tinnitus/hearing loss HELP!!! (Update - 15 months later)

[groovyjazzyfunky]

I am scared sh*tless. Last night (about 24 hours ago) I attended a very loud rock concert and I unfortunately forgot to bring earplugs. After the concert was over, my ears had that "numb" feeling that I've had several times before after loud concerts with no earplugs, but this time the numbness didn't go away within a few hours. Also, I now have a constant high-pitched ringing in my right ear. It seems to be a "G." Someone please tell me this will be gone when I wake up tomorrow. Someone please tell me my hearing will be back to normal. Someone please tell me I have one more chance to save my hearing. I'll do anything, I swear. I'm going crazy. My life is falling apart. Music is my one and only passion in life. If I can't enjoy that, I don't know what I'll do. I'm going to go puke now.

[Basshappi]

hello GrooveMouse, First of all don't panic! stressing out will just make you feel worse. I have noticed that as I have gotten older that it takes longer for my hearing to return to normal after exposure to high volume. Sometimes as much as several days. You should limit your exposure to high volume for a while and if you are still haveing problems call your physican and get an appointment with him or ask if he can refer you to a hearing specialist. STAY CALM ! and get well.

[Bartolini]

It seems to be a "G." ?

Man I'm sorry I had couple of laughs here seeing that sentence. No seriously, I'm sorry but see a doc. and get your problem examined man. All the very best and sincerely hope you'd get back to your normal hearing very very soon.

[groovyjazzyfunky]

Seriously, it's a "G." I don't have perfect pitch, but if this tinnitus stays with me then at least I'll always have a note to reference to.

 

Man, this sucks. I'm 25, btw. I've only ever had a ringing in my ears for several hours or less before. For those who've experienced what I'm experiencing, can it actually last for only a couple days and then go away? I'm reeeeeeaaaaaaaaallllllly hoping so.

 

In any case, I'm definitely going to invest in some of those $150 "musician's earplugs" ASAP. I feel so stupid for not doing that a long time ago. Hopefully what I'm experiencing now is just a "warning" and nothing permanent. God, please.

[Bartolini]

wait a while before you invest on ear plugs because it'd be a waste of money if your G'd stick in there for good!

[Jode]

Okay, so raise your hand if you still think it's macho to listen to loud music with no hearing protection. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Yeah, that's what I thought. Let GrooveMouse tell you how cool it is.

 

Prayers and the best of luck, man. Bet you won't do that again. Guys, don't ever - EVER - go to a live rock music event without plugs. I don't even go to nightclubs without them anymore. Matter of fact, there's a Thursday night blues jam that I've been meaning to check out, but I keep missing it because I forget to buy more earplugs, and I don't think about it until after work when all the earplug stores are closed. Buy an industrial-size box at Home Depot and put it in your glovebox. That's what I'm doing, TODAY.

[davebrownbass]

Okay, calm down. Your body has regenerative powers.

 

Damage is constantly being done. You probably will notice soon that the ringing ONLY happens when someone talks.

 

I get paranoid every time I use a power tool, afraid that I'm going chop a finger off and not be able to play music. Same thing with ears.

 

The first hearing loss that occurs is high frequency. That will not effect your bass playing career. It might effect your ability to hear full symphony orchestras and acoustic guitars in all their brilliance.

 

The main thing is, you are hip to it now. You want to do something now. And you need to...this was a warning sign.

 

Here are some useful links: Campaign against Deafness

 

Summary of the problem, discussion of earplugs

[jackpine]

Go here for an pretty good discussion on tinnitus. It can be dealt with.

 

And a musician who doesn't pack around a set of plugs for live shows or just riding in the car is a fool. C'mon... you only have ONE set of ears. Buy a pair of molded musicians plugs and you'll NEVER regret it. I have a set with 9, 15, and 25 dB inserts.

[Connie Z]

Hi Groovemouse! Sorry about this scary experience you are having, and I know how it feels, cause I've "been there, done that."

 

I am 44 now, but when I was 21 I was trying my hand at band management/booking, and went out to hear a band that I was working with. I sat near a speaker for a couple of hours.

 

My ears were doing the normal "ringing" that I had experienced many times before from loud concerts when I went home and went to sleep.

 

I awoke to the phone ringing, and when I picked it up, it was my Grandmother, talking in a VERY funny Micky Mouse type of voice... very high pitched. I asked her why she was talking like that and she said, "like what?"

 

I immediately realized that I had done a bad thing. It was as though all of the bass sounds were completely gone. I was petrified, since I was just starting out to attempt to make a living in the music biz, and I loved music so much, and I was a musician as well.

 

It took 2 whole weeks for the hearing to come back, but the good news is that it came back completely.

 

Then 12 years ago, I developed an inner-ear problem as a result of the anesthesia from abdominal surgery, and I got tinnitus, which has not yet gone away, but I feel as though it can go away, and I am working on learning more about it.

 

BTW Jackpine... thanks for the link to the other thread, it was very informative.

 

Good luck little mouse! If you think about it, please post back again when the tinnitus has cleared up to let us know.

 

... Connie Z

[Idnarb]

Originally posted by Jode:

Okay, so raise your hand if you still think it's macho to listen to loud music with no hearing protection. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Yeah, that's what I thought. Let GrooveMouse tell you how cool it is.

 

Prayers and the best of luck, man. Bet you won't do that again. Guys, don't ever - EVER - go to a live rock music event without plugs. I don't even go to nightclubs without them anymore. Matter of fact, there's a Thursday night blues jam that I've been meaning to check out, but I keep missing it because I forget to buy more earplugs, and I don't think about it until after work when all the earplug stores are closed. Buy an industrial-size box at Home Depot and put it in your glovebox. That's what I'm doing, TODAY.

I hope your kidding.

I go to shows ALL the time and have never used ear plugs. Ive also never had any problems with my ears. Yall need to take a deep breath

[jackpine]

Originally posted by Idnarb:

I hope your kidding.

I go to shows ALL the time and have never used ear plugs. Ive also never had any problems with my ears. Yall need to take a deep breath

You will..... (in best menswarehouse voice)

 

I Guarantee it!!!!!

[DWBass]

Man, after one gig with a seriously LOUD guitarist, my ears were ringing for the rest of the evening and when I went to sleep. Woke up the next morning and it was gone. It takes a while. Imagine enduring a percussive blast from artillary fire without warning. Ten times worse!

[groovyjazzyfunky]

Man, I'm afraid I really messed myself up good. I couldn't hardly sleep last night because of the obnoxious ringing in my ear. I would finally get to a point where I could somewhat ignore the ringing and think about something else for long enough that I could fall asleep, but then half an hour later I'd wake up and not be able to get back to sleep for another 30-45 minutes. Now that I'm "awake" (although I'd hardly call it that since I was only able to squeeze in about 4 hours of sleep altogether), the ringing is still there, and both of my ears still feel numb. I'm also feeling nauseous at the moment, but I'm not sure if that's because I didn't hardly sleep, because I'm just worrying myself sick over the possibility that I screwed my ears, or because I did some major damage to my inner ear and my balance is all off. I also have a pretty bad headache, but I'm laying off the aspirin and caffeine (meaning no Excedrin) because I read that those can make tinnitus worse.

 

Here are some details about the concert. It was in Seattle at the Ballard Firehouse. It was the SPIN DOCTORS, which I would definitely be raving about in another post if it weren't for the problems that I'm now having. I was right against the front of the stage, dead center. I honestly thought this would be a safer place to stand than further back or off to the side, since the speakers were hanging from the ceiling off to the sides and I wasn't in a direct line from them. I did, however, notice that the bass frequencies where I was standing happened to be extremely powerful. "Chest-rattling" powerful. This had me confused. What I'm now wondering is if there was a subwoofer or something coming from underneath/front of the stage, right where I was standing. The sides and front of the stage were covered with fabric, and there could've been some massive speakers behind there that I didn't know about. Why is it that most rock concerts are so obnoxiously loud? Would it really be that much less enjoyable if they lowered the sound 20 decibels?

 

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. Connie Z, when you were 21 and had that hearing loss problem for several weeks, was it accompanied by tinnitus and ear "numbness" for that long? I'm getting the numbness in both ears, but the ringing is in just my right ear. With the tinnitus you have now, did you get used to it and can easily cope with it now? Right now the ringing in my ear is all I can think about. It's driving me insane. I'm consumed by it. It's better when there's noise happening around me, but it's still there. When it's dead quiet all around me, the ringing is head-splitting. I feel completely suffocated. Not being able to get away from it, having no control over it whatsoever, is probably the most frustrating thing I've ever experienced.

 

Idnarb and anyone else who takes their hearing for granted, DON'T. You'll be sorry. I'm never going to forgive myself if this ends up being permanent hearing loss. I often bring earplugs to concerts but end up not using them because they muffle the sound too much. Well, now everything sounds muffled ALL THE TIME. I can't believe I've been so stupid and pulled the old "yeah, but that couldn't happen to ME" trick. Please let my experience be a warning to you. Hopefully it's just a warning to me also, but I've got this sick feeling that it's not.

 

Well, I'm off to the doctor's to get my ears checked out and to be told that I shouldn't listen to loud music without earplugs. So wish me luck. And to all my Christian bass brethren (there seem to be quite a few of you out there), I'd sure appreciate your prayers.

 

Thanks,

Andy

[DWBass]

There are some 'professional' earplugs out there. They allow the full frequency spectrum to pass through just at a lower volume. Do a Google search and see what you find.

[wraub]

Idnarb, this is no joke. Repeated exposure will do damage, damage which, after enough time, can be irreversible.

I have ALWAYS worn earplugs, practice, gigs, going to shows, always. I have seen former band members and friends who can no longer hear the way they should, or even as well as I do, because of their stubborn refusal to wear what they considered an uncomfortable "thing" in their ears.

 

I'd rather be a little uncomfortable than a little deaf.

 

GrooveMouse, wait it out, stay away from loud sounds for a while, and get those 'plugs. Good luck at the doctor's office. Let us know.

Get well soon.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Foot]

GrooveMouse,

 

Good to hear you're getting medical help. I don't really have anything to offer you that you don't know or hasn't been emphasized already (ALWAYS where plugs). Just thought I'd relate my story.

 

About a year ago I was playing with a loud rock group. Our shows were loud (onstage volume was brutal) and practices were worse. Up to that point I had always played heavy rock music for about eight years. Two guitars, amps up to eleven, the whole deal. Earplugs? Well, I was one of the type that Wraub mentioned. "They're uncomfortable" I always said.

 

After one show though, I noticed that I had some ringing in my right ear that didn't go away. Waited a few days and it was still there. I was scared but thought I'd go a little while longer. Two weeks longer and it was still going strong. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Time to make a call to the doctor. Eventually got to a specialist who told me bluntly that I was a dumbass and I was stuck with tinnitus for the rest of my life.

 

Since then I've gotten used to it and at times hardly notice it's there. Loud air-conditioners or other forms of noise pollution seem to aggravate it. But it sure put things into perspective for me. In the space of a year I went from rocker to folkie, never without earplugs.

 

Please be careful with your hearing. Take care of your tools.

[DWBass]

Maybe this will help.

 

Ear Plug Info

[Connie Z]

Hi again Groovemouse!

 

I am glad that you are seeking some medical help, because it sounds like you are really suffering.

 

From what I can remember, the ringing only lasted a day or two, but the loss was what lasted for two weeks.

 

If you are feeling nauseaus, then you very well may be dealing with an inner-ear problem. But, this may be a case where you already had a bit of an inner-ear issue which is what made the noise exposure problem worse. If this is the case, do not lose heart, because there are things to do about inner-ear problems. If you had a history of sinus problems or ear infections as a child, you probably do, from what I've read.

 

Every day I take an over the counter medicine called Meclizine, which is a motion sickness drug. The trade name is: Bonine. I also have to take Sudafed with it. I also take a bunch of vitamins and minerals.

 

Some of the things the inner-ear problem did to me were:

* gave me migraine headaches from using the computer

* made me "list" to the left when I walked

* caused me to drop things constantly

* destoyed my memory

* made me feel confused when trying to learn new things

 

The Meclizine helps all of that tremendously. It also helped my hearing loss for about a year, but recently my loss has started to return, so I am checking into that now. It did not help the tinnitus.

 

My tinnitus is mild, unless I eat a lot of sugar, but even then, the only time I really notice it is if I am laying in bed and it's really quiet. So, I always keep the TV or radio on when I go to sleep, very low, and it works great.

 

I think that it's not only the quiet that makes it more noticeable, but also when I lay down or put my head back, it gets stronger.

 

If you learn any interesting and helpful stuff related to the inner-ear, I'd love to hear it!

 

Good luck.

 

... Connie Z

[wraub]

Originally posted by Connie Z:

Some of the things the inner-ear problem did to me were:

* gave me migraine headaches from using the computer

* made me "list" to the left when I walked

* caused me to drop things constantly

* destoyed my memory

* made me feel confused when trying to learn new things

 

And to think, if I hadn't been wearing earplugs all these years, I could have saved all that money I spent on booze and drugs! Doh!

 

Seriously, Connie, sorry to hear your situation is so severe. I would wish you a speedy recovery, but...

At any rate, Connie and Groove Mouse should stand as perfect examples of the importance of hearing protection. All of the posters on this forum should take their stories to heart.

Wear ear protection!

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Adamixoye]

Key words here are prolonged exposure. Both sides need to ease up a little. You can get away with a concert sans earplugs every now and then, but you'd be foolish if you did it repeatedly for many years. Where exactly the balance is with how much you can get away with, I don't know...but why risk it?

 

Seeking medical attention can't hurt, GrooveMouse, but I really wouldn't sweat it just yet.

[Ryan Griffith]

If there's anything as bad as deafness but different, it's Tinnitus. I've had it for about 8 years now, and once it sets it, that's that; it never goes away. My ears have been ringing day in, day out since 1996, and they won't stop until there's a cure, if there ever is one. My hearing loss is minimal, but if I could have any one thing back, it'd be to treat my ears better. Wear earplugs to loud shows, even if you're playing. I'd wager that those who suggest you lighten up haven't had to deal with tinnitus. If they have, I'm curious as to why they'd think so lightly of it. GrooveMouse, if your ringing doesn't disappear, then you'll learn to live with it. Your brain quickly adjusts to it and tunes it out most of the time. Still, buy good earplugs, as further exposure to noise will make the ringing louder. Sound like fun? Buy the $150 Musicians Earplugs, they're the best investment I've made recently. They're made to work well, and they're so comfortable you'll barely know they're there, as they're molded to fit your ear canal. Good stuff.

 

Please, take hearing damage seriously, I beg all of you. Hearing loss isn't the only danger here, and there's no cure for any of it yet.

[GeorgeR]

It never fails to amaze me. I know so many people who just take their hearing for granted. My wife was born deaf so nearly every day I come home to someone who makes me realize how good it is to be able to hear.

 

I have a pair of earplugs in a small plastic box, on my car keychain. The plugs cost me $25, and they have a little diaphragm in them to attenuate sudden loud sounds by about 30 dB.

 

Otherwise they provide about a 6 dB cut across the spectrum.

 

Something similar is available for hunters, so check your sporting goods store.

 

When I play live, blaring feedback from the mics doesn't faze me, nor the smash of the cymbals! I don't go anywhere without these plugs now!

[groovyjazzyfunky]

Well, my doctor didn't have much to say except that there was nothing he could do for it and that if I did continue to have tinnitus then I was "pretty much S.O.L." He did say that I shouldn't expect it to NOT go away within the next few days, so I'm still hanging on to that small thread of hope. I haven't noticed much of a difference so far, though. It's now been 48 hours since the end of the concert. I'm sitting at my computer with an obnoxiously high-pitched "G" piercing into the right side of my brain. Both of my ears still feel muffled, like I'm at a high altitude and they need to be "popped," despite the fact that, according to the hearing test my doctor gave me today, my hearing is "perfect." And all of this is causing an enormous headache that I can't seem to get rid of by utilizing the Ibuprofein that used to do wonders for my poor little aching head. Basically, I feel like crap and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. It feels like my head got beat up from the inside out. To anyone who's suggested that I'm worrying too much about this, too soon -- well, first of all I hope you're right, but secondly all I can tell you is that I don't go to the doctor very often (only twice in the past 5 years), so when I do it's gonna be for something that I perceive as very serious. This is one of those times.

 

Alright, I'm off to bed. I'm going to try falling asleep to some above-normal-sleeping-volume music in attempt to make myself forget about this musical icepick that's lodged in my brain. Wish me luck. I can't function with only 4 hours of sleep like some of you do (currently being discussed in another thread). If all goes well I'll wake up tomorrow after a good night's rest and something will seem just a little bit better. That's all I'm asking. Just a sign that my body is attempting to heal itself and that there's a chance I'll be back to "normal" someday.

[Bartolini]

good night

[SoundWrangler]

By "doctor" I hope you don't mean your general M.D. You need to get a referral to an OTR (otorrinolaringologist; a.k.a. "Ear Nose & Throat") - where an audiologist will do a full hearing examination (not just the "hold up your hand" biz w/the headphones, but a lot of other groovy stuff with puffs of air pressure against your eardrums). This will give you a freq. spectrum of your loss if any. One thing I learned the hard way is that hearing loss is cumulative: after years of abuse, without warning a single "loud" incident which would simply leave the average person's ears ringing for 24 hours, leaves YOU with permanent damage & tinnitis, because chronic abuse has made you more vulnerable.

Don't f--- around with this, G-Mouse. Get the proper tests, & without a doubt get the aforementioned (& expensive) custom-fitted "musician's" earplugs from your OTR. You can [almost) sing & play normally with these things, which is impossible with drugstore foam plugs (better than nothing, I guess, espec. for someone else's nasty loud concert), & not very practical with the $10-25 models you buy in the online catalogs, either.

Since the trauma is extremely recent, you might also try taking relatively large daily doses of vitamins A, C & E for the next couple weeks. (Lot of conflicting info about whether this is truly effective for recent cochlear trauma; but as long as you don't take truly toxic amounts, it sure can't hurt!)

[Idnarb]

Sorry guys, for now I gotta skip in the ear plugs. Im not standing next to the speakers, nor am I going to any abnormally loud shows. When I go to a show I want to hear it crystal clear, not through a fog of an ear plug.

 

I also am not a musician, merely someone who plays the bass for myself, so I am not going to gigs regularly, practicing with loud speakers ect.

 

I just can't bring myslef to wear those awful looking, feeling and sounding things, if I end up with hearing loss,you can say I told you so.

[Tom Capasso]

I don't use earplugs very often. I have been in clubs (as a spectator) and needed them. When my band plays, maybe I should wear them, but we don't seem loud enough to warrant them. I saw Romano's band a few weeks back, and it was iffy - I probably should have used them. He's louder than my band, though not to a level I find distressing. Also, I was sitting up front, whereas in my band everything isn't facing me.

 

Idnarb, I use the "box of 100 for $3.50" type of foam earplugs. They suck, and it's probably those that you think of when you say "fog". I agree. I'll be investing in some decent ones soon so I can hear the music better. As to looks, the blue foam in my ears matches my blue eyes, so it works for me. Please think about it. Even casual concert goers can damage themselves.

 

Tom

[Jode]

I have grown accustomed to the feel and sound of earplugs in my ears, and I can honestly say that I hear BETTER with them in my ears, especially at a big rock show. Basketball arenas, the venue of choice these days for big tours, are extremely boomy, plus you've got twenty thousand fools screaming at the band. Earplugs cut a lot of the stray frequencies and leave you with a more fundamental sound. And as loud as bands are these days, you get plenty of sound even with the plugs in, believe me.

 

Idnarb, you may not have damaged your hearing yet. But go to enough loud shows, play in enough loud gigs and rehearsals - and let's not forget what LOUD HEADPHONES can do to you, even if you're not a musician! - and you WILL have hearing damage. And don't wait for something to 'feel' wrong, either - going deaf doesn't hurt a bit.

[reachjkh]

The last band I was in, the guitar player had a really nice set of custom molded earplugs w/inserts. We had pretty loud practices(small room) and everything sounded bad with or without my cheap earplugs. He, on the other hand, said that it sounded to him like listening to a comfortably loud CD with his earplugs. They cost him $150. I personally think that this is worth it and intend to get a pair. They are custom molded to your ear by an audiologist so they fit you perfectly. I would definitely pay $150 for a pedal or any other piece of equipment that made my music sound better. If a set of these nice plugs let me really enjoy a live concert or band practice...sold.

[Idnarb]

Originally posted by Jode:

Idnarb, you may not have damaged your hearing yet. But go to enough loud shows, play in enough loud gigs and rehearsals - and let's not forget what LOUD HEADPHONES can do to you, even if you're not a musician! - and you WILL have hearing damage. And don't wait for something to 'feel' wrong, either - going deaf doesn't hurt a bit.

I dont play in a band, hence no loud gigs or reherals. I also dont use earphones.

Should I use ear plugs in the car when I turn my stereo up as well?

 

I understand as musicians you all may need that protection. You are contantly hearing loud music, standing on stage, near speakers ect.

 

I am however not a professional musician, nor am I in a band. In fact my bass amps is a $50 practice amp I keep at home and can fit under my bed.

 

I just don't think it is necessary for a live music fan who occasions "loud" shows (i.e. big areana style concerts) less than 5-8 times a year to invest in $100 ear plugs. $100 could be better spent in a myriad of other ways. For a musician, maybe its worth it, for me it is not.

 

I will take your advise though and TRY normal ear plugs at the next big show I go to (Phish in July) and at least give them a try, I cant however imagion they will last past the first song.