Tinnitus - anybody suffering? Any solutions?

[wicker]

Hey, good thread, I've got the same problem, ringing in both ears, more in my right, sometimes I feel like the ring in my left is gone, but other time it's back. What bothers me most, is that I'm 22, and it started something like 5years ago. It couldn't be hearing damage cos I don't listen to loud music, I don't play at big volumes, and do not go often on concerts, and when I go, I stand mostly at the back where's not too loud, I also don't use headphones, ewentualy use them as stoppers when drums are to loud while playing with band (I just don't like noises), so as you can see, I try to protect my hearing.

The problem might be somewhere else, I have made a little reasearch, and have found, that the tinnitus might by caused not only by bad hearing but by problems with temporomandibular joint, and that's what I think might be my problem. I had dental braces for ~3 years when I was in high school, I had also extracted 2 teeth (4th) and the problems started somewhere in this time. Since that, I sometimes hear a kind of crack in my right joint when I make a rapid, strong movment of my mandible. It sounds like something is breaking, it's hard for me to describe how it feels, it's not a pain but before that, I feel a kind of tension and after that it's better.
I went to hearing specialist 3 times with that, the last time something like 3moths ago, I take a medcine for my inner ear, but that seems not to help, I will also have my adiogram done I had it done before 3-4 years ago and it was ok then, should be nowdays too, I hope.

I got used to it, but I have reminded it to myself 4 moths ago and started to think about it more, I think that I'll go joint doc and ask him for help, personally, I would rather have problems with joint than have damaged hearing.

[M Fowler]

Where I work we have noted in veteran's that tinnitus can be a symptom of the sensori-neural hearing loss in those with a history of noise exposure.

Don't forget recreational noise exposure from power tools, chainsaws and other equipment can also cause noise induced hearing loss as well as tinnitus.

Medications can also cause temporary tinnitus, permanent or aggravate the tinnitus condition.

Some people just get sudden onset hearing loss syndrome along with tinnitus and others can get Meniere's disease.

[Andy Le Blanc]

heres the OSHA link

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp ... &p_id=9735

I work between 85 and 95 Db within acceptable durations and put in plugs
if it exceeds the exposure limits, it works, keeps the tinnitus to a minimum

Its just like any other repetitious exposure, radiation, chemical, repetitive motion, etc...

I've had carpal tunnel issues working in the fisheries, you have to stop what ever is setting off the condition.

Its the same for tinnitus, you have to limit exposure, because of my job I have to limit other exposures,
I can't go out gigging so much, sucks but I like my job and want to keep at it for a good while.

[rickjames]

Good thread. I started to notice ringing in my ears when my band stops playing during rehearsal and everybody just stares at each other waiting for someone to say what went wrong (we all know those moments). I only paid attention to it when it happened several times after, but wasnt really worried.

There was even a time when I played drums for a while and it would again happen after the bassist stopped playing. Is this considered tinnitus or has anyone's "ringing" been triggered the same way?

[vibratoking]

Thanks for all the replies. I use IEMs as much as I can. They are really a big help, but sometimes I get lazy and then I pay for it. IEMs make it bearable for me. I have developed a very nice way of using IEMs if anyone is interested. I also included some links to two books.

The instrument that bothers me the most is drums. Especially the snare. A heavy snare hit can send my right ear into a huge ring that can last for several minutes, but I always have ringing in both ears. An Eric Johnson concert is what triggered mine (and also his from what I have been reading).

Here are links to a few books on the subject. Reading a sample of the TRT book actually made me feel better about my tinnitus. I know that the medical establishment has very different opinions of how and/or whether tinnitus can be treated at all. I have tried many things and have not gotten any relief. The best relief comes from staying away from loud noises. Obviously, this isn't a great solution for an electric guitar player. I think there are quite few causes for tinnitus. I have read medical journal papers stating that in some severe cases of tinnitus, the auditory nerve was cut - AND THE RINGING GOT WORSE. This suggests that it has nothing to do with hair follicles in the ear. My interpretation is that YMMV with treatments depending on the root cause of the ringing. It could be in physical part of the ear, in the nerve, in the brain, and it can be psychological. I think it's best to try and understand where yours may be coming from by trying different remedies and examining the results. The bottom line is that you must protect your ears. The TRT book suggest that tinnitus in reversable so there is hope.


http://www.amazon.com/Tinnitus-Turning- ... 1934266035

http://www.amazon.com/Tinnitus-Retraini ... pd_sim_b_2

[rickjames]

Did you buy the books? How were they

I would agree that drums can irritate the ears, especially the snare and the kick drum. I have other guitar player friends whose ringing is aggravated by the high treble of the snare, or the bass drum, its case to case as its different for different people. I'd assume the same for a cure, different ways may work depending on how your ear/body responds, and (I guess) depending on what you are hearing.

I hear ringing, while some people I know hear something like morse code.

[vibratoking]

Yes, there are alot of different symtpoms - high pitched ringing, low ringing, rushing sounds, Morse code, etc... Some people even report that it changes from moment to moment. That is scary.

I have only read portions of the TRT book that I could find online. I have heard good things about these two books. I am getting ready to but the TRT book.

[billyz]

heres the OSHA link

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp ... &p_id=9735

I work between 85 and 95 Db within acceptable durations and put in plugs
if it exceeds the exposure limits, it works, keeps the tinnitus to a minimum

Its just like any other repetitious exposure, radiation, chemical, repetitive motion, etc...

I've had carpal tunnel issues working in the fisheries, you have to stop what ever is setting off the condition.

Its the same for tinnitus, you have to limit exposure, because of my job I have to limit other exposures,
I can't go out gigging so much, sucks but I like my job and want to keep at it for a good while.

Andy,
Carpal tunnel is also a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes. Get an A1C test done . Carpal tunnel precedes Diabetes diagnosis by an average of Ten years.

[Structo]

Really?
I had never heard that before.
But a good friend of mine had severe carpal tunnel on both wrists and had the corrective surgery.

And lo and behold, he became diabetic when he got into his 40's.

He was very over weight which didn't help things.

[billyz]

Really?
I had never heard that before.
But a good friend of mine had severe carpal tunnel on both wrists and had the corrective surgery.

And lo and behold, he became diabetic when he got into his 40's.

He was very over weight which didn't help things.

Well, ask me how I know. I had carpal tunnel from what I thought was just repetitive motion induced. Low and behold I was diagnosed with Diabetes almost ten years later. Not just me but alot of my other friends. It is documented medically as well. I was not overweight at the time but I did start packing on the pounds later and craving Carbohydrates, ( which packs on the lbs). Carb craving is another precursor sign! Anyway I did not mean to hijack this thread.
I have tinnitus as well , for many years now. It used to drive me crazy, but now I can mostly ignore it.

I just wish I knew then what I know now, I would have taking better care of myself.

[M Fowler]

Diabetes mellitus secondary conditions: renal dysfunction, glaucoma, retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all common secondary conditions.

[rickjames]

Carpal tunnel to diabetes? Wow, thats huge for me, thanks for sharing. To think I might have already inherited diabetes from my mother..

I just got off a chat window with one of my buddies and remembered this thread.. I didnt know what the policy here is about links, so I just put it on my sig. My friend who's had tinnitus since he was 15 (he's 29 now) said they were able to remedy the ringing in his ears. Some of you might be searching for something similar. HTH

[vibratoking]

That link is interesting! It may work, but I it REEKS of pure salesmanship. I makes me feel like I just tuned in an infomercial...which is never a good thing in my book.

[Structo]

Hmmm, link doesn't work for me.

[M Fowler]

I think treatment is for objective tinnitus the kind that is audible to the examiner.

For subjective tinnitus I don't remember our audiology reference saying anything about effective treatments but that maybe because we deal mostly in noise induced type.

Ask your doctor or audiologist for information.