Tinnitus and computers, is there a connection?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Skynet, Dec 22, 2013.

  1. For me they don't vaporize the wax or remove it, they warm the ear drum and softens the build up of wax in it.

    If you place them right (it is best if someone else does it for you) the suction that is caused through the vacuum of the candle and the ear drum, can move the wax or dislodge a stubborn hard bit of wax.

    Us men get ear problems the worst, as when you hit 30, you end up with a forest growing out of your ears, which can slow down the natural process the ear does to remove the wax.

    One small hair, pointing backwards can cause all sorts of problems, Ear ringing, whistling, dizziness, nausea, off balance and even speech problems. Which is why sticking anything in your ears is bad, Cotton buds are the worst, like what KeiKei said and that they do leave small strands of cotton in the ear, which adds to wax build up.

    Skynet!
    Can I ask, is your cpu cooler a stock one or do you have one of them turbo high power coolers?

    I bought a corsair hydro dual radiator one with two 120 fans on it, and I have to say its the best thing I ever bought for cooling the cpu, is silent and my cpu has never gone above 31°C.
    Plus it is multi connectable with all the cpu's so it will last future upgrades.
     
  2. Gearjammer

    Gearjammer Registered

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    One thing that no one has mentioned is the possibility of resonant noise coming from the PC. It is possible that there is a component in the PC or monitor that is of a frequency that resonates with the ringing in your ears causing further issues with what you currently have. The onset of this Tinnitus is likely not because of the computer, but there is potential to make it appear worse. A ringing in your ears by the way does not necessarily mean you have a problem with the ears. This ringing can be brought on by trauma, such as falling down and banging your head as well. Also, damage to the ear can take years to show, or can show immediately, depending on the situation. I personally have had ringing in my ears since I fired a .44 Magnum with no ear protection about 29 years ago. According to the docs, I have about a 25% hearing loss due to this, but only in the range of the ringing.

    I would see about getting a hearing test done to see what frequency the ringing is at, then using some sort of measuring instrument to determine the frequencies that are being introduced by your computer. This might help determine whether or not the issue is due to the resonant noise. If it is, you can always put the PC into an enclosure that deadens the sound, reducing the issue, but be careful of heat if you have to do this.
     
  3. Skynet

    Skynet Registered

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    @Galaga

    Thanks, sorry to hear about your meniers, hope it gets easier for you.

    @Adrian Britton

    I changed my pc fans in august all to quieter enermax fans and also my cpu fan has a large Thermalright heatsink on it since august also. I had to cut the case to fit the heatsink in there, so the heatsink protrudes out the side of the case now. It is an alluminium case by NZXT. I dont have sound proofing at all but i have plans to watercool it and put it in an encloseure inside my cupboard. I just want to determine if the pc as it is, is aggrevating my tinnitus before rebuilding it.

    @Gearjammer

    Yes exactly, this is my suspision, that something is making a high or low frequency noise that most people cant hear but perhaps is the result of a mulfunctioning part. Maybe it is loud but of a high frequency so it is not audible. I have had a hearing test and got good results, however i was told the test focuses on the 1 - 4 hz range, not good enough really as i could be hearing up to 22hz possibly. I am sitting hear with ear plugs in and the pc is still aggrovating me though.
     
  4. Holy smoke wow man, you cut your case !

    I understand totally that you had too, to fit the heatsink, but that could cause a serious sound/pressure/ vibration effect. Depending on how close your cut is, in relation to the extraction of heat and vibration from the heatsink.

    If you have a hole in your case then I guess sound proofing is out of the question.

    I have never used a water cooler system, they have interested me and do look the business. They are Probably a good investment to any pc, especially if your wanting to reduce sound levels.
     
  5. Adrianstealth

    Adrianstealth Registered

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    Gosh high frequency sounds from your PC?

    I don't think this could be the cause as sounds outside the frequencies that we can hear simply do not cause vibrations in our ear drums & fine ear parts etc thus we simply do not hear them,

    I'm interested to see if you can use a process of elimination to prove me wrong though.

    +also there could be many other things, are you sleeping ok at the moment?
    You could have a mild case due to any number (usually minor ) of things, and you maybe notice it under certain conditions and then simply by noticing it -it seems worse then even more worse when it starts to irritate you etc

    If you start to worry about it and loose sleep etc this would also make it seem worse as you'll be tired etc
     
  6. Skynet

    Skynet Registered

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    when we are born most of us can hear up to 18hz even 20hz, by the time we are 25 we have lost the top end of the frequency spectrum but you wouldn't notice it because most sounds in our daily lives happen between 1 - 8hz.

    Say for example the comp had damaged my hearing at 15hz, i could still breeze through most hearing test as i did with the boots hearing test that i took. A tinnitus expert told me that tinnitus is usually associated with hearing loss/damage, where phantom sounds or signals are generated by the auditory cortex (in the brain above ear) in the same frequencies that have been lost or damaged.
     
  7. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    Do a little research. These don't create suction (meaning they don't reduce "pressure buildup") and the stuff you see afterwards is just candle remains, not ear goo. They might feel good but I think it's better to stick to actually clinically tested and proven stuff for this kind of thing.

    Go to Wikipedia and start checking the sources. They're even banned in Canada for being ineffective and dangerous.
     
  8. These are only dangerous when you get a fool using them, who pushes them deep into the ear drum.

    When they are used right, they do heat up the ear drum and loosen the wax. I know because I use them.

    And may I ask what is clinically right then ?

    Please go ask a doctor or a nurse rather then reading wiki pages.

    They will say don't use anything bar warm oil, but for me oils and liquids/chemicals make my ears swell and sore, where as these work and I don't need to put anything into my ears.

    I don't mind been corrected or told I am wrong, but don't quote me wiki as it changes more times then the weather.
     
  9. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    Reread my post.

    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/00005537-199610000-00010/abstract (read abstract)

    http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=403194 (read abstract)

    http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0515/p1523.html (search candling, note this references the above two)

    http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html (the site's a bit abrasive in tone, but check the sources for legitimacy)

    There are other ways to safely deal with excess wax, and they don't involve lighting a candle and sticking it in your ear.

    edit: and yeah I can't really tell you what you have or haven't experienced, obviously.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 23, 2013
  10. I never said they remove wax, I said they loosen it and make the ears deal with the natural process of removing wax itself.

    And obviously if you stick them deep into the ear canal then, Yes! it going to burn. That's like sticking your hand into a fire and saying "ouch! that's hot, I wonder why"

    its hardly a trial is it.

    So please tell me (I have had big ears and wax build up all my life), I am now 39 and I would like to hear what your opinion is.
    Your quick to tell me that what I have been doing for the last 20 years is wrong so what is right ?
     
  11. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    That's not an unusually small trial, and your sample size of two ears in a non-research setting is a lot smaller and less significant. You're also not a doctor, and neither am I, but every person in those first three quoted and peer-reviewed articles are. Look at what the sources are, look at the history of the doctors.

    Another link for you: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/earwax.cfm -- from http://www.entnet.org/aboutus/ these guys, who are the specialists you would see for problems like this.

    Best of luck to you.
     
  12. You crazy man!

    They all say they don't remove wax and can cause damage if pushed too far into the ear.

    But like I said "they do not remove the wax, they heat it up and loosen it"

    You are taking the wrong part of an article or trial. Even I say they don't remove wax!!!!!!

    The American Academy of Otolaryngology
    Do you have an idea of how they remove wax surgically?

    They lay you down and poke around in your ear with micro tweezers and a camera, then they slowly scrape out the wax a bit at a time.
    I know this as fact as I was offered the surgery once, but was warned its uncomfortable and makes your ear drums sore, MY DOCTOR suggested that I carry on doing what I was doing, as it is cheaper and less intrusive.
     
  13. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    Do what your doctor tells you to do -- that's what doctors are for. Keep in mind, though, that your doctor's suggestion is for you and not for anyone else, and that others that intend to try doing this should at least give the stuff I've linked some serious consideration (and ask their doctors, of course).

    I cannot believe this discussion is happening on the ISI forums. :cool:
     
  14. Most doctors....

    In fact every doctor will tell you not to read medical articles on the internet to diagnose yourself.
    They all pretty much have hidden agenda's.

    I don't get offended often but I feel slapped in the face by someone who does not or has not had the pleasure of having a fully blocked ear.
    If you had then you would not be trying to prove something other then helping.

    Keikei got it and it was discussed normally and he didn't have to send me private messages.
     
  15. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    Awfully nice of you to "out" me for trying to be friendly and let you know I wasn't only out to push your buttons. Keep on giving more unsafe medical advice on the internet, I guess (hint: you're not helping by doing that). I'm done here.
     
  16. SVO

    SVO Registered

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    My mother-in-law has used Lipoflavanoid for years for her ringing ears. That and earplugs.
     
  17. I am sorry liebestod, I should not of snapped in the way I did, I apologise.
     
  18. liebestod

    liebestod Registered

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    No problem.
     
  19. datanode

    datanode Registered

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    Hmm, my advice, put the computer aspect to one side just for a moment and get a checkup at the drs. Just a reg. health check to make sure you are not missing anything.

    Ringing in your ears can be caused by many things. I thought I had tinnitus from many years of motor sport / music photography e.g. Loud environments.

    I was told a few levels were out of balance and things got sorted out in ways I didn't even consider. :) nothing to worry about, just it is amazing how things in your body connect. The internet is pretty useless for advice on this type of stuff as it is mostly wrong!

    Hope you figure out what it is so you can protect it getting worse and spoiling most quiet moments :D

    ... and of course enjoy more sim gaming
     
  20. Skynet

    Skynet Registered

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    @Datanode

    Hi, I am going through motions of getting medical checks, but because my doctor is reluctant, this monday will be my third visit to the doctors before she sends me off to the hospital and that could take a while. I am exploring every possible cause of tinnitus in my effort to find a cause and a possible solution. My doctor is the one that has jumped to a conclusion and said it's just tinnitus, its common it happens. I have spoken to a tinnitus expert Mark Williams and he gave me a lot of info and didn't rule out computers but just said there is a lack of evidence. I had the dentist check me out for wisdom teeth and tmj, i spoke to a chiropractor who basically said that the top of the spine may have something to do with it but it will require a few sessions to see if it will make a difference, so i will wait before i have exhausted other avenues before going to the chiro. It's my doctor that has been least helpful out of everyone. Believe me i have tried to be rational and scientific about finding a cause, the connection of being near my computer and the noticeable escalation of the ringing is undeniable. But like you say it's amazing how things are connected in the human body so i will keep trying.
     

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