In our journey of helping thousands navigate the challenges of tinnitus, we’ve discovered that air travel can be tremendously uncomfortable for tinnitus sufferers. It’s a story we hear often — people stepping off a plane only to find their tinnitus has either occurred or intensified. While many find these effects short-lived, for some, the tinnitus lingers and can even become chronic.
Why does this happen? Well, it’s often a mix of several factors that intensify each other: the rapid shifts in air pressure, the far above healthy cabin noise exposure, spikes in blood pressure, disrupted circadian rhythm, and the stress or anxiety related to flying, to name a few.
For those looking to minimize the tinnitus-inducing effects of flying, we’ve fully covered this topic with plenty of practical tools in our article “Tinnitus after flying? Discover ways to soothe and prevent it”.
If you’re in the boat where the flight has already left its tinnitus mark, don’t get too pessimistic. You’re not alone, and there’s hope for relief!
Take Gitta Ravn’s story, for instance. Her tinnitus began after a long distance flight, possibly provoked by an accidental bump to her head onboard. With a steadfast commitment to the Notch Frequency Therapy at Borgaa Clinic, Gitta witnessed an amazing improvement — her tinnitus frequency went from 7,500 Hz to just 370 Hz, giving her a completely new life again.
I this interview with Gitta, you’ll discover how tinnitus can disrupt one’s work life, concentration, sleep, and social interactions, but also how a drop in the tinnitus frequency can give the joy back in all these aspects of life. Discover how frustrating it can be when tinnitus patients don’t feel understood by the public healthcare system, but also how amazingly relieving it is when you finally find a specialized clinic that understands your situation and knows the right treatment.
How did you discover you had tinnitus? (Did it come on gradually?)
“On the 12th of April 2022, I was on a trip to Helsinki, Finland, and on the flight home, I hit the left side of my head against the airplane. That gave me a bump on the side of my head. A few days later, a sound suddenly started in my left ear and after some more days, it appeared in both ears, but shortly thereafter, it disappeared in the right ear but continued in the left. It became really intense. I remember an incident when it started, where I was out for a walk and passed by some young men standing by their cars. It began to squeal violently. I thought, turn off that anti-theft car alarm – but there was no alarm – it was only in my head. It was terribly frustrating, and I really felt awful.”
What happened when you first discovered that you had tinnitus?
“It was at the end of April 2022. I remember that I was at an individual time trial at the Tour de France in Copenhagen, where I felt very ill.”
Do you know what caused your tinnitus?
“I am 100% sure that it came after the hit in the airplane. Nothing else has happened in my life at that point that could have caused it.”
How much did your tinnitus affect you?
“It ruined my life. I couldn’t continue full-time with my job at the Odense Municipality. Fortunately, I had a very understanding boss who accepted that I could only work on and off. At this time, the parliamentary election took place, and I’ve always taken an active part in that, but this time I couldn’t participate at all. My sleep was really bad. I had many nights where I only slept for an hour. On the days I went to work, I looked like a wreck and couldn’t keep myself together. Now, I feel like I can’t wear any of the clothes I wore back then. I’ve even thrown out a bathrobe. It reminds me of a very bad time in my life.”
How did you hear about treating tinnitus with music?
“I did a lot of Googling for a while. Then one day I found a story about a woman from West Jutland who had been to Borgaa and had success with it. At the same time, I also found a story from a man on Bornholm who had undergone the same treatment successfully. That’s why I contacted” Thomas Borgaa. Shortly after, I was at the Borgaa clinic and for the first time, I felt that someone really took me seriously and listened to what I had to say. That really had an emotional impact on me, so much so that I remember starting to cry during our first conversation.
How, and to what extend, has Notch Frequency Therapy helped you?
“In the beginning, I was measured at 7,500 Hz, and today I’m at 370 Hz. It’s a big shift that has changed my life. In 14 days, the tinnitus frequency dropped by about 1,000 Hz and by my second visit to Borgaa it had dropped by 33%. That’s when I could personally feel a clear improvement.”
How did the treatment process go?
“Since I live in Odense, it wasn’t possible for me to travel back and forth every day. So, my husband and I traveled to Skive for a 5-day stay in the clinic. I was measured on Monday and during the days I received five treatments and was measured again on Friday before we went home. There was already a small decrease by then. After that, I listened to music daily for at least 30 to 35 minutes. Thomas emphasized that it was very important to listen for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Now I still listen daily, but not always for 30 minutes. It might be 20 minutes one day but then 35 the next.”
How long have you been using notch frequency therapy and when in the process did you feel an improvement?
“I started in August 2022, and by November it really started to drop impressively. I became a whole new person and could even participate in our staff Christmas party. From there, it just kept getting better.”
When did you listen to the music and for how long each time? - Do you still use it occasionally?
“I listen mostly in the evenings. It has become my sanctuary. It’s really active listening. I never do anything else while listening to the music. I really focus on listening. I always look forward to Thomas measuring a change in frequency because then I get new music. Right now, I just got some new guitar music – I love it.”
Have you experienced an improvement in your quality of life?
“Definitely – much better. My life has started anew. My colleagues also tell me that they have got the old Gitta back.”
Have you tried other forms of tinnitus treatment?
“I went to a Hearing Clinic in the public system. There, a doctor referred me to an audiologist, who said I had depression and should take some pills for it. But that wasn’t what it was about at all. They didn’t take me seriously. Then, I got a hearing aid that I was supposed to use, which I only use rarely. He also encouraged me to take walks in noisy places. Like near heavy traffic, walking through Rosengårdscentret, and even listening to loud music. It was a really strange treatment.”
Maybe a strange question, but have you experienced any side effects from the Notch Frequency Therapy treatment?
“Maybe just in the beginning when I constantly had to remind myself to listen every day. That felt a bit like pressure.”
How would you describe this form of treatment?
“It has been a wild and fantastic journey. And I think the music is amazing too. My beloved sanctuary is listening to relaxing music.”
How have Thomas and his clinic acted in your treatment?
“They have been so fantastic, and as I said, Thomas is the first one who took me seriously throughout the whole process. They get my highest recommendation.”
