[RobertW]

Hi,

I also have tinnitus. I've had it since childhood - in my case it was inherited. It got worse during my late teens, but alleviated a little bit in my 20's.

It comes and goes, sometimes it's very annoying, sometimes I hardly notice it.

I can testify that increased stress levels (like work or relationship related stress) definitely aggravates it.

Loud music or noise (e.g. clubs, rock concerts or continuous listening to headphones...) is not good for tinnitus. You have to take EXTREME precaution. Always protect your hearing - get earplugs that reduce noise levels by at least 25dB.

Since this is a headphone community, I have to state the obvious - don't crank up the volume when listening to headphones! If you take off your headphones and you can hear the music coming from them when holding them at arm's length, your music might be too loud.

I would also advise you to consult an audiologist as soon as possible. I had my ears tested a few years ago and already there is some light hearing loss in the upper registers. If you sometimes struggle to follow conversations when many people are talking or if there's a lot of background noise, you need to see a specialist.

There are a lot of websites and information about tinnitus out there. However, none will give the same kind of personalized advice that a trained audiologist can offer.

Good luck!

 

[appophylite]

Sometimes the tinnitus just ends up being benign. I went to an audiologist and ENT a month ago with a problem that culminated in muddy hearing and tinnitus. The hearing problem ended up being a bad sinus infection, but neither one could pinpoint a valid reason for the tinnitus. They just told me to give it time, avoid really loud environments for extended periods and mask it with music, tv or white noise if it got to unnerving. It's been going strong for a month now with no indication of getting much better soon, but I've actually gotten used to it to the point where I only really notice it anymore if I focus on whether or not it is there.

 

[wsilvio]

As a musician, I worry about damaging my hearing. This is one of the main reasons I got custom iems. By blocking out a large portion of the background noise, I can listen at a much lower volume and still hear everything clearly! I also practice with musicians earplugs. You don't have to be a musician to benefit from these as well. They are great for concerts, on loud trains and busses etc...

 

[jcn3]

you mean that very slight ringing that i have in my ears all the time isn't normal?! but i don't listen loud at all!

seriously, i do have a very low-level high-pitched ringing all the time. the only time i notice it is when i have on headphones.

 

[Logistics]

Isn't this intensified if you have high blood-pressure? Maybe change some things about your diet, and lose weight if you're heavy.

I used to be about 333 lbs., and I do remember hearing that whine on quiet nights. I used to run a fan all night cause I couldn't stand it. I've since then come down to between 180-190 lbs. and until I saw this thread, I hadn't really given it any thought, but I don't remember hearing that whine at night, I haven't thought about it in forever, and my fan broke some time ago. Hehe! If I put my palms over my ears I can hear a whine, but I think most people probably hear that.


Edit: Oh, see! Now, I put my headphones on and I notice that tiny whine. There's never anything wrong with you UNTIL you go to the doctor, as they say. YOU IDIOTS!!! XD HEHEHE

 

[earwicker7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsilvio /img/forum/go_quote.gif Mine shows up due to allergies. It even changes ears depending on which side of my head is clogged up!

X2

 

[Gregious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieo /img/forum/go_quote.gif see an ear, nose & throat doctor & audiologist immediately. it could be an infection that could lead to deafness or it may be tinnitus for which there is no cure. act now.

WHOA don't be scared! sounds like you've had it since you were little. Recurrent ringing in your ears IS tinnitus. Lots of reasons it could happen from sinus problems, allergies, tight neck muscles, TMJ (issues with your jaw joints), inner ear dysfunction...lots of people have it and live with it. I've had it for a couple of years and Drs don't know why. Started with stuffed up left ear I had a couple of years ago. I also have a stiff neck and am under constant high stress which could also contribute. My Tinnitus comes and goes and isn't terribly severe. I am extra careful about amp volume now, though.

I totally agree you should visit an ENT for your own peace of mind. But don't freak out about it. Probably nothing serious. Also sounds like you don't play your music to excessive levels, which is great.

 

[physh]

i have had it as long as i can remember (i'm 18 now) when i was younger, i did have several ear infections. I remember one or two nights it was so loud i couldnt even sleep. Now i'm used to it and it dosnt bother me. It does get worse if i listen to the ipod headphones. I think someone should do a study because i really think they can damage your hearing.

 

[stevieo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregious /img/forum/go_quote.gif WHOA don't be scared! sounds like you've had it since you were little. Recurrent ringing in your ears IS tinnitus. Lots of reasons it could happen from sinus problems, allergies, tight neck muscles, TMJ (issues with your jaw joints), inner ear dysfunction...lots of people have it and live with it. I've had it for a couple of years and Drs don't know why. Started with stuffed up left ear I had a couple of years ago. I also have a stiff neck and am under constant high stress which could also contribute. My Tinnitus comes and goes and isn't terribly severe. I am extra careful about amp volume now, though. I totally agree you should visit an ENT for your own peace of mind. But don't freak out about it. Probably nothing serious. Also sounds like you don't play your music to excessive levels, which is great.

i spent a lot of time around in front of the speaker stacks listening at extreme decibels at live music shows for years when i was a kid & into adulthood. the 1st thing the doctor asked me if i was hunter & was right handed. the answer was yes. he told me that was probably the cause & it does not go away & is so loud at times that i can not sleep. it can take years for tinnitus to manifest itself. i noticed that allergies also play a part as well as does stuffed noses or swollen eustacian (spelling?) tubes.

you can not freak out about it. that's life. sometimes it drives me completely up the walls & i wear a custom molded musicians attenuator from westone labs in the effected ear at all times & always in both ears at live music gigs. any audiologist will make the ear impressions & send them off to westone. i even tried a noise masking device. that did not help. i do use custom molded iem's on airplanes to block the tinnitus inducing noise & i do not get pressure issues with my ears & do not hear the devastating engine noise & i am getting pretty good at reading the lips of the waitresses. one benefit of iem's on the plane is that i can not hear the announcement about turning off electronic devices. i just nod yes & smile. besides, electronics do not interfere with avionics on airplanes. that is fact.

a friend of mine had an ear infection & went to a quack doctor who did not recognize his ear infection & now he is deaf.

tinnitus & untreated ear infections are serious business.

 

[4ki]

^interestingly there is very little warning in the amount of cabin noise in an airplane. With jet engines soaring above 90 decibles, you'd THINK that there'd be some advisement to at least bring a pair of $4 hearos, at least for the take off, where the sound is at its loudest. I personally use a pair that cuts noise by 26db without muffling vocals; this way I can actually hear people talking to me if they are within a few feet of my ears.

But in regards to tinnitus, everyone has it to a degree. I can hear the pitched whir whenever I put my iems on in a silent room; before any music is played. This is why I prefer to use foamies.

 

[rivieraranch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by allysan /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would recommend seeing an audiologist immediately, especially if you're wearing IEMs. My audiologist has informed me that studies have shown that earbuds and similar devices are worse for your hearing than regular headphones since they direct sound right into your ear canal. Whether this is true or not, I do not know... but not wearing earbuds doesn't bother me so I stay away from them.

I think earbuds should be banned. Also, these stupid bluetooth things that people walk around (apparently) talking to themselves with.

 

[rincewind]

I think a LOT more people would have tinnitus than realise it. But most would just have it so such a low level that it doesn't bother them. Don't start thinking about jumping in front of a bus yet

I also used to run a fan all night, but not sure if that was cos I just liked the sound, or to cover up tinnitus.

I now only get it occasionally. I had MANY middle ear infections as a kid, and even when I'm not sick, I can make my right ear drum click simply by a miniscule head movement (I can't actually actually pinpoint what I'm doing to make it happen, but I'm not moving my jaw at all and it's not related to the eyes. Kinda weird). Apparently my eardrums look like a mess. And I am terrible in a busy situation or with loud humming (eg loud AC systems or crowded bars), or when I'm walking with someone and they are in front of me facing away and they say something. But every time I've been to a audiologist I've tested very well. *shrug* I'm just glad it doesn't affect every day life or music.

 

[one-eyed-xander]

I also have mild tinnitus. I call it mild because it doesn't stop me getting to sleep, unlike the problems that others have. I've had it all my life but it has only really been elevated to mild annoyance in the last 12 months. I finally dragged my ears off to an ENT specialist who basically said "yep, you've got tinnitus".

It was a worthwhile experience anyway though because they did a hearing test on me (sorry can't remember the brand of headphones used, probably Senns). I had some hearing loss in one ear, but nothing to worry about. Also the ENT sent me off for an MRI scan as a precaution: in a very small percentage of cases, tinnitus is a symptom of more serious problems (all clear for me though).

Anyway the advice given was to make friends with tinnitus. It's good advice. And definitely try to address any stress issues in your life as it will make a big impact on the ringing.

Don't worry, you'll still be able to enjoy music

 

[4ki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivieraranch /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think earbuds should be banned. Also, these stupid bluetooth things that people walk around (apparently) talking to themselves with.

While I have my contentions against the latter, I fail to see how banning earbuds would help this issue considering the already excessive city-noise levels that we all live in today. Not every idiot walking across the red-light has them on, you know. Ignorance != earbuds.

==
I'll probably experience a bit of it tomorrow night...though I am prepared with some hearos to cut the db down by 26, because audio technicians here pretty much suck and don't know that cranking the volume up a few notches than needed destroys sound quality, and makes stupid kids who listen to it at a show even stupider...

 

[mofonyx]

I knew I had it as a kid when dad kept me a bit in his car while he went out to get some bread at night.

The silence really gets to me in that car slam shut like that. I get a ringing in my ears and I knew about it since I was 7.