CPAP and Tinnitus

I've been using a CPAP machine for around 2 years after being diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea. My max pressure is set to 12.4 cm/H2O. About a year ago I started suffering high frequency tinnitus (mainly in left ear but also noticeable in right) with associated mild viral like symptoms - some sinus pain, headache. Since then I've had a range of tests by ENT consultants including MRI scan and hearing tests that can't find anything wrong - and no significant hearing loss. I'm beginning to wonder if the CPAP treatment might be linked to the tinnitus. Has anyone else experienced anything similar ? I'm tempted to stop using the machine for a while and see if the tinnitus improves. Also I understand that 12.4 is quite a high pressure so maybe there is scope for that to be reduced a bit.

Just one thing, 12.4 isn't really a high pressure. It's kind of a middle amount of pressure. My pressure range is from 11-15cm, and often goes up to at least 14cm, and that isn't really high pressure either. Some people have pressures over 20cm, that's a high pressure *smile*. Don't know if cpap is link to tinitus, though,, or if it would improve if you stopped cpap. That could be a coincidence, you never know...but there are other potential ways of reducing AHI, if it turns out to be cpap related. You should talk that over with your sleep doctor, in my opinion.

As someone who's worked for many neurologists over time, tinnitus is a known bugbear, often with no known traceable cause and fewer known useful remedies. However there are things that help many people, and I suggest you keep looking for answers, as at least some might be out there. I've never heard though that Cpap is related in any way, though the eustachian tubes in your ears do 'connect' to your breathing... I would be very surprised if for you the two conditions are any more than coincidental.

I agree that your pressure is not high.....I have had tinnitus for 20 years....CPAP use for 8 years. Tinnitus symptoms have not changed during that time. I was told by my ENT that if tinnitus lasts more than a year, you will have it forever. I have had my hearing checked every few years and have noticed very little change. What change there was is in high frequency

Magicdave wrote:I've been using a CPAP machine for around 2 years after being diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea. My max pressure is set to 12.4 cm/H2O. About a year ago I started suffering high frequency tinnitus (mainly in left ear but also noticeable in right) with associated mild viral like symptoms - some sinus pain, headache. Since then I've had a range of tests by ENT consultants including MRI scan and hearing tests that can't find anything wrong - and no significant hearing loss. I'm beginning to wonder if the CPAP treatment might be linked to the tinnitus. Has anyone else experienced anything similar ? I'm tempted to stop using the machine for a while and see if the tinnitus improves. Also I understand that 12.4 is quite a high pressure so maybe there is scope for that to be reduced a bit.

Magicdave, are you on any meds that might cause tinnitus? Many people, including doctors, don't seem to realize that meds can be a culprit in this.

As far as I know cpap has nothing to do with tinnitus.

49er

I'm not on any meds that might be causing tinnitus - have cut out coffee, salt and low dose aspirin (all of which might have been having an effect). My tinnitus is intermittent, accompanied by sinus pain and virus like symptoms and follows a definite pattern. I normally wake up with it, after an hour or so it lessens considerably (sometimes to the point of being not noticeable at all) then starts getting more noticeable during afternoon and evening. Discontinuing the CPAP treatment for a few days seems worthwhile even if just to eliminate it from the list of possible causes. BTW I've updated my equipment on my profile.

Have you seen an audiologist--or better yet, an ENT?
My tinnitus was what alerted me to my hearing loss,
But by that time, it was continuous and permanent.
Please see the appropriate specialist while there may still be a chance to address your tinnitus.
And there is NWIH the cpap is causing it.

Yes seen audiologist and ENT consultant. I have only very slight high end hearing loss consistent with age, but otherwise everything else is fine. It just seems odd that the Tinnitus is intermittent (some days have nothing at all) and other days it follows this pattern of developing during the day. At least trying a few nights without the machine will confirm if it is connected.

I have Tinnitus. In my humble opinion and the Veterans administration opinion. It was caused by taking to much excedrin or acetaminthin & jet airplane nois. If I take either now it gets worse. A white noise machine helps for sleeping. My Doctor also has it and at this time there is no cure.
I have no hearing lose.
I had tinnitus long before I started cpap. Just about any medication increases the volume.

Thanks to a 30 year career in aviation, Army for 10 years, 10 years in general aviation, and 10 years flying on commercial airlines, I have long term, permanent pain in the ass Tinnitus. Allergies make it come on stronger, allergy pills make it come on stronger, having to fart makes it come on stronger. (just kidding).

If you have had a sudden onset, then yes, you need to diagnose the root cause. If you have always had a low grade tinnitus and then started having allergic symptoms, which caused it to get stronger, then that MIGHT be the issue.

Inner ear infection inside the canal, chronic inflammation of the inner ear bones / canal, water behind the ear drum, low grade infection of the eardrum, inner ear, etc. The list is endless. I have chased it all.

ENT will probably put you on some type of antibiotic and some type of steroid to reduce any hidden swelling. That's what they do to me when it flares up to the point that I can't hear myself think. And usually it does reduce the overall noise but it never goes away.

And no, I have not seen or felt any changes due to the use of the CPAP all this last week. Pressure as high as 12, and low as 6. Now set to 9 and 16.

Good Luck and I hope you find out and it goes away. Life long Tinnitus is aggravating to say the least.

LSAT wrote:I agree that your pressure is not high.....I have had tinnitus for 20 years....CPAP use for 8 years. Tinnitus symptoms have not changed during that time. I was told by my ENT that if tinnitus lasts more than a year, you will have it forever. I have had my hearing checked every few years and have noticed very little change. What change there was is in high frequency

Lord knows how long I have had it. My sinus situation determines the severity. Had a middle ear infection in my 40s...71 now and it has gradually gotten worse. Hearing loss, inherited, has me wearing bilateral 'bionic ears'. My next set of hearing aids will have the tinnitus option.

On those nights it is bad, I put earphones in and listen to a MP3 of gentle rain. If that dog next door is barking I do the same.

I cannot say CPAP has made it worse. It is just an integral part of my life now! Better some days/nights than others.

Magicdave wrote:I'm not on any meds that might be causing tinnitus - have cut out coffee, salt and low dose aspirin (all of which might have been having an effect). My tinnitus is intermittent, accompanied by sinus pain and virus like symptoms and follows a definite pattern. I normally wake up with it, after an hour or so it lessens considerably (sometimes to the point of being not noticeable at all) then starts getting more noticeable during afternoon and evening. Discontinuing the CPAP treatment for a few days seems worthwhile even if just to eliminate it from the list of possible causes. BTW I've updated my equipment on my profile.

I think you're looking in the wrong places or trying to blame the wrong things.
Have you had a complete blood draw?
Many times tinnitus comes with getting OLDER.......
I can point to any number of things in my past that could account for mine (like working in environments with higher noise levels). However, in the last few years, mine seems to be getting better or I don't notice it near as much. And, it's only worse if I THINK about or concentrate on it.


Den

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Since your tinnitus is intermittent, in my opinion, there is HOPE.
Mine is non-stop, for the past ten years, more or less.
I've been using cpap for the last five years.
I could grieve that I will never know silence in my lifetime,
but that would interfere with something much better.

A few links to some reading material on the subject:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... n-20021487

https://www.ata.org/understanding-facts

https://www.ata.org/understanding-facts/causes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/unde ... tus-basics


Den

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I have recently started using a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. The first 3 months were wonderful. In the beginning of my 4th month I started to experience tinnitus in both ears. My doctor told me to use Clartin D to help with the inflammation that is probably causing the problem. Well that worked one night. The second night the ringing is back with a vengeance. I have never experienced tinnitus before using a CPAP machine. Very frustrating and I would hate to have to stop using my machine. Any suggestions?