Can I Learn a Foreign Language with Tinnitus?

[Jen Lobel]

Hello everyone, I'm a newcomer to this forum but not a newcomer to having tinnitus. It's gotten worse in the 2 years it's been since I went to the doctor explaining that my left ear felt "full". I had an ear specialist examine it after the initial visit to the general doctor. There the specialist did an audiogram and I do have hearing loss as well in the left ear. The good news was my right ear is very healthy. My boyfriend is a musician and he complains of tinnitus as well but he has no hearing loss. I was a professional cyclist for 4 years so I believe a bad crash on the left side of my head and also generally riding in the wind might have caused it.

My concern is this: Can one still learn a language with T? I moved to the Netherlands under 2 weeks ago and it's difficult enough getting through the transition as it is. The stress and anxiety levels being at a high level and I don't want to talk with my boyfriend too much about it because he is worried enough as it is about my transition and also it makes his worse.

I'm looking into an extensive dutch class and I have been studying on my own for about a year. So I know some dutch, I think my anxiety level (and fear of tinnitus being a barrier to learning a language) is creating even more of a barrier. Does anyone have any experience with this? Or has anyone learned a language with this condition?

Thanks!!

 

[Sound Wave]

Of course you can. In fact, immersing yourself into something new is a great idea to get your mind & brain off from T -> helps in habituation.

 

[Nucleo]

As long as you can hear what people are saying you can learn another language. The tinnitus sound should not interfere with this.

 

[Richard zurowski]

Don't let tinnitus stop you from the things that you want to do. You go and learn the language that you want. Wish you all the very best.

 

[Jen Lobel]

Thank you. It's a difficult day because I went to the university alone and it was very intimidating and the interaction didn't go as well as I thought it would. I don't have a hard time understanding standard conversation levels in english, but as we know our native language so well our mind can sort of fill in the blanks. I can imagine it won't be too different in dutch, so long as the speaking is clear and volume is an average range. The loss of my hearing is in the higher frequencies as many others have as well.
It's the small/quieter subtleties of distinguishing differences in similar dutch words. It should be ok at a typical speaking level volume.
Thanks for your help! I had to reach out and break the ice being in a foreign country starting over has made the tinnitus very dominant since arriving. This forum feels like a safe place.

 

[Richard zurowski]

Try relaxing methods there's plenty on u tube regarding tinnitus.its a difficult time for you I know but once you can control your stress levels you will better handle your issues.there are good people on this forum who will give you good advice other then me. So don't be afraid to ask.

 

[LillianLexicon97]

Certainly! I spend lots of time with various languages and find it helps with habituation.

 

[JohnnyMx]

Can one still learn a language with T

Hi Jen, yes you can, completely. I got a 5 years engineering degree with T... so don't worry and go for it!