Tinnitus and machine for sleep apnea

Hi everyone! I need help!!
I am Laura, 38, I am French and try to find answers!
I used a machine for sleep apnea (with the lowest pressure) in october of last year, for 3days; I used a complet mask, nose-mouth.
I experienced awful tinnitus, as if I had 2 big fans in each ears.
I immediatly stopped using the machine.
I have never experienced such a thing before; I saw a ENT doctor, I had a MRI and there is nothing wrong.
My specialist doctor said there was no link between tinnitus and machine; he has never heard of it.
So I tried again at the end of december and They appeared once again, very loud.
So, I stopped using the machine.. once again!

I am sure there is a link; is it due to air pressure or the pressure of the mask on my face?..

Besides, tinnitus have never left me since october.
They are like whistlings all the time now, I had no break…

Is there someone you has experienced something similar?

Thank you!

LauraParis wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:57 pm

My specialist doctor said there was no link between tinnitus and machine

He is correct.

Maybe, you just became more aware of your tinnitus when you starting using CPAP?

In fact, CPAP can help prevent or relieve tinnitus - https://sleepcenterinfo.com/blog/tinnit ... onnection/

I had tinnitus 10 years before I started CPAP therapy. The CPAP has made no difference + or - to the tinnitus.

LauraParis wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:57 pm

My specialist doctor said there was no link between tinnitus and machine; he has never heard of it.

Tinnitus is frequently the consequence of a hearing loss. Unfortunately a whole lot of people with hearing loss also are in denial that they don't hear as well as they should; wearing hearing aids usually is a big help for tinnitus that is the result of a hearing loss.

Did you have an actual hearing screening when you saw the ENT? If not, then that's one thing you should do.

As for why you would have noticed the start of the tinnitus when you first used a CPAP machine? I haven't the foggiest, other than the fact that coincidence is a real phenomenon.

I will also point this out: Lots of folks will notice all kinds of noises while they are using a CPAP machine, but those noises go away as soon as they turn the machine off. Those noises? They are frequently the conducted noise of your own breathing and its affect on the airflow inside the main hose. When the hose is touching your head, the normal noises are being amplified because they're being conducted directly into your inner ear through your skull. The fix for this kind of problem is usually to minimize the contact between the hose and your head. Using a mask where the hose attachment is at the top of the head may aggravate this problem since the airflow has to pass through tubes running right across your cheeks, thus maximizing the chances for conducted noise reaching your inner ears through your skull.