Tinitus

[adrianw]

:evil:
I think my Tinitus has finally beaten me. It has been in one ear for a long time but last week I woke up to the sound of a kettle boiling in both ears.
I started learning sax in August last year and really started to get into it. So much so that I lashed out and bought a new YAS62, then my tinitus got progressively worse to the point where the sax is causing pain. I thought about using ear plugs but what's the point. Without background noise entering the ear the ringing is even louder.
My advice to any of the younger people out there. Protect your ears like they were gold. Next time you go to a concert and come out with your ears ringing, try to imagine what it would be like to have them ringing like that 24 hours a day.
Getting old really sucks!!!!!

[RS]

What do you think caused your tinnitus?

[Gandalfe]

Hearing problems can be caused by disease or by damaged caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. If you are concerned about protecting your ability to hear, get your ears/hearing checked by a creditable physician. It's usually not too late to take protective measures.

[Andrew]

I'm 18, and I've got a minor version of tinnitus, but according to my doctor, it'll just get worse. I'm using ear protection now, but my most recent hearing test came back "Borderline Needing Aid." So, I've got tinnitus and I'm almost to the point to where I need help. NOT GOOD. That's what I get for not using protection during my rock gigs and my funk gigs. Even my jazz gigs got loud sometimes. I'm trying my best now to protect my ears. I have to have a fan or something that makes noise at night so I can focus on that, otherwise the ringing will just take over and I won't be able to sleep. It's very annoying...

[tonal ambition]

OK, I haven't used this material, so I can't vouch for it myself, but other people I know have said good things about this material:

http://www.kevinhogan.com/braintin.htm

[adrianw]

RS.
I put it down to playing in a rock band in the 60's, age and genetics. I've just turned 50 and it is a common problem as you get older. My mother suffers from it too so I am probably geneticly predisposed to acquitre it.
I went to a jazz picnic at one of the local wineries and my tinnitus got so bad it kept me awake last night. My specialist says that the only option I have, at the moment, to get rid of it is to have the nerves severed and accept total deafness in that ear. I'm not ready for that yet. I'm hoping that someone finds a cure.
Thanks for the info TONAL. I'll look into it.

[WG]

Isn't this a miserable disability? I've had T for the last year. I attribute it to sitting in front of 4 bones without earplugs for 15 years. Of course, it may be genetic (since my father was partially deaf).
I've found that Gingko and a white noise generator (for sleeping) helps me.
You guys may also want to check out the Tinnitus Message Support Board....

http://pub126.ezboard.com/btinnitussupport92262

[Alexk]

The mosquitoes, the rotten mosquitoes at night, all is quiet, and the noise starts. I have been known to jump out of bed some nights and grab the insect killer and spray the daylights out of the bedroom. And my wife will wake up and say, darl', there are no mosquitoes in here, the house is screened. Young ones, use ear plugs when you play with guitar bands and a hot monitor system, if you work in industry, use ear plugs all day, but save those ears. Too many nights working in front of a really loud on-stage sound, and too many days working around steam turbines. Thankfully my playing is not really affected, although some say I play loud, but I do my best now to save what I have.

[bari_sax_diva]

Thanks, guys, for sharing your warnings.

The Costco near me has a hearing aid place next to the optometrist. I'm gonna go see if they'll set me up with good earplugs (most of my playing is in big bands). I've been put in front of the ride cymbal or one of those obnoxious, have-to-take-everything-up-an-octave trumpet players enough times that I alread keep foam plugs in my case. Time to start taking this more seriously, though.

Thanks again,
Leanne

[Alan G]

Hi Bari-Sax-Diva (what a great handle!)

You (and everyone else checking in..) should try:

http://www.etymotic.com/

These are comfortable and CHEAP. Only $12.

I use them alot. Ummm - but not enough:

Wished I used them at the last bar gig we did. I wore them through the opening band..but pulled them through most of our set. The @#$%ing sound guy had the mix waaay too loud. I thought I'd be ok. Well - now I have an extra pitch of ringing to join the choir in my ears.

PROTECT YOUR EARS!!

[bari_sax_diva]

Hi! Thanks for the compliment. :oops:

I checked the web site and found a ready-made version to try. Turns out they distribute through Guitar Center, and although I didn't find the same exact model (the ER-20), I did find one that looked exactly like it, with the label of "Hearoes." Cost about $17. I'm going to try it tonight--I've got a rehearsal with one of those trumpet players I mentioned--and I'll post back with a review.

Thanks for your help!
-Leanne

[Jazzed]

I use the Etymotic ER-20s religiously. I keep a pair on my keychain. Too many bands I work with feel the need to play loudly.

[brettpauley]

How difficult is it to get used to playing sax with earplugs? What does it do to your tone?

[Alan G]

brettpauley - Well, they basically suck. :(

See my previous post where I didn't wear mine in a loud gig.



It does take some getting use to. If you think yer gonna be in a loud envionment - it would be wise to practice awhile with plugs in place. What happens is - you hear the sound coming though your jaw - which is quite different from what the horn sounds like. It may actually improve your intonation - as you will REALLY hear the pitch.

The ER-20's are nice in that they are comfortable - and don't kill all the sound. If you just use regular foam type plugs - ya can't hear a thing - except what comes through yer head bones.

Probably the best option (which costs the most!) is to use a quality In-Ear system - one that blocks out all outside sound - with a monitor mix piped in. Never tried it, though. - - - of course - the danger would be to crank the volume on the in-ears... mak'n ya go more deaf.

durn ringing ---

[TerraNova]

Hi guys,

My mum's an audiologist (tests hearing and is involved in the non-medical treatment of hearing disorders eg. hearing aids).

Anyway, when I first started playing the school band, mum made me get a pair of ear plugs.... However not just any sort of ear plugs.

Just to let those of you who dont know, there are such things as musicians ear plugs, which do not change the tone of the sound going into your ears. Yes they are tricky to get used to, because you hear a lot more of the internal sounds, but they are great! However, they cost a fair bit.

Just thought u should know......

[Durand]

http://www.webdesignprofessional.com/ring_away/index.cfm?action=setCookie&adtrackID=562

[Flatted 5th]

I will have to give the etymotic's a try. The cheapies I've used before completely muddle the sound and I can't hear myself at all.
The ocean's roar in my head is getting louder, and most likely I will end up going to an audiologist and getting my ears measured so I can get the expensive ear molds.

[GibsonLesPaul]

I plan on gettign a pair of musicians ear plugs very soon. I'm 16 and I want to hear for life. Every now and then I get a high ring in my ears and it freaks me out so I want to get a custom set to protect my ears. I wear ear plugs to anything with noise above ohhh lets say a really loud talker and to anythign with loud music. I love music so much and would hate to lose a bit of my hearing. I hoep they find a cure for you guys who are really deep in hearing loss. It's a loss to the rest of us who won't be able to see you guys play at all the big gigs again. Take care.

[Tom]

As far as a cure for long-term hearing loss or tinnitus, I don't believe that one is possible, at least not with current technology. The cochlea (the fluid-filled part of the inner ear that converts vibrations into nerve impulses) is lined with thousands of microscopic hairs that sense the sound waves in the fluid. When you aren't hearing anything, they stand straight up, and sound temporarily causes some of them (different ones detect different frequencies of sound) to vibrate - just think of a field of tall grass swaying in the wind. Excessive noise, though, is like that field being flooded. Even after the water recedes, the grass will be laying down, having been flattened by the water - this is tinnitus, where the hairs remain permanantly bent as if they were constantly being stimulated by sound waves, and you experience a ringing sensation. Hearing loss is like a massive deluge that rips the grass out of the ground - some or all of the hairs are destroyed, and hearing will be impaired as a result. This is why hearing damage is irreversible.

Hearing protection is a must if you perform in anything louder than a small chamber ensemble. I'm only 19 and already beginning to suffer tinnitus. In my case, it's partially hereditary, but excessive noise from band practice is the main source. Marching band and pep band at the college level (especially indoor music practice for marching band) can reach sound levels which would be absolutely forbidden for industrial workers without hearing protection, especially since woodwind players typically get placed in front of the brass for a more balanced sound (at least, more balanced for the audience members who don't have the bell of a trombone pointed directly at the back of their head).

Personally, I sprung for the custom-molded earplugs, with the interchangeable filters from Etymotic. I have a pair of ER-15 and a pair of ER-25 filters, so I can switch depending on the noise level (typically, I use the 25s for pep band and indoor music rehearsals and the 15s out on the field and in the stands at football games). The audiologist I went to charged $90 to make molds of my ear canals and have the plugs made by an outside lab, with one pair of filters included in that cost. I paid another $45 for the second pair of filters. Of course, that was in a small town, so expect to pay a bit more for the audiologist. The plugs are great, though. You still have to get used to having something in your ear, but since it's a soft plastic that conforms perfectly to your ear canal, it's barely noticeable after a while (the same labs that do custom ear plugs also make hearing aids designed to be worn all day, so they know how to make them comfortable). My intonation is better with the plugs in, since I can hear myself over the rest of the band more easily (although the 25dB filters make it sound like I'm playing a kazoo). The only real problem is getting used to your own voice sounding so much louder than everything else around you - it takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you have to shout anything in the context of a marching band performance, but it's a small price to pay.

[jvsax]

For loud gigs I use the cheap foam plugs. I take one or both out of them out for solos, though, because it sounds so weird to solo with them in. I've gotten good at taking them out and putting them back in discreetly!

[Subtone Sam]

For loud gigs I use the cheap foam plugs. I take one or both out of them out for solos, though, because it sounds so weird to solo with them in. I've gotten good at taking them out and putting them back in discreetly!

jvsax,a serious advice: don't do that! Taking earplugs off all of a sudden during gig is even more dangerous than not using ones at all.Your ears get used to the volume levels after couple of minutes and that way protect themselves in natural way,as well as possible (not an excuse not to use earplugs).Taking earplugs off all of a sudden in the middle of a loud music/noise will cause your ears to have a shock and they have no time to adjust to the higher volume levels,they are left totally unprotected for a while.A sudden peak of sound is the most dangerous thing to your ears.Using earplug in just one ear is not good either,this will just put double pressure on your unprotected ear.

[Durand]

Good advice from Subtone. In fact , this happens with almost all conditions in which your body get used to a given environment ( with respiratory tract, eyes, muscles etc.); and your ears aren not the exception. use the earplugs all the time you have high levels of volume. That's the better choice.
:wink:

[Bill Mecca]

I've experienced just what Sam spoke of, at a band rehearsal. Trying to get used to playing with the ER20's I would take one out, and wow, the volume seemed exponetionally louder. Had to put it right back in. Now if I hadn't had them in at all, I'm sure my ears would have adjusted to the volume and it wouldn't have felt so loud, but that is where the damage comes in.

If I can use an example..... ever walk outside in the sunlight after a matinee movie? taking out the ear plugs in a high volume situation is the same as walking into the sunlight after sitting in the dark.

[cleger]

Reviving this thread because I just heard that Jeb Bishop is leaving the Vandermark 5. Rumour has it that he is leaving at least partially because tinnitus is affecting his ability to play.


Wear ear protection guys and gals!