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Moose308

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
204
Location
British Columbia
I developed tinnitus about 6 months ago.

Not fun.

Oddly, in my case, I had not been exposed to a loud sound in well over a week. I was at my desk at work in a very quiet office, and then suddenly it sounded like someone cranked a hi-fi to 10 with a high pitched whine in my right ear. I could barely hear out of that ear for several minutes. It slowly went away, mostly, but ever since I have had tinnitus. In both ears now, but most in the right.

Some days are worse than others. It appears worse at night. Thankfully, walking at the mall, or in a movie theatre, or loud converstion usually covers it up. However, a quiet room I can hear a high pitched whine. The quieter it is, the louder it seems. So far I have forced myself to "get used to it". Hopefully I can keep that up, or that it doesn't get any worse. It has truely tainted all enjoyment in my life.

The doctors I have consulted regarding tinnitus all give a pretty similar outlook. You've got it. Tough beans. Have a nice day. One doctor, nicely, said it's too bad but there is nothing she can do. The medical community just doesn't do any research into tinnitus. Nobody ever dies from tinnitus.

She has a point of course, but it seems very odd that there has not been a drug developed or something to turn off the noise. There are a lot of people who would pay a lot of money to make the noise go away. It seems strange that they can shoot a laser at your eyes, shaping them to give you perfect vision, they can cut your heart out and slap in another one, they can reattach limbs, but they can't figure out how to make a little buzzing go away from your ears.

I have since gone to the hearing specialist and had a custom set of ER-15 earplugs made. A truely fantastic investment. A little pricey, but what an improvement. Anyone who thinks the foam plugs are good really kidding themselves. They are cheap, and block lots of noise, but sound terrible. These ER plugs sound just like the volume is turned down. Very clear. Very tranparent.
 

rhythmCity944

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Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
560
Location
Atlanta, GA
I developed tinnitus about 6 months ago.

She has a point of course, but it seems very odd that there has not been a drug developed or something to turn off the noise. There are a lot of people who would pay a lot of money to make the noise go away. It seems strange that they can shoot a laser at your eyes, shaping them to give you perfect vision, they can cut your heart out and slap in another one, they can reattach limbs, but they can't figure out how to make a little buzzing go away from your ears.


it's all about a ton of money and the FDA

Paul Gilbert wears a head set now when he performs...i always try to keep my stage volumes low as well.
 

gafman

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Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
131
Location
Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia
Interesting subject. Like many, the ringing in my ears is there but does not keep me awake at night (thankfully). I noticed about ten years ago I tend to have problems with certain verbal tones when people speak to me and I am not looking at them.
I was a big user of a Walkman (80's ipod equivalant) and I think that is the culprit for where I am at today.
Also standing in front of speaker stacks at various gigs didn't help either. I once had my ears ring for several nights after seeing my favourite band many years ago. Nothing to brag about now - I wish I wore earplugs back then.
 

oli@bass

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Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
I do have it as well. Probably over 25 years now. I think it started out that as a kid I dug those really loud toy guns and my first ringing ears while playing around with those. Then later on, I loved to crank my bass amp up to the max. Then I played in a thrash metal band for a couple of years. Two guitras with 100W Marshall stack, a bas with a 400W Marshall stack and a really loud drummer all crammed into an small old stone cellar. Excellent way to ruin your hearing. I already had constant tinnitus and a perceivable hearing loss at 4k at the age of 17. That was when I first thought it was not so cool. But it took me another 24 years and many tinnitus filled nights after gigs to finally get proper ear protection.

All I can say to you who play often and attend loud concerts: Please consider getting professional moulded ear plugs before any of your next gear purchases!

I would highly recommend getting your ears molded for ear plugs. I had it done, it is somewhat unpleasant.

I'd also highly recommend that. Funny enough I found it very pleasant. Maybe it helped that the specialist making the moulds was a beautiful woman with a touch of velvet and a voice of silk. Probably I'm a Ferenghi after all... ;)

I recently wore my ear plugs to a concert, and I knew at that point that it was the best investment ever, because I could here everything crystal clear

+1 Again. I started to take my custom earplugs everywhere I go. Whenever it's getting too loud, I put them in, no matter what others might think. In concerts it's really amazing. E.g. I attended King's X this thursday, and it was loud enough for the sound to be somewhat "blurred" and unpleasant for the ears. With the earplugs it sounded cristal clear as if it came off a CD. Still loud and punchy, but very enjoyable.

More and more, I get the impression that most sound engineers wear earplugs as well, and therefore the sound is best if heard similarily.

and in terms of the ipod generation I think if you just avoid in ear headphones you will be fine.

I don't think that the type of headphones really matters. It's all about the effective loudness (sound pressure level).

I have it on occasion. Believe it or not, I simply relax and it goes away. I guess I'm lucky for now.

I've observed similar. Mine does not go away, but it can become lesser. OTOH, if I'm really stressed, the tinnitus can become very loud.

I once had my ears ring for several nights after seeing my favourite band many years ago. Nothing to brag about now - I wish I wore earplugs back then.

Couldn't agree more.


WATCH YOUR EARS. THOSE TWO ARE THE ONLY ONES YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE!

 

rhythmCity944

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
560
Location
Atlanta, GA
I'd also highly recommend that. Funny enough I found it very pleasant. Maybe it helped that the specialist making the moulds was a beautiful woman with a touch of velvet and a voice of silk. Probably I'm a Ferenghi after all... ;)

Really Ferenghi? Sweet!!!! So your obsessed with Profit and women? Got great work habits and are very thrift and dont forget the 200 something "Rules of Acquisition?"...My dad was a Star Trek junkie all my life and if a box set came out for whatever season, we have it...:p
 
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