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I'm still doing well playing open mic events. Practice with the band is no more. I've averaged 7-8 open mics per month since January. The ones I attend really aren't very loud, and if a performer plays loud or with others that collectively play loud (ie. w/ electric guitar and bass guitar), I...

He used the verb "is", which is present tense. Research is ongoing at the present time, so help "is" on the way. I don't think he was projecting when a cure might be realized with that statement.

I really like the Direct Sound EX-29 Dynamic Closed Headphones. https://www.extremeheadphones.com/ex-29-headphones-review-by-austin-burcham/ I have the Ex-29 and love them. I've checked noise levels in cabins. They tend to average around 80-85 dB. Take around 25 off of 85 and there's no worries...

Update of this thread on 05/02/2017 I'm no longer actively "practicing" with the old band. It took about 1.5 years to see clearly that they have no desire to perform for an audience. Practicing songs, loudly in a small basement, is all they're interested in, along with recording a few originals...

That's great. I'd say take a break for a while if that feels right, and work back in slowly as you gain confidence. I understand that with hearing protection many musicians do fine. I love the idea of playing BEHIND the P.A. speakers, after many years of standing in front of them!

A few years ago an ENT pulled out two plugs of wax and hair using a small implement. I recall a tiny grasper with a long straight handle. Worked for me. Not a fan of large syringe blasts of H2O. I've been successful in the past using Debrox for a few days followed by a squirt of water from the...

I don't believe that the underlying T is fighting back. It is your limbic system responding to a fear of hearing the T over the ambient sounds. I personally feel that when there is environmental noise around us that it almost as "loud" as our T, we seek out the T sound. And it's easy to hear...

Another update. See above posts for context. On Sunday we played 3 songs at an open mic. I guess I'm feeling pretty good about my T. The night before I saw other friends play a reunion show. At the side of the stage it's about 95 dB for 1.5 hours, and I use Mack's ear plugs which are rated at...

I agree @Nati We live and learn. I bet you'll be fine if you take it easy for a few weeks. Emotional upset is indeed an aggravating factor for T.

An update. Lately I've been spending more time working on arrangements that I do solo on acoustic guitar. Still may do something with the band, but only if a gig is booked. No more loud mistake-filled practices given the marginal commitment. I'm going to do some open mic nights and look for any...

No. Never. I stopped playing in a band when I went back to college at age 28 (now 52) and moved away from family and friends. Over the years I partied in bars with earplugs, attended concerts, and only once, 3 years ago, did my T increase slightly. Now I'm jamming with friends (see my recent...

Good points. The important thing, to me, is that everyone stays friends. I feel everyone should be candid about expectations and the level of commitment they can give. I'm brutally honest, to a fault. I assume most musicians are loath to say, "I'm not doing homework". But two of them have! Yet...

In this case, he's generally a really nice guy. Before I caught up with the drummer and bass player and we reformed the band, he and I had seen each other several times a year, played racquetball, and generally get along very well. He has a very active social life with wife and grown kids, and...

Great. Thanks for the offer @PaulBe . But I think we should modify the set list to include more songs where you can show your stuff. Like the Black Crowes, Allman Brothers, etc...

Nothing to worry about. As others have said, wear ear plugs or headphones. Your anxiety will lessen and make for a more enjoyable trip.

In this case, it seems that no one but me wants the glory. Actually, I don't seek glory, just to play in front of anyone but my bandmates. Two are brothers, and the basement is a recording studio. It's convenient for them, and they like music. But just little desire to go out into a club. The...

I want to share my experiences over the past year+ playing music with old bandmates. I've been meaning to do this given the abundance of musicians here. I've had T for 20+ years. Too many AC/DC concerts and the like. T spiked a bit 3 years ago and is now about a 3-4 on 1-10 in my best...

I suggest you use noise blocking headphones for rehearsals. I do and I can hear my self singing and playing guitar just fine. Occasionally I'm told to turn up volume of my guitar, as I err on the lower side. Also buy a good sound meter and check levels. If practices get above what you consider a...

I'd rank my T as mild-moderate; about 3-4 on 1-10 scale. Just finished up a busy weekend. 800 miles of mostly inter-state highways. Jammed with old friends for ~5 hours. Then saw other friends, who back in the 80s had record deals and videos on MTV, etc, play a reunion show. Wore noise blocking...

Some truth here. I believe something like >half of new onset cases resolve with a year. @Jkph75 Your current situation "sounds" like mine. I've had T for close to 25 years. I only hear it in quiet rooms, seldom in my quiet office, and never in stores or on the street. I believe our perceived...

Last year I got Direct Sound EX29 Extreme Isolation Professional Headphones. I recently reconnected with old friends and we've resurrected our Rock cover band. I could not practice without adequate noise reduction. I make sure that we don't go over about 85 dB ("guys, turn down a bit"). With...

Do what you love. Use hearing protection when needed and you'll be fine. I use noise blocking 30dB headphones at band practice and can hear myself singing very well. And on key most of the time :-) My dB meter says the room is under 90 dB, so I feel confident all will be well. Conservatively...

I'd add poor sleep to the combination of noise and alcohol. Whenever I plan on hearing some music I make sure not to drink too much and to get proper sleep. I also take magnesium, but wouldn't be surprised if that's not helping at all.

I've been seeing friends play reunion shows every six months for the past 3 years. I use 29 dB foam Heros and I bring a sound meter. At the side of the stage the level is around 95 dB. I assume that a couple hours at 65-70 dB should do no harm. My ENT agrees, though of course no guarantees...

This is a great suggestion, in my opinion. Try melatonin, chamomile tea, valerian root. If needed, an OTC sleep aid or Ambien, for short term use. You may find that after a couple days of good deep sleep, your T will be lower, and this will give you confidence that it's a spike that will ease...

My T is not too bad, probably around a 3 on 1-10 scale. I'm well habituated. Last night I listened to some music in a recording studio sound booth with old bandmates. Not terribly loud, but not exactly soft. We later played a few tunes for about 30 minutes. My T is no louder today as I sit now...

I've been going to see friends play reunion shows in a small club about twice a year. I stand at the side of the stage, not in front. This is not heavy metal or a rave. I see about 95 db on my meter. The earplugs I use are advertised over 30 db attenuation. I figure safely 25. The result, 95 -...

Several options available. See my initial post and the others in the sleep thread... https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/sleep-thread-hygiene-supplements-medication-etc.4509/

I adopted Lexi from a nearby shelter 2 months ago. Playful and affectionate, though serious when photographed. What a joy.

A new job sounds like a great way to move forward. By my best estimate, T was unchanged for more than 20 years. Noise induced; I have a history of playing in rock bands and going to too many shows. For 20 years T was a 2 on 1-10 scale. During that time I attended concerts and went to clubs, but...

Agree. All good posts. I endured a spike 13 months ago. Thought I was done. However, once my limbic system calmed, the noise faded back to near baseline. Perhaps slightly higher. Yet, sleep, work, outlook all returned to normal. I notice the hisssssss a few times a day and think nothing of it...

Excellent point. @geg1992 , in my opinion, it is likely that you will see no worsening in your T for many years, if ever. Habituation over these first few years will help as well. My best advice would be to start seeing a good physiologist to help you sort through your emotions. Once you get...

Sleep is not a problem for me. But when I want a really good snooze, the following stack knocks me out. YMMV. Antidepressant only as a last resort in time after exhausting all other options. 3 mg melatonin 900 mg Valerian root 300 mg magnesium 15 mg zinc cup of chamomile tea

Seeing a ENT would be a good idea. This may be of little comfort, but I will say it. I think it is very likely that what you hear now will not persist. Anxiety is cranking up the volume. As the threat lessens, the sound eases and abates in most cases. My understanding is that 3 out of 4 (or some...

1-Do you hear your tinnitus when in a quiet room or location? And does it bother you still, or do you have peace? Yes. Faucet masks, but I hear it now over a small floor heater with fan plus television. Not bothering me much these days. Probably contributes to a more stressful existence, but...

I'd suggest never looking at the clock while in bed. If you awake, try to go back to sleep. If you can't, get up, go into another room, read, knit, etc until sleepy again. I suppose that once in another room one would note the time. But I see no point in doing so if in bed trying to sleep. If...

A faucet masks fairly well unless it's half on or less. Very comforting to turn one on in a bathroom or kitchen during days after T spiked upward a year ago. Speaking of masking, I'm now recalling sitting by an open window last summer evenings as crickets provided the perfect sound for many...

More likely that the hairs in your inner ear have incurred damage, and thus your brain is filling in the missing signal with this phantom sound. Some people may be more sensitive. I've seen published research which suggest that stress (anxiety, lack of sleep) at time of exposure and subsequent...

Yes! I did early last year. You can too. My spike went from a 2 (1-10 scale), up to a solid 6 or so. Then back down to, well, OK a bit more noticeable than before. But my sleep improved much and I've readjusted. As for habituation success potential, I suspect there's some correlation with age...

If you have not experienced much acoustic trauma in the past, I think I speak for many, and in agreement with the ENT, in saying that what you are hearing now will likely fade considerably over the next few months. Any anxiety and sleep deprivation now is causing you to "buzz". Give your CNS a...

I can second this. I've read a few of the studies on the efficacy of notched music therapy. The results are very good for those with T < 10 kHz. The researcher I contacted suggested a more narrow notch is better than a wider one.

The statistic I recall is that approximately 75% or so of new onsets will resolve in a few months. The fact that @tom1989 is aware, now, of what may occur, if careless, should serve him well. Good luck!

These changes in sound are not uncommon. It's called somatic tinnitus. I would not be surprised if many people, those with and without tinnitus, hear a sound or a change in sound when moving or clenching the jaw, twisting ones neck, etc. https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/somatic-tinnitus.812/

When I do this with headphones, I hear quite clearly a significant change in pitch with the slightest turn of my head to either side. My frequency is around 10 kHz, and it changes by I would guess at least 1 kHz with head turn. I find it amazing how changes to (within) a nerve connected to the...

@Blair14 your best bet, IMO, is getting away from very quiet areas and/or masking as others have mentioned. A pleasant environment and or sound. You may find that any feeling of anxiety will pass if there's some such 'distraction'. This is what I'm doing now, as I recently travelled...

Seemed troublesome at onset following a loud concert 20+ years ago, but was probably only at a 1-2 for many years. No bother. Recently I've achieved success, now at around a 3, following a nasty spike to 6-7 earlier this year that has 'abated' through habituation or plastic changes(?) since.

I agree with @PhilB 's advice. Spot on. I'll add: Must address anxiety. When insomnia is anticipated, a vicious cycle ensues. I would try melatonin, Valerian root, chamomile tea, exercise, bright light, anything that boosts serotonin, etc. Once sleep improves, T will likely subside some. Nine...

No similar experience with a benzo. I think you did the right thing in tapering off. Your tinnitus may well resolve over the next few months if you take care of yourself. How is your sleep? Are you seeing anyone to discuss your difficulties? My advice is to consider how you react to the sound...

Mendis and Johnston describe a single unusual case and propose a mechanism. In the absence of additional evidence and/or replication of results there is little to no basis to conclude that this drug causes tinnitus. Disclaimer: I have not done due diligence in a proper literature review.

@RicoS We have similar thoughts about this disease. You sound like you are doing well. Your statement "...so why bother any response to it..." is key. I suppose there are many ways to define habituation, but to me the most important element is to not view the sound as a threat. The fight or...

Interesting that the authors issue a strong recommendation against the use of diagnostic imaging studies in the absence of pulsatile tinnitus, focal neurological abnormalities, or asymmetric hearing loss. Executive Summary: http://oto.sagepub.com/content/151/4/533.full.pdf+html Published...

It is likely that anxiety and your focus on the sound that is making it seem louder. The ringing may well go away in a few months if you do not subject yourself to additional noise trauma; in most people the ringing fades. However if you have been accumulating hearing damage over many years, and...

Happy to help. I might add this: Focus on things you can control. Your perception of T will ebb and flow. Good days and bad. Awfully hard to control. But you can take care of yourself: exercise, work on good sleep habits, avoid loud noises, meditate, educate, etc. Do these things and I suspect...

T unchanged for me for 20 years. Plenty of noise exposure over that time with protection used. No discernible change in volume. Spike 8 months ago. T went from a 2 to a 5 (1-10 scale). Yet, over about 5 months it settled down to around a 3. I believe the signal is louder than pre-spike, but not...

I agree that a compromised quality of life might be a good definition for the concept of clinically relevant bothersome tinnitus. Definition might also include notable depression that can be attributed largely to annoyance from tinnitus. Mike

Like many benzos one could expect a decrease in the level of annoyance from tinnitus over the very short term. Lorazepam is a strong high-potency, intermediate-duration benzo. The US FDA advises against its use for longer than four weeks. Withdrawals particularly with a high potency, short...

From what I've been able to tell the habituation process is undertaken in a number of ways. As @UserID did, some surround themselves with sound through the day/night. Others spend time listening to their T to "accept" it, if you will. There are likely many strategies. The important part is the...

Article advocating for use of lithium as a medication to reduce suicide occurrences in susceptible populations. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/opinion/sunday/should-we-all-take-a-bit-of-lithium.html?_r=0

I saw that number in a post here. Sorry I don't have a reference. Perhaps someone else recalls any similar findings and/or the source.

@Gobi Briefly. My 20 yo T spiked in Feb. I reacted badly. Used zolpidem (Ambien) 4-5 nights a week for a couple months. Then tapered gradually to fewer days and half, then quarter tablets. Along the way I began taking magnesium, valerian, melatonin, focused on sleep habits. No electric light...