Tinnitus

[oliver_bentley]

I've recently being diagnosed with tinnitus - too much practicin in small hard rooms n gigs, and was wondering if there was anyone on here who's got it n wouldn't mind speaking to me bout it (pm probably best).

Read lots of stuff online etc, n spoken to doc, (its not the most optomistic reading permenent damage and no cure come up a lot) n its now a few months before a consultants apointment. At 19 its not the best thing to have, n was wonderin if other sax players had it from their playin, n what they did to minimise damage.

Cheers, Oli

 

[ken]

Hi Oliver,

Sorry to hear about the tinnitus. I hope the consultant can come up with something.

I have had a mild form for many years, it came about from riding motorcycles from an early age and the associated wind noise. Didn't used to have to wear crash helmets when I started biking!. It doesn't really bother me unless I start thinking about it. I sometimes put head/earphones on with low music and then tend to forget about it.

Best wishes ,
Ken.

 

[Bobby G]

I've got some form of tinnitus that I put down mainly to playing in loud guitar-based bands - I suspect overdriven guitar sounds right in the ear haven't done a lot of good. Also put it down to going to a lot of (like 4 or 5) gigs a week during my teens and earlier 20's, which is when I think the damage was done. I'm 50 now. I can't remember a time when I didn't have the ringing in the ears, but conversely it doesn't seem to get any worse, except for a short while, i.e. it's gone back to normal by the following day on the occasions when I do go to a loud gig. Also I don't find the volume uncomfortable at the time. Unnecessary, sometimes, but not uncomfortable. Jazz or amplified acoustic gigs are fine. Like I say, it's a fairly mild ringing, pitched about high C, so I can filter it out or ignore it quite easily.

I've never had it investigated, believing it to be something you just have to live with.

Cheers, Bob

 

[oliver_bentley]

ah, well that sounds ok, mind you, mine is pretty bad atm, keeping me from sleep n can hear during day sat at a computer for eg, but I'm getting used to it. Just dont wanna do some serious damage.Will wait n see what doc says. In mean time any other thoughts are welcome.

cheers, Oli

 

[Greywolf]

Hi Oliver

check your PM

 

[BeeVee]

Hello Oli,

I've had it all my 72 years and would be worried sick if it ever came to a sudden stop! Mine's like hissing steam most of the time, but can decend to a lower pitched whine when I'm off colour.

Mostly, it goes unnoticed and is 'heard' only when listened for - like NOW for instance!

Best thing to do, I find, is ignore it.

 

[Dylan]

Hi Oli

Sorry about your hearing problem. It's an all too common one amongst musicians. You are right to be concerned about it. Even jazz musos can suffer from it - standing in front of a drummer or brass section in full flight is as bad as a Marshall stack.

I've got damage in one ear due to too many Motorhead gigs in years gone by.

Has your doc mentioned musicians ear plugs to you? They reduce the sound level by 10-20 db whilst retaining the quality of the music. You dont get the underwater feeling that you do with eg: foam type earplugs. More info here:
http://www.dontlosethemusic.com/home/
http://www.sensorcom.com/ (there are other manufacturers as well)

I intend to get some for myself.

Regards

Dylan

 

[Bobby G]

I used those musicians earplugs when I was in a guitar band a few years ago. They cost a bit, but they work well. They're also useful to monitor your own backing vocals as they seem to trap some of the resonance of your voice.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Saxlicker]

I have it!
Much like Bob's description and never investigated further.

Maiinly I only hear it when all is quiet and I don't have too much to think about,
Or after a loud band rehersal in confined spaces.

Or when some one else mentions it.

Occasionally, when I am unaware of it, The level suddenly drops away and I notice it because of that! which just reconfirms its continously in the backgroud!

 

[rebecca]

Oli,
My mother began suffering tinnitus several years ago (she's mad because my dad the one who always turns the volume up and he didn't get it-between you and me-he's going deaf...)

Anyhow, having regulary conversed with her over that time period she has gotten to a point where she can ignore it most of the time and there is some cycling between good days and bad days.

I have since then started using ear plugs whenever possible (i use www.etymotic.com ) the only downside to being a horn player is its the same thing as playing with a finger in your ear. Sometimes i'll take turns putting it in only one ear and then switching-and at the same time positioning myself so that the free ear isn't it the direct line of fire of the guitarist's Marshall.

The other thing I would add...I go to the chiropractor regularly, and there has been success in some percentage of cases where the tinnitus is lessened or stopped with a good 'tune up'. I started going a few years ago thinking i had carpal tunnel-within 15-20 minutes of playing my right arm would go numb. That was cured within 3 weeks.

The reality of it is, horns are heavy instruments, we are all just well adjusted to the weight because we play regularly. So long term exposure can have unique ways of wreaking havoc on your body.

A college professor of mine was going to specialists for migraines that wouldn't stop. Finally one of the doctors got smart-my professor switched from a neck strap to a shoulder harness and the migraines ceased.

So -i guess the main idea here is be willing to go off the path of western medicine a bit-you may find an answer.

 

[oliver_bentley]

thanks for all the posts - I've been very busy these past couple of weeks, finally managed to find a decent young jazz piano player (n mean feat in Cumbria!) and so have been engrossed in arranging parts, writing and practicing, for the new band. hope to get back here soon.

I've got my qppointment tomorrow, so we'll see what the doc says n go from there.

Thanks again for the comments/advice, its reassuring to know that its a problem with other sax players too, and it doesnt affect them too badly. Oli

 

[robaldo]

www.alpine.nl

Use ear plugs!

 

[RedBottom]

My hubby's a drummer, has been around rock bands since he was a teenager (he's 50 now) and assumed his worsening, raging tinnitus was because of that. However, when he had tests a few months ago, the consultant said it was unlikely to have been that. He asked hubby if he'd ever had any kind of head injury, something that he couldn't remember at the time. But later he remembered a car crash that happened when he was 14, when he ended up with concussion, so we think that may have the cause.

Upshot is, after some months and a bit of messing about (which wasn't sorted until we wrote to our MP, who just happens to be the health minister), he's going to be fitted for a hearing aid in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how he gets on (although you'll have to remind me). Saying that, I'm sure he'd be happy for you to email him, so if you want to, send me a PM and I'll put you both in touch.

Meantime, someone recommended Apple Cider Vinegar for his migraine. It's also supposed to help tinnitus, which it hasn't in this case, but has helped the migraine and some joint problems, so it's worth a try. More info here:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/headache.html

 

[Bobby G]

Hope everything goes ok for Mr. Redbottom, surely a suitable name for the active rock drummer.

How does the apple cider vinegar work, do you drink it neat, put it on your chips, what? I ask because a family member, Rachael, gets really bad migraines from time to time and 'western medication' doesn't seem to help much.

Cheers, Bob

 

[oliver_bentley]

well...

docs basically said not much they can do. my hearing hasnt dropped off at all, so thats good news, but he says that with me having it so young, that if I'm not careful I can do some serious damage, but then guess I knew that anyway.


As for your sugestion of cider vinigar Redbottom, I already slart it on my salad, (though weather tesco's stuffs the best I'm not sure) but will make an effort to do so more often, and thanks for the offer of putting me in touch with mr R. At the moment, I've bin put in touch with a young guy at uni (also a drummer) who's got it too to have a talk, but thanks a lot all the same. Hope his hearings ok too.

Thanks again to one and all, Oli

 

[RedBottom]

2 tablespoons Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons honey (or to taste)
8 fl oz warm water

Drink this twice a day.

Hubby says it's also supposed to work for thursh, but he says he's never been able to catch one to find out. 😉

Actually, his forum name is Original Animal, and he's a huge Ronnie Verrell fan.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Thursh?

 

[Bobby G]

Pete Thomas wrote:
Thursh?

Yup, it's a partial, phonetic quote from 'The Wild and Wooly West', starring Sean Connery. The full quote is 'thursh gold in them thar hillsh'.

Thanks for the recipe, Redbottom, Rachael will try it next time she has on onset.

Cheers, Bob

 

[RedBottom]

Pete Thomas wrote:
Thursh?

Thrush. That'll teach me to check my spelling before I post. And me a writer too!!!