Psychedelics and tinnitus

[Starward]

I have a theory around psychedelics and tinnitus.

 

Interesting I quick search turned up a few planned or theoretical research on possible benefits of psychedelics and tinnitus.

 

I have tinnitus, which for those who do not know is a clicking, ringing or zapping sound. You might develop tinnitus symptoms from being exposed to loud noise or medication.

 

The basic explanation for tinnitus is hearing loss. The fine hair in the cochlear are damaged and no longer convert vibration from sound into neural signal. In a response to this drop in input coming into the brain, some brains respond by produce these phantom tinnitus sounds. The issue is that tinnitus can become debilitating, destroying sleep and it is linked to cognitive decline, and dementia.

 

In essence tinnitus is a problem not with the hearing per say but with the brain, mall-adaptive response, that some people  with hearing loss experience but not all. Therefor treatment should focus on the brain rather the ear, which is where most tinnitus treatments focus their efforts.

 

Knowing this it made me notice that during a psychedelic experience, that my tinnitus, faded in intensity, also the perception of the sound within my brain seems to change location. Also post dosing there has been a significant improvement in my tinnitus symptoms.

 

I would like to propose a spit balling theory, that the increase in neural connections between different regions of the brain during psychedelics, compensates for the lack of signal from the cochlear thereby reducing the perception of tinnitus.

 

Thoughts opinions?

 

Has anyone else noticed improvements in their tinnitus due to psychedelics?

 

 

 

[wachumacallit]

I have had tinnitus for 20 years. It came as a result of an ear infection that ruptured my eardrum. It fades in and out of awareness, but is always there. Sometimes it migrates, from my right ear where the damage occurred. It doesn't usually bother me much anymore, but it did for many years. 

 

For me, psychedelics often make the tinnitus louder, at least during a certain phase of the experience (most likely during onset). But I once had a nasty case of wood-lover's paralysis (from shrooms), which involved a very loud and painful tinnitus-like sound, i.e. inside my head.

 

The only time the tinnitus completely disappeared was after a visit to the dentist, with anaesthesia. For a few hours after the procedure, the tinnitus was entirely absent. 

 

I don't have much hope of a psychedelic, or any cure. But one's attitude towards one's tinnitus can make all the difference, and I dare say that psychedelics could help with that. 

[SayN]

Thanks for reminding me I have tinnitus!

 

Sometimes it is much worse than at other times and with psychs I tend to think I notice it less.  But "notice" is the operative word - I seem to become tolerant to it if I can just stop thinking about it.  Maybe I'm even just imagining it in the first place! 🫤