around my ear down my jaw, and I get cold and hot feelings in my ear. Am I destroyed for life ? All because of an unexpected scream 2ft away from me ? No one ever mentions if the muscles can relax normally again or if this is now a "learn to cope" thing only.
We're so sorry to hear about your experience. Hyperacusis can go away completely and tinnitus can move to the background to where it is no longer impacting your day to day life. We'd be happy to discuss further with you. Schedule a complimentary telehealth consultation: treble.health/consultation
Yes, I had the same. See my comments elsewhere on this page. Your TTS is likely linked to muscle tension in your neck. Get rid of the tension (massage, stretch, apply magnesium oil...) and you'll likely see much improvement in your TTS symptoms.
@Jolle de Wit you think so? My TTTS is only caused by sound in my left ear. When I say mine gets worse when laying down, what happens is my own voice causes the eardrum to spasm easier, and sounds trigger the thumping easier. Idk if it's something to do with vibrations in my head being stronger because my head is pressed against a pillow. Currently, I'm laying down, and if I hum, my eardrum will thump. Also, when I rub or scratch my scalp, it'll sometimes cause my eardrum to thump, too. Do you have the too? What do you think it is?
@@joshuagarcia2642 It's hard to tell, your TTS is a bit different from mine. With my left ear it was purely caused by muscle tension in my neck, but my right ear started experiencing a few days after the left one started, but is not caused by muscle tension but by sound (for me: the sound of water clattering, esp. when showering, but in the past also when doing dishes with water splashing in the sink). I've pretty much fixed the left ear, the right is still sensitive to water clattering sounds, and a little hyperacustic. Still, it has improved over the past 5 months since it started. It sounds like you have a combination of both triggers in one ear. Clearly, the big trigger for you is sound, but I would still see if muscle tension plays role here too. Could be in your neck, but also your jaws. With me, I very clearly had tight muscles (knots) in my neck. I think this tension actually works through in other muscles in your head internally. Basically the muscle tension ends up also pulling on the muscles in your ear, and with those (tympani) muscle being tight all the time, they are aggravated by sound much more than they should be. The way I see it (All this is just my theory, and I'm no doctor, but it makes sense to me and it helped me a lot): tension in your muscles pull on the tympani tensor, then sound comes in the ear and the tensor tightens even more (that is its function), and the sum of these two stressors on the tensor are too much for it to handle, so it starts to spasm in an attempt to relieve the tension. So when you're laying down, this new position of laying down then cause certain muscles in your neck to start pulling and internally start pulling on your tensor tympani, making it more sensitive to added tension caused by sounds. What I hypothesize is that if you check your entire neck for tension, you may find areas that feel sensitive or tight. When you stretch your neck, massage these areas and perhaps treat with magnesium oil to help the relax, you may find that laying down no longer causes an overload of tension in your neck, and though this, reducing the overload of tension on your tensor tympani. Now, this reduction is likely not going to be enough to get rid of the TTS entirely. With sounds being the main trigger, you'll have to tackle that as well. I consider this type of TTS a form of hyperacusis: your ear is too sensitive to certain sounds and gets aggravated too easily. My guess is that your tensor tympani is simply tight all the time, so any of the sounds you describe will add to the tension already there, causing a tension overload, causing the tensor to spasm in order to relax. It's a bit like holding a piece of string between your thumb and index finger in both hands, and then tightening it. Your hands (muscles) pulling on the string (tensor) aggravate the string (tensor) and in an attempt to alleviate this tension the muscles relax for a second, but the tension then starts pulling on the string again, and you will hear the string tightening again. It's that spasm from the tension that pulls and relaxes, and the pulls and relaxes (etc. etc.). Except on side of the string (tensor) is your eardrum, so you hear that thumping sound. So, the idea is to get your tensor tympani to get to a relaxed state again. The best advice I can give (other than make sure you neck is truly free of tension) is to give your ear as much rest as possible. Normally, I would say use an earplug in the daytime when watching tv and in traffic etc. and avoid loud sounds. But with, it's your own voice triggering the TTS as well, so that makes things more complicated. Even with avoiding sounds it could take a long time for your ear to relax. Still, see what avoiding loud sounds does for you. If you find it helps even a little bit, at least you know you're on your way. Also, live a healthy life. I'm a firm believer that if you eat and sleep well, get exercise, keep stress to a minimum etc., your entire body will function better and be able to heal itself much more efficiently. So, very long response, but I hope it may of help. I know how annoying TTS is and hope to help others who have to deal with it. For me, my GP and ENT were no help at all, but I was lucky enough to figure out how to fix (most of) the TTS. That's not to say my way is a guaranteed fix, but I think the general tone online when it comes to TTS and tinnitus (had that too, reduced it by 95%) is way to negative. Yes, some things can't be fixed or require surgery, but often you 'just' need to figure out what your body needs and provide it. It's certainly the first route to take, if it fails you can always go the medical route later.
@Jolle de Wit I appreciate the long response. So I've also noticed my jaws have been really tense and that one morning, while I was getting ready for the day, I looked straight up into the air and moved my jaw really wide up and down and my eardrum on my right side started tensing. Mind you, this is my good ear that doesn't tense in reaction to sound. Maybe there are other physical issues at play in my case. The last couple of days when I've been chewing or moving my jaw, I've had pain in my left side. The pain is either in my jaw or my ear. I can't tell exactly because they're so interconnected that it's hard to pinpoint its origin.
Also, my ear that doesn't have tinnitus will sometimes get ringing that lasts a few seconds. It's worrisome, but I'm hoping it's not related to sound exposure and is caused by my my jaws and neck. I've noticed that the more anxiety I've gotten over my T and eardrum reacting, the more sensitive it is. For a couple of days, I've been trying to forget it's there or not be scared of sound, and I feel some improvement. Also, it's strange that my TTTS is more sensitive in the morning. Could that have to do with neck posture while asleep?
I got the very expensive sound therapy and the advice of the audiologist but did not work for this condition. The sound therapy was so annoying and very expensive.
I have just found this video and it’s 100% what I’ve been experiencing. It started abruptly after I had severe nasal/sinus congestion after COVID in March. I’ve had subjective left ear tinnitus since 2006. I’m waiting to see an NHS audiologist, but the waiting list is about 7 months in my area (I live in Wales UK). I’m having to consider private treatment as it’s so distressing. To everyone who suffers from this…..I’m thinking of you xxx
@@HucknallsGirl hi there…..actually, it’s eased a little bit today. I saw my GP yesterday (again, the poor soul) and asked to try some antibiotics in case it was an infection….she gave me some antibiotics (doxycycline) and it’s not so bad today. Could have been an infection of sorts…..it’s still rumbling/vibrating but not as bad. How are you? I’m sorry that you have this xxx. Thank you for asking after me xxx
@aliroberts2246 that's interesting. I was given otomize ear spray a few days ago whuch is supposed to be an antibiotic steroid spray. Can't say iv got any relief yet but it's good to know I'm not going mad I thought I was at one point. Mine started after wax microsuction. Which j can't understand as iv had it before with no issues. Did you experience any vertigo with your congestion?
@@HucknallsGirl hiya! No, no vertigo that I’ve noticed….although slight light headedness and strong feeling of pressure. I’ve had nose sprays/drops etc (Dymista, Flixonase and Betamethasone) but none have made a difference. I’m waiting on an MRI. My ears are completely clean, so not sure what’s going on. The last couple of daytimes have been quite quiet (also I think of mine as more of a vibration/fluttering than a sound). It’s the nights that it ramps up…..last night I slept on the affected ear side and jammed my pillow into it, made a fist under it too so the ear gets a lot of pressure and I really felt it calmed it down. Might be worth a try?
@aliroberts2246 so I only seem to get the vibration reaction from noise so at night it's the only time I get some peace. Iv been told I can't have an ent referral untill after 8 weeks time from using the spray. So not alot I can do till then but I am due to return to thr microsuction clinic in 2 weeks for a review can ask them what they think? Iv seen comments about neck tension which can affect it so might try seeing an osteopath who I saw last year for neck pain. I do have a history of Hyperacusis though but interesting the spasms are involuntary! I wanna say to my ear stop spasming it's not loud! But it's defying me haha. It's not funny though iv been very upset and looks like this isn't a very common thing.
@@shaffey01 What kind of dental work? Did it happen right after or with some days in delay? I got mine because of benzos and now I need dental work and I am terrified.
@@jmaindigo6641 I'm not sure if that's exactly what caused it but the timing of it started when I got a crown on my upper tooth (14). Never heard of benzos being the cause, they're the only thing that could help me sleep.
Here's an interesting one for you, @treblehealth Have you ever heard (ha) of a specific form of TTS where the ear affected by the pulsation is NOT the one hearing the loud noise? I can easily replicate this by lying on my left side with my left ear on a pillow and my right ear exposed. Any spoken syllables in my RIGHT ear, which are specifically NOT "co-heard" by my left ear (due to the pillow) cause an immediate pulsation in my LEFT ear. The TTS goes away when I allow my left ear to hear what the right ear does, such as placing my hand under my head and opening up a small space for the sound to enter. My TTS is also replicated by only wearing my right earbud: my left ear twitches. No TTS in the affected left ear when wearing only the left earbud or both earbuds together. To me, this clearly indicates some wires crossed. Possibly due to mild concussion? Of note, I used to hear fluttering in both ears a long time before TTS started, but only when exposed to someone practicing trumpet, or a cockatiel singing. Not extremely loud. Perhaps underlying mild hyperacusis.
Hey Dr. Ben, Ive been suffering since 2008 from a hearing condition in my left ear where when exposed to loud continuous sounds, my left ear has a static/crackling sound. When the noise subsides the static sound goes away. Could this be tensor tympani syndrome?
Caleb, you asked some good personalized questions here. My answer depends on more information that I do not yet know about your history. Feel free to contact our team at Treble Health and we can do our best to help you.
I have the same, like a constant cracking sound when the noise reaches a specific level, and when it stops, my left ear keeps sensitive for a moment and if another sound starts, Even if it's not that loud, triggers again the crackling again
I have this happen a lot, and reading some comments I realize it happens when my muscles are tense, and I have nerve damage in my back. It’s only in my right ear, and it always happens when I’m holding my phone up to that ear but, strangely, I have more hearing in that ear so I have to use it for the phone 😂 I haven’t gone to the doctor about it because I know what it is and I know I already have hearing damage along with either hyperacusis or misophonia. I’ve thought about getting a hearing aid but that would be more of a last resort for me, I would rather try to work on my muscle/nerve issues and sound therapy.
Dear doctor, this TTTS begins in the Hyperbaric Chamber one year ago and today I got it EVERYDAY... Can Hyperbaric Chamber cause neurological damages!?? Or other type of damage!??
There isn't any concrete evidence suggesting that hyperbaric chambers cause neurological damage or other types of harm. In fact, they are known to provide various health benefits. However, I'll look into this further to ensure we have the most accurate information available.
@@treblehealth thank you doctor! Doctors here in Italy explained to me that I may have had a muscle injury in the hyperbaric chamber. It just seems strange to me that in a year this spasm still hasn't stopped.
@Treble Health Since a while ago there is something strange happen to one of my ears. When I touch the ear I hear a "crakling"/fluttering sound. I also hear it when I talk or something rattles around me, for exampel dishes slamming. If I sit still and not talk I do not hear the sound. It triggers when I touch the ear or talking. My doctor could not see anything wrong with my ear. Could this be Tensor Tympani Syndrome?
I'm sorry to hear about the strange sounds you're experiencing. I would need more information to know what exactly is going on. It's a good idea to follow up with an ENT specialist who can provide a more detailed evaluation and discuss potential treatments.
I believe a notch filter hearing aid can help, because I have some hearing loss mild to Mod also, Severe Tinnitus, and TTS, pluse TN. What hearing aid under 15.000 is there?
Hi, thank you for reaching out. I'm not sure what 15.000 is referring to. We would need more information about your case history to best determine which hearing aid is right for you. Schedule a complimentary telehealth consultation: treble.health/schedule
I just was in touch with treble health today! I will be signing on! We strongly believe this is what I have question can it cause flutters in the temples as well, I have them in my temples (I guess trigeminal nerve)
We're looking forward to working with you and get you on the path to habituation! The flutters may be related to the tensor tympani muscle. Check out this blog article to see if this resonates with you: treblehealth.com/tensor-tympani-syndrome/
Back on Feb 1, 2020, I woke up with hearing loss in my right ear, and to this day I have 24/7 tinnitus (high pitch EEEEE) in that ear. Since then, my other ear, the left, has fluttering bouts from time to time. I never had that problem until after 2/1/2020. It doesn't happen all the time, but it does concern me, because i wonder if it may be a sign that I will lose hearing in my left ear, too, and have the same tinnitus in that ear. My life is hell enough as it is.
It's actually called reactive tinnitus, and like all forms of tinnitus, IT IS 100% REVERSIBLE BUT MEDICINE WILL NOT HELP YOU BECAUSE AUDIOLOGY IS A JOKE. The cause of ALL forms of tinnitus (regular, pulsatile, and reactive) is LONGTERM MINERAL DEFICIENCIES. This breaks down bone in the ear and causes minerals to be deposited in surrounding soft tissue. Regular tinnitus is when mineralized chunks of tissue are exposed to the same frequency they resonate at. Pulsatile tinnitus is when mineralized tissue around blood vessels amplifies the sound (as hard objects often do) Lastly, reactive tinnitus is when minerals accumulate in the tensor tympani, which disrupts nerve signaling and causes the muscle to rumble inappropriately. It's effectively a limited form of hyperacusis as that muscle is SUPPOSED to rumble to protect from dangerously loud sounds, but is instead triggered by very minor sounds. Because hearing tests are just an absolute joke, it's impossible for medicine to catch reactive tinnitus in the act because the sounds in the hearing test are not loud enough to trigger the rumble. Cupping, acupuncture, and gua sha all over the face and neck will also speed up the recovery process.
If you can hear yourself blink PLEASE get screened for superior canal dehiscence syndrome. It's INCREDIBLY common in autistic people, but since medicine hates autistic people it mostly refuses to acknowledge it. If you struggle to make eye contact while speaking it's HIGHLY likely you have SCDS. Autistic bodies have differences to calcium processing that makes their body break down bone faster than normal. When combined with the utterly toxic levels of calcium in fortified foods, the result is auditory processing issues medicine is utterly useless at even diagnosing, much less treating.
Audiology is SUCH a joke that they refuse to even acknowledge that hyperacusis exists--a huge problem given that autistic people also almost always have bone conduction hyperacusis. Step inside any audiology office, and you'll find that staff SCREAM AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS in the waiting room because they literally do not care about hyperacusis. You can be SCREAMING, rolling on the floor, covering your ears, and still staff will not stop assaulting you at maximum volume. I can't say it enough: audiology is nothing but a pathetic joke 😂
Jeetu, you asked some good personalized questions here. My answer depends on more information that I do not yet know about your history. Feel free to contact our team at Treble Health and we can do our best to help you.
Yup, this is exactly what I have. Clicking keyboard sets the butterflies loose in my ear. I think it was there prior to superior canal dehiscence surgery but I did not notice due to other sounds that were more severe.
I have this. Here in Belgium they patch your eardrum. Tympanic patching so calls. Sad story is that the paper in your ear falls out after 6 weeks. Benzodiazepinnes also help because of they're anxiolytic component in the medication what eases the musscles - BUT NOT IN LONG-TERM USE #ADDICTION
I can do this without clenching anything I have been able to do it since I was 13 years old . I use it during meditation to submerged my self into deep introspection and rejuvenate and revitalize my spiritual equilibrium. Its not a problem and i dont need treatment for it. Its actually a blessing to be able to control it at will for my pleasure.
➡ Book Your FREE Tinnitus Consultation: treble.health/schedule
I've had this, incredibly frustrating. It clearly a muscle spasm in my ear, and was like someone was beating a little drum (tympani) in my ear. For me it was mostly at night almost as soon as I leaned my head back on my pillow. This was already an indication for me that for me it was mostly about a physical issue in my neck. I searched half the internet and finally found what worked for me and a number of other people. Mind you: this may not work for everyone, but it can't hurt to explore.
For me, it turned out the TTS was caused by muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. And they were indeed very, very tense (from stress, but also extra strain from weightlifting, poor posture sitting on a couch and behind a computer a lot) so when I read about others linking their condition to muscle tension in those areas, it really hit home for me. So be sure to check and see if this could be the case for you.
What helped me was massaging and stretching my neck and shoulders, and I used a trigger point cane to work on muscle knots in my back and shoulders. All that gave relief from my TTS very quickly (the same day), though the tension was so severe I'm still working on getting those muscles relaxed 3 weeks later. I decided to also visit a chiropractor who scanned my spine for muscle tension, and the tension in my neck turned out to off the charts, so he's treating me for that. I intend to also have some fysiotherapy because I still have tense neck/shoulders/back, and the stress from the TTS spiked my tinnitus. But like I said: massaging and stretching my own neck/shoulders/back already did 90% of the job in terms of fixing the TTS.
Strangely, my issue was almost exclusive to my left ear, but when I hit the shower my right ear would start having the same spasms. TTS is often triggered by sounds, and apparently my right ears was sensitive to the sound of the shower. And weirdly enough, the sound of water when I did the dishes in the sink. I'm still having some issues there so for now I'm avoiding those sounds by using ear plugs and playing music during those activities, hoping to give my ear time to disassociate spasms to those sounds while I fix my neck and shoulders.
Again, this may not be what causes the symptoms for your, but at least check and see if you happen to have sore and tense muscles and muscle knots in your neck and shoulders and work on fixing that, it may also do the trick for you. Other than that, be sure to avoid stress, maintain an active lifestyle and make sure you have no nutrient defficiencies.
Tensor Tympani Syndrome is a type of Middle Ear Myoclonus (MEM), you may want to join the Facebook group by that name for more info and help.
hi, i have the same reaction to tts when lying down on my left side. whenever i seem to be most stressed and have tense neck and shoulder muscles my symptoms flare up, i can even cause my ear to flutter by pushing the right muscle. It mostly(95%) happens in my left ear, and ive mangaged my symptoms through wearing earplugs when i sleep, which for some reason stops it completely.
How are you going these days? did you manage to get it completely stop?
Did you manage to solve it
@@byrny111 For the most part, yes, but not completely. It has now been 5 months since I first experienced TTS, and I can say that I have things under control now.
My left ear, which had TTS that originated in muscle tension in my neck is doing quite well. I had experienced zero symptoms for months, when a couple of weeks ago I lay my head down and noticed a soft thumping, maybe 20% the strength of what it had been. Knowing now what caused this I simply felt in my neck where there was muscle tension, and found a spot a bit higher than where it was previously, up against the bottom of my skull. I massaged the spot throughout the day, also spray magnesium on it and... presto, the muscles relaxed and the symptoms were gone!
So for my left ear, with no issues for months and only a faint expression of TTS once that I was instantly able to get rid of, I consider it solved.
My right ear is doing fairly well. Here the issue was TTS (same thumping as in my left ear) but not from muscle tension but a very specific sound: the sound of clattering water as it hit the sink or shower floor. The problem has subsided quite a bit, but still not 100% fixed. Especially the loud clattering of water when I take a shower can trigger the thumping, though it's a bit softer than it used to be, so I make sure to wear an ear plug when I shower. Not ideal, but very manageable.
The right ear is also a bit sensitive to very loud sounds, so there is a link with hyperacusis, but it's less sensitive than it was three months ago. I believe this ear just needs to be spared certain (loud) sounds as it needs a lot of time to heal and fully relax. I'm still convinced time will get rid of it completely. Could even be a few years, who knows, but I don't mind the minor inconvenience of using an earplug in the shower and I'm patient.
@@JolledeWit thats great and inspirational. I used an ear syringe incorrectly and now just hear ringing in my ear with a change in pitch… similar to flicking tv channels on an old TV. No doctor or ENT can tell me what it is or whether it will go away. I’ve been dealing with it since December 2022
@@byrny111 That must be extremely frustrating! I know, because the stress from TTS caused me to have tinnitus (a high pitched 'beep' in three frequencies) as well. Gladly, I was able to reduce that by 90% as well over the past 5 months. It's hard to say if you have tinnitus, especially if doctors can't make a conclusive diagnosis, but it would seem like you do. For me for both TTS and tinnitus my GP and ENT were no help at all. Basically they both didn't know what TTS was, and for the tinnitus the common response appears to be: just learn to live with and get a hearing aid with masking sounds.
I'm grateful to be the kind of person who goes looking for his own solutions, and like I mentioned, I've made incredible progress and expect to do even better in the future. I learned that tinnitus is likely a signal of the body that the brain stem is overstimulated by stressors (could be external or internal factors, could be a single event or multiple causes stacked together). For me (and this may not help everyone), the tinnitus 'fix' was not giving the sounds much attention, de-stressing, leading a healthy life (in terms of eating healthy, getting exercise, sleep etc.) and most of all: not panicking about the sounds. I used masking sounds (white noise) in the first weeks but this only seemed to make things worse, as if my tinnitus provided feedback to the sounds, so I switched to calm piano music and over a period of 3-4 weeks weaned off those as well, accepting whatever sounds I still did hear and learning to ignore them (listening to my own breath while doing some deep and heavy breathing helped a lot). In time, the sounds got softer, and now they're not noticable during everyday life, and hardly noticable when it's quiet (though I can still perceive a hiss when I pay attention to it, which I rarely do. As someone wrote in a book about tinnitus -great book, sadly only available in Dutch- "What you pay attention to, grows". I've found that to be very true for tinnutus).
Anyway, I'm not saying all this will fix your problems, but maybe it can help a bit.
Dr Ben I have one question. I am a 22-year-old male and I have a weird fluttering thumping sound in my right ear only. it happens involuntarily. I went to my local health clinic they couldn't really diagnose me with anything. Is like a muscle spasm that happens without my will it's very annoying if I move a certain way or wake up in the morning or when I listen to music or exposed to noises it's spasms out of control even sometimes out of nowhere and it's very annoying I never had this condition before I don't have any health related conditions but all of a sudden two weeks ago it started and I cannot figure out why and what can I do for treatment options.
Thank you for reaching out! It sounds like Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTS). This is something that can be exacerbated when we are stressed or exposed to loud sounds. It typically is not concerning and will fade on its own. We have a great blog article that goes in depth on TTS. Check it out! treblehealth.com/tensor-tympani-syndrome/
I have all those symptoms: hyperacusys, pulsatile tinnitus, feeling of fullness, blocked left year, dizziness and slight pain in left ear, pain in the neck, but what bothers me most and is ruining my life is autophony. I call it autophony but I don't know if it is, the truth is that when I speak, it makes such a resonance and vibration that my brain hurts as if it were a shock to the brain. And if it happens that people talk at the same time as me, it feels like I have a short circuit. It's so painful that I distance myself from people so I don't have to talk, which is why I often miss work too. Sorry but I don't believe sound therapy is there any use, If all of this is because the muscle is malfunctioning, then it is a physical defect, sound does not have the power to repair a muscle, does it? In my case, sound has the power to ruin my life. One strange thing that happens to me though, is that listening to music with buds, even at maximum, doesn't cause me any discomfort, which is what has saved me when I walk down the street because of my hyperacusys.
Same as me, I hate this. I don't want to talk anymore to people. Mine has been happening for 3 months, how long have you been suffering ? How did yours begin ?
Mine flutter and thump mostly after burping - when that starts i then get it after stretching or yawning - sometimes it will just go off on its own - 90% right ear sometimes left - aug 2023 third instance of twitching - second was sept oct 2021 and first time was started by burping in august 2018 - first two times lasted about two months on and off- not sure if its tts or twitching of stapedius - strange that burps (deep burps) trigger mostly - havent been diagnosed- ENT useless
I have exactly this, Been about 4 weeks now does it randomly now and again but always when i burp, sometimes when i yawn. Did it ever go away?
I get fluttering when I burp
Same here
Had to unsubscribe , i was constantly reminded that i had tinnitus which is bad. Not being reminded you have it is a big part of the battle.
Thats bc they have to keep making videos, there is no cure and there's multiple reasons that cause tinnitus.
You had to unsubscribe from a channel that talks about Tinnitus?
@@shaffey01 Brother there is a cure. I silenced mine. Why don't you head over to liamstopstinnitus
@@olapaqiolatunji9659 everyone's tinnitus pitch is different.
@@shaffey01 lol you think I still have tinnitus 🤣. Been there done that. That phase of my life has gone
I have this. Clicking in a rhythmic manner. It’s gotten better. I’ve had hyperacusis and ringing. Hyperacusis is gone now.
How did you develop these conditions?
I have this happening often.I have Tinnitus in the opposite ear and had major hypercusis in the past.Seems like hearing aids and certain sounds aggravate the symptom. Also taking small dose of baclofen at night definitely helps it and lessens the frequency .Putting some steroid cream in the outer ear canal every other day helps with pain and general inflammation too.
Got this right after a TDap vaccine . Super annoying
Are u serious??
Can u use ur platform to spread awareness??? PLEASE
It is life threatening though. It’s horrible and causes suicidal thought.
Feeling better?
How u doing now??
You are so right, the sound is terrible but what is more terrible is that you feel it
dear doctor, is there no possibility of definitively recovering from this syndrome? Even with hearing loss, if you start to have a healthy and relaxed approach to life, are there any chances of recovery?
Hearing loss typically doesn't reverse, but it can be managed effectively with amplification devices like hearing aids. Tinnitus can also be managed through various strategies. I would recommend visiting your local audiologist for a thorough evaluation and guidance on managing both your hearing loss and tinnitus effectively.
Me helped 400mg Carbamazepin today! 200mg in the morning and 200mg tonight the Sound is silent after 1 year!
the clicking sound?
So I have to ask. Did you have the symptom of it reacting to loud sounds? I know ppl take these meds of it spamming randomly and it helped. But in terms of sharp loud sounds did you have this symptom?
@@lichkov60No, I have tts but it can still help. I'm in a forum where positive things are reported...
@@benstan4978Both, it can be triggered by noises... But also by yawning or burping... The right ear behaves differently than the left... It is important to take the medication every day and constantly without a break
@@rene4245 ok! I’ll do that! Cause I was only on 100mg a day and it barely did any thing. How long did it take for you to notice it helping? Also any side effects? Thanks so much for replying
Ive been suffering with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction since last October and tinnitus soon afterwards. Been to see Audiologists and ENTS and all been given the all clear. However my Inflammation from my ETD has persisted and unfortunately Ive just recently got this fluttering in my Right Ear! Its so fustrating and making me Anxious and Depressed as its even worse than just my normal tinnitus! I need to relax and start being happy as I believe its a major reason why this has started up. Living in constant fear and depression is never good for our bodies! Im hoping that surgery won't be required in the near future and I can heal my body naturally!
Hey I think I have this. How's it going?
I am not a doctor, but have a autoimmune disease, probably MS. Get a blood test that will show the Thyroid Health ---T4, I believe....its the Data center of the brain and will be going into Hypothiroidism with autoimmune conditions, and inflammation is "MS" and attacks all organs and nerve sheathing and your ETD as well as TTS is a 1st Red Flag....
Wow! This sounds so familiar with what I go through. I’m always learning from your knowledge!! Thanks!! ✌️❤️
You're welcome, Janis! :)
Be well.
I have tinnitus, occasional clicking, my ears feel sore and clogged. I've had it for 4 years.
But the worst symptom of all is that my hearing is muffled. I can still hear everything, I have no hearing loss but everything feels like it's behind a wall.
Could that last symptom be cause by TTS as well?
Absolutely. I had that and was able to get some help from a physiotherapist who was able to resolve some issues with my upper spine.
@@davidnorden1972 I've had multiple check-ups since then and unfortunately it's not TTS but it was still worth a shot. The search continues
When listening to some music my eardrum twitches, when i stop the music it stops, one song that triggers this is the song by A Studio, Greshnay strast.
Hi Dr. Ben, I believe I’ve developed Tensor Tympani Syndrome. I got random onset of tinnitus in one ear on Dec 4th, and it caused (and still does cause) extreme anxiety. Somewhere along the way I started getting occasional ear fluttering, in both ears but never at the same time. Now I also get a “thump” or crackle when I speak and when I hear certain sounds, like dishes clinking together. My ears also feel sore. I have a follow up with an ENT in a few weeks and am attempting to get in with a tinnitus specialist in my area. Do you truly believe that the TTS, especially if it’s related to tinnitus and anxiety, can go away or be improved with treatment such as sound therapy from an audiologist? My anxiety has been through the roof so a glimmer of hope that it might get better would be much appreciated. I can handle the tinnitus, but the Tensor Tympani thing is too much 😅 It makes me want to stop speaking entirely. Thank you for this video!
You're welcome, Carolyn! Enjoy exploring our other RUclips videos, as well as blog articles on our Treble Health website.
Carolyn, same issues but I have “thumping” in my left ear were I had inflammation that also developed “static” tinnitus. This thumping has annoyed me and got me more depressed.
@@blancacasillas8226how are u now.i have been suffering for 6 months,ocassional thought of killing myself comes and goes
I have same exact issue. Any progress?
Dr. Please take 1 and half step away from the camera. You look too close and become distorted by camera lens.
I'm a damn mess then... I have all of it, in both ears. Tininnus, hyper-C, and this"new one" that I've never heard of.
I thought the Hyper-C was the one with the clicking or popping noises, but now I find out that it's not? What in the world....
I'm a dang mess.... I've had this for far to long, and while I deal with it everyday, getting family and/or friends to understand the level of suffering I deal with, and the struggle to live life l, and the embarrassment of having to ask people to either repeat themselves, or ask a family member to repeat what someone else is saying, is beyond frustrating.
I had the hearing aid looking devices(sound therapy) but they met an unfortunate accident (got washed in the washing machine). I've never been able to replace them, due to financial restraints. They did help a bit, but I needed more.....
Help!?!?!
I am sorry you are so miserable! Do you have other sounds you hear, like the inner workings of your body? I know that sounds crazy but I had surgery to fix a tiny hole in the superior canal where the brain sits on the hole and I could hear my eyes move, jaw muscles, heartbeat and every step I took was deafening. I could not hear people talk unless I stood very still. Showers were like a jet plane. Surgery took care of it. Sorry about your hearing aids! That sucks!
i completely relate i have so many things wrong with my ear, ringing, thumping, and now involuntary tensor tympani. it just gets so hard some days where i wonder what i did to deserve this
So my issues started last year with an inner ear infection. After treatment I still have issues with my left ear feeling full, especially when just waking up.
The thumping doesn't always happen, but when it does I notice if I'm watching a video of someone speaking the thumping will come in at certain words and if I turn off the video the thumping stops right away.
How are you now? I have this problem too
I have this problem too, after ear infection, 6 years now. Both times ENT dismissed me as normal.
I don't know if it is connected but I got mine after Covid and a sinus blockage from that a couple of months ago, I have elevated blood pressure at the mo due to stress so I'm just completely confused as to whether its blood pressure and just a case of stress, or neither of these. How do you diagnose? Its such a random thing, when I was very stressed about a month ago I got it almost all day in just my ear, now I'm slightly less stressed and it went completely for a week or 2 , but now its back and I wasn't aware of being more stressed, my mind is equating the thumping to my stress levels /blood pressure but it may not be at all>.All I know is it came directly after a few weeks of sinus blockage from Covid and ive heard similar stories of late online about covid and thumping in ear.
Feeling better?
I'm having this issue but my ear is also impacted by wax, could this be connected?
Impacting ear wax can cause tinnitus. If the cause of tinnitus is solely due to impacted earwax, the tinnitus typically subsides once the earwax is removed.
Hi Ben I've reached silence like I mentioned to you previously. Have you done some research into dry fasting, low carb diet, meditation, exercise and getting natural sunlight but even muscle tension release with a lacrosse ball and even cold showers? Because this helped me. Could you maybe try a 30 day challenge on it to see if it helps you personally. Thanks olapa.
Do you follow Liam’s protocol?
@@McStorch0 indeed I did
Wbu
@@olapaqiolatunji9659 how bad were you when you started Liam’s advice? Hyperacusis?
Hey what muscle tension release video have you watch i need some recommendations please
So in other words, you acknowledge that it exists but you also have neither an idea what is causing it nor do you have any treatment that outperforms a pep talk from a cat.
😕
Try Magnesium Glycinate supplements before bed, and get more sleep. You may have TMJ as well
@@kevinchrist1658 I tried remedies for magnesium deficiency to no avail.
Unless there is something special to that glycinate form i can't see how it should be any different
I got this after the moderna vaccine and it won’t go away
Thanks for the incredible explanation and clarity! awesome to hear doctors doing what they do best and seeming like the enjoy what they do!!
I hear very low frequency like car idling on parking. I think it's TTS.
I have the same sound in my right ear
I have the same with no diagnosis it’s maddening
Same. It's like a low frequency electric morse code. Sleep definitely helps. Oddly enough I have found that forcing myself to go to a music concert and let loose seems to cure it for a few days. Must be the anxiety and lack of sleep along with low magnesium.
I gave this constantly, it stops momentarily when I talk or shake my head side to side, gets 10x worse after a car ride!
But can it go away fully ? Or will my middle ear muscles be permanently in shock mode ? I already had some mild hyperacusis and quite bad tinnitus when 3 months ago a 2 year old girl, held in her mothers arms directly behind me in a queue, laugh/screamed with the most high pitch shrill noise I have ever heard for about 2 seconds, I immediately winced and put my fingers in my ears, my right ear went full and the next day I had such bad hyperacusis I couldn't go to the shops without protection, which was unusual for me (normally I only needed protection for power tools, vacuuming, hammering, etc). Now I am still left with some hyperacusis (it has improved somewhat) but my right ear still feels full, has a tugging/pulling feeling to the ear drum, and I get fluttering sometimes, and everything sounds like a broken speaker, I also have aching from around my ear down my jaw, and I get cold and hot feelings in my ear. Am I destroyed for life ? All because of an unexpected scream 2ft away from me ? No one ever mentions if the muscles can relax normally again or if this is now a "learn to cope" thing only.
We're so sorry to hear about your experience. Hyperacusis can go away completely and tinnitus can move to the background to where it is no longer impacting your day to day life. We'd be happy to discuss further with you. Schedule a complimentary telehealth consultation: treble.health/consultation
Anyone else notice their TTTS gets triggered easier when lying down?
Yes, I had the same. See my comments elsewhere on this page. Your TTS is likely linked to muscle tension in your neck. Get rid of the tension (massage, stretch, apply magnesium oil...) and you'll likely see much improvement in your TTS symptoms.
@Jolle de Wit you think so? My TTTS is only caused by sound in my left ear. When I say mine gets worse when laying down, what happens is my own voice causes the eardrum to spasm easier, and sounds trigger the thumping easier. Idk if it's something to do with vibrations in my head being stronger because my head is pressed against a pillow. Currently, I'm laying down, and if I hum, my eardrum will thump. Also, when I rub or scratch my scalp, it'll sometimes cause my eardrum to thump, too. Do you have the too? What do you think it is?
@@joshuagarcia2642 It's hard to tell, your TTS is a bit different from mine. With my left ear it was purely caused by muscle tension in my neck, but my right ear started experiencing a few days after the left one started, but is not caused by muscle tension but by sound (for me: the sound of water clattering, esp. when showering, but in the past also when doing dishes with water splashing in the sink). I've pretty much fixed the left ear, the right is still sensitive to water clattering sounds, and a little hyperacustic. Still, it has improved over the past 5 months since it started.
It sounds like you have a combination of both triggers in one ear. Clearly, the big trigger for you is sound, but I would still see if muscle tension plays role here too. Could be in your neck, but also your jaws. With me, I very clearly had tight muscles (knots) in my neck. I think this tension actually works through in other muscles in your head internally. Basically the muscle tension ends up also pulling on the muscles in your ear, and with those (tympani) muscle being tight all the time, they are aggravated by sound much more than they should be. The way I see it (All this is just my theory, and I'm no doctor, but it makes sense to me and it helped me a lot): tension in your muscles pull on the tympani tensor, then sound comes in the ear and the tensor tightens even more (that is its function), and the sum of these two stressors on the tensor are too much for it to handle, so it starts to spasm in an attempt to relieve the tension.
So when you're laying down, this new position of laying down then cause certain muscles in your neck to start pulling and internally start pulling on your tensor tympani, making it more sensitive to added tension caused by sounds. What I hypothesize is that if you check your entire neck for tension, you may find areas that feel sensitive or tight. When you stretch your neck, massage these areas and perhaps treat with magnesium oil to help the relax, you may find that laying down no longer causes an overload of tension in your neck, and though this, reducing the overload of tension on your tensor tympani.
Now, this reduction is likely not going to be enough to get rid of the TTS entirely. With sounds being the main trigger, you'll have to tackle that as well. I consider this type of TTS a form of hyperacusis: your ear is too sensitive to certain sounds and gets aggravated too easily. My guess is that your tensor tympani is simply tight all the time, so any of the sounds you describe will add to the tension already there, causing a tension overload, causing the tensor to spasm in order to relax.
It's a bit like holding a piece of string between your thumb and index finger in both hands, and then tightening it. Your hands (muscles) pulling on the string (tensor) aggravate the string (tensor) and in an attempt to alleviate this tension the muscles relax for a second, but the tension then starts pulling on the string again, and you will hear the string tightening again. It's that spasm from the tension that pulls and relaxes, and the pulls and relaxes (etc. etc.). Except on side of the string (tensor) is your eardrum, so you hear that thumping sound.
So, the idea is to get your tensor tympani to get to a relaxed state again. The best advice I can give (other than make sure you neck is truly free of tension) is to give your ear as much rest as possible. Normally, I would say use an earplug in the daytime when watching tv and in traffic etc. and avoid loud sounds. But with, it's your own voice triggering the TTS as well, so that makes things more complicated. Even with avoiding sounds it could take a long time for your ear to relax. Still, see what avoiding loud sounds does for you. If you find it helps even a little bit, at least you know you're on your way.
Also, live a healthy life. I'm a firm believer that if you eat and sleep well, get exercise, keep stress to a minimum etc., your entire body will function better and be able to heal itself much more efficiently.
So, very long response, but I hope it may of help. I know how annoying TTS is and hope to help others who have to deal with it. For me, my GP and ENT were no help at all, but I was lucky enough to figure out how to fix (most of) the TTS. That's not to say my way is a guaranteed fix, but I think the general tone online when it comes to TTS and tinnitus (had that too, reduced it by 95%) is way to negative. Yes, some things can't be fixed or require surgery, but often you 'just' need to figure out what your body needs and provide it. It's certainly the first route to take, if it fails you can always go the medical route later.
@Jolle de Wit I appreciate the long response. So I've also noticed my jaws have been really tense and that one morning, while I was getting ready for the day, I looked straight up into the air and moved my jaw really wide up and down and my eardrum on my right side started tensing. Mind you, this is my good ear that doesn't tense in reaction to sound. Maybe there are other physical issues at play in my case. The last couple of days when I've been chewing or moving my jaw, I've had pain in my left side. The pain is either in my jaw or my ear. I can't tell exactly because they're so interconnected that it's hard to pinpoint its origin.
Also, my ear that doesn't have tinnitus will sometimes get ringing that lasts a few seconds. It's worrisome, but I'm hoping it's not related to sound exposure and is caused by my my jaws and neck. I've noticed that the more anxiety I've gotten over my T and eardrum reacting, the more sensitive it is. For a couple of days, I've been trying to forget it's there or not be scared of sound, and I feel some improvement. Also, it's strange that my TTTS is more sensitive in the morning. Could that have to do with neck posture while asleep?
I got the very expensive sound therapy and the advice of the audiologist but did not work for this condition. The sound therapy was so annoying and very expensive.
I have just found this video and it’s 100% what I’ve been experiencing. It started abruptly after I had severe nasal/sinus congestion after COVID in March. I’ve had subjective left ear tinnitus since 2006. I’m waiting to see an NHS audiologist, but the waiting list is about 7 months in my area (I live in Wales UK). I’m having to consider private treatment as it’s so distressing. To everyone who suffers from this…..I’m thinking of you xxx
Me too! Iv had this now for 4 weeks! How are you doing?
@@HucknallsGirl hi there…..actually, it’s eased a little bit today. I saw my GP yesterday (again, the poor soul) and asked to try some antibiotics in case it was an infection….she gave me some antibiotics (doxycycline) and it’s not so bad today. Could have been an infection of sorts…..it’s still rumbling/vibrating but not as bad. How are you? I’m sorry that you have this xxx. Thank you for asking after me xxx
@aliroberts2246 that's interesting. I was given otomize ear spray a few days ago whuch is supposed to be an antibiotic steroid spray. Can't say iv got any relief yet but it's good to know I'm not going mad I thought I was at one point. Mine started after wax microsuction. Which j can't understand as iv had it before with no issues. Did you experience any vertigo with your congestion?
@@HucknallsGirl hiya! No, no vertigo that I’ve noticed….although slight light headedness and strong feeling of pressure. I’ve had nose sprays/drops etc (Dymista, Flixonase and Betamethasone) but none have made a difference. I’m waiting on an MRI. My ears are completely clean, so not sure what’s going on. The last couple of daytimes have been quite quiet (also I think of mine as more of a vibration/fluttering than a sound). It’s the nights that it ramps up…..last night I slept on the affected ear side and jammed my pillow into it, made a fist under it too so the ear gets a lot of pressure and I really felt it calmed it down. Might be worth a try?
@aliroberts2246 so I only seem to get the vibration reaction from noise so at night it's the only time I get some peace. Iv been told I can't have an ent referral untill after 8 weeks time from using the spray. So not alot I can do till then but I am due to return to thr microsuction clinic in 2 weeks for a review can ask them what they think? Iv seen comments about neck tension which can affect it so might try seeing an osteopath who I saw last year for neck pain. I do have a history of Hyperacusis though but interesting the spasms are involuntary! I wanna say to my ear stop spasming it's not loud! But it's defying me haha. It's not funny though iv been very upset and looks like this isn't a very common thing.
I have had pulsatile tinnitus for about 3 years, now on top of that have developed ticking noise (like someone lighting a gas stove) in my right ear 😢
Is your cholesterol high or does blood work show anything?
@@shaffey01 no, otherwise very healthy
@@careym8437 ok that's great! Me too. Mine was triggered by dental work I believe
@@shaffey01 What kind of dental work? Did it happen right after or with some days in delay? I got mine because of benzos and now I need dental work and I am terrified.
@@jmaindigo6641 I'm not sure if that's exactly what caused it but the timing of it started when I got a crown on my upper tooth (14). Never heard of benzos being the cause, they're the only thing that could help me sleep.
Here's an interesting one for you, @treblehealth
Have you ever heard (ha) of a specific form of TTS where the ear affected by the pulsation is NOT the one hearing the loud noise?
I can easily replicate this by lying on my left side with my left ear on a pillow and my right ear exposed. Any spoken syllables in my RIGHT ear, which are specifically NOT "co-heard" by my left ear (due to the pillow) cause an immediate pulsation in my LEFT ear. The TTS goes away when I allow my left ear to hear what the right ear does, such as placing my hand under my head and opening up a small space for the sound to enter. My TTS is also replicated by only wearing my right earbud: my left ear twitches. No TTS in the affected left ear when wearing only the left earbud or both earbuds together.
To me, this clearly indicates some wires crossed. Possibly due to mild concussion?
Of note, I used to hear fluttering in both ears a long time before TTS started, but only when exposed to someone practicing trumpet, or a cockatiel singing. Not extremely loud. Perhaps underlying mild hyperacusis.
Hey Dr. Ben, Ive been suffering since 2008 from a hearing condition in my left ear where when exposed to loud continuous sounds, my left ear has a static/crackling sound. When the noise subsides the static sound goes away. Could this be tensor tympani syndrome?
Caleb, you asked some good personalized questions here. My answer depends on more information that I do not yet know about your history. Feel free to contact our team at Treble Health and we can do our best to help you.
I have the same, like a constant cracking sound when the noise reaches a specific level, and when it stops, my left ear keeps sensitive for a moment and if another sound starts, Even if it's not that loud, triggers again the crackling again
@@fernandovizcarra3420 Same issue my friend! Although maybe not as often as you are. If it's silent, does yours not show up?
You are awesome
Thank you, Cathy! :)
I have this happen a lot, and reading some comments I realize it happens when my muscles are tense, and I have nerve damage in my back. It’s only in my right ear, and it always happens when I’m holding my phone up to that ear but, strangely, I have more hearing in that ear so I have to use it for the phone 😂 I haven’t gone to the doctor about it because I know what it is and I know I already have hearing damage along with either hyperacusis or misophonia. I’ve thought about getting a hearing aid but that would be more of a last resort for me, I would rather try to work on my muscle/nerve issues and sound therapy.
I have sinus and i feel this thumping
Dear doctor, this TTTS begins in the Hyperbaric Chamber one year ago and today I got it EVERYDAY... Can Hyperbaric Chamber cause neurological damages!?? Or other type of damage!??
There isn't any concrete evidence suggesting that hyperbaric chambers cause neurological damage or other types of harm. In fact, they are known to provide various health benefits. However, I'll look into this further to ensure we have the most accurate information available.
@@treblehealth thank you doctor!
Doctors here in Italy explained to me that I may have had a muscle injury in the hyperbaric chamber. It just seems strange to me that in a year this spasm still hasn't stopped.
@Treble Health Since a while ago there is something strange happen to one of my ears. When I touch the ear I hear a "crakling"/fluttering sound.
I also hear it when I talk or something rattles around me, for exampel dishes slamming. If I sit still and not talk I do not hear the sound.
It triggers when I touch the ear or talking.
My doctor could not see anything wrong with my ear.
Could this be Tensor Tympani Syndrome?
I'm sorry to hear about the strange sounds you're experiencing. I would need more information to know what exactly is going on. It's a good idea to follow up with an ENT specialist who can provide a more detailed evaluation and discuss potential treatments.
I have the same symptoms from the last 3 years... Did u figure out what is it??
I believe a notch filter hearing aid can help, because I have some hearing loss mild to Mod also, Severe Tinnitus, and TTS, pluse TN. What hearing aid under 15.000 is there?
Hi, thank you for reaching out. I'm not sure what 15.000 is referring to. We would need more information about your case history to best determine which hearing aid is right for you. Schedule a complimentary telehealth consultation: treble.health/schedule
I just was in touch with treble health today! I will be signing on! We strongly believe this is what I have question can it cause flutters in the temples as well, I have them in my temples (I guess trigeminal nerve)
We're looking forward to working with you and get you on the path to habituation! The flutters may be related to the tensor tympani muscle. Check out this blog article to see if this resonates with you: treblehealth.com/tensor-tympani-syndrome/
I get a pressure spasm in the ear
Feeling better?
@@mrskwan3495 hearing aids made a big difference
Back on Feb 1, 2020, I woke up with hearing loss in my right ear, and to this day I have 24/7 tinnitus (high pitch EEEEE) in that ear. Since then, my other ear, the left, has fluttering bouts from time to time. I never had that problem until after 2/1/2020. It doesn't happen all the time, but it does concern me, because i wonder if it may be a sign that I will lose hearing in my left ear, too, and have the same tinnitus in that ear. My life is hell enough as it is.
Feeling better?
Who is diagnosing this illness?
Patients with tensor tympani syndrome need to be referred to an ENT for further workup. ENT will be the one diagnosing this syndrome.
@@treblehealthMy ENT blew me off and referred me to Neurology. What it really sounds like people need is a Neurotologist
@@treblehealthmy ENT had never heard of MEM or TTS 😢
I have this tensor crap what can I do to solve it. It's driving me nuts. Is it actually curable?
Would also like to
Know
It's actually called reactive tinnitus, and like all forms of tinnitus, IT IS 100% REVERSIBLE BUT MEDICINE WILL NOT HELP YOU BECAUSE AUDIOLOGY IS A JOKE.
The cause of ALL forms of tinnitus (regular, pulsatile, and reactive) is LONGTERM MINERAL DEFICIENCIES. This breaks down bone in the ear and causes minerals to be deposited in surrounding soft tissue. Regular tinnitus is when mineralized chunks of tissue are exposed to the same frequency they resonate at. Pulsatile tinnitus is when mineralized tissue around blood vessels amplifies the sound (as hard objects often do) Lastly, reactive tinnitus is when minerals accumulate in the tensor tympani, which disrupts nerve signaling and causes the muscle to rumble inappropriately. It's effectively a limited form of hyperacusis as that muscle is SUPPOSED to rumble to protect from dangerously loud sounds, but is instead triggered by very minor sounds.
Because hearing tests are just an absolute joke, it's impossible for medicine to catch reactive tinnitus in the act because the sounds in the hearing test are not loud enough to trigger the rumble.
Cupping, acupuncture, and gua sha all over the face and neck will also speed up the recovery process.
If you can hear yourself blink PLEASE get screened for superior canal dehiscence syndrome. It's INCREDIBLY common in autistic people, but since medicine hates autistic people it mostly refuses to acknowledge it. If you struggle to make eye contact while speaking it's HIGHLY likely you have SCDS.
Autistic bodies have differences to calcium processing that makes their body break down bone faster than normal. When combined with the utterly toxic levels of calcium in fortified foods, the result is auditory processing issues medicine is utterly useless at even diagnosing, much less treating.
Audiology is SUCH a joke that they refuse to even acknowledge that hyperacusis exists--a huge problem given that autistic people also almost always have bone conduction hyperacusis. Step inside any audiology office, and you'll find that staff SCREAM AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS in the waiting room because they literally do not care about hyperacusis. You can be SCREAMING, rolling on the floor, covering your ears, and still staff will not stop assaulting you at maximum volume. I can't say it enough: audiology is nothing but a pathetic joke 😂
How do you reverse it
How do you know this?
Does TTS cause ear pain? Sometimes my own voice hurts my ear.
TTS does not cause ear pain. If you have other sound sensitivies, this could be contributing to the sensitivity of your own voice.
Yep, had that happen to me a few weekls ago.
👍
I have tinnitus , breathing in ear and crackling sound is i have TTS?
Jeetu, you asked some good personalized questions here. My answer depends on more information that I do not yet know about your history. Feel free to contact our team at Treble Health and we can do our best to help you.
@@treblehealth i am only 16 yrs I don't have money plz help me
@@jeetubhaiya5714 Hi Bro Don't worry I Also Have Tinnitus In both ears And Cracking Sound When I Swallow aslo TMJ And I Am just 23 😢
@@jeetubhaiya5714 Aap India Se Hai Na ?
Great information!
Thank you, Albert!
Yup, this is exactly what I have. Clicking keyboard sets the butterflies loose in my ear. I think it was there prior to superior canal dehiscence surgery but I did not notice due to other sounds that were more severe.
I have this problem too
I have this. Here in Belgium they patch your eardrum. Tympanic patching so calls. Sad story is that the paper in your ear falls out after 6 weeks.
Benzodiazepinnes also help because of they're anxiolytic component in the medication what eases the musscles - BUT NOT IN LONG-TERM USE #ADDICTION
I can do this without clenching anything I have been able to do it since I was 13 years old . I use it during meditation to submerged my self into deep introspection and rejuvenate and revitalize my spiritual equilibrium. Its not a problem and i dont need treatment for it. Its actually a blessing to be able to control it at will for my pleasure.
then it isn't the same thing, tensor tymapni syndrome is involuntary and incredibly annoying