How Disabling Is Tinnitus?

[linearb]

personal question; requires personal answers.

For me, "somewhat". I think about it too much. I can't do loud shows, or as many shows as I'd like to in general anymore. I have to watch my total hours spent operating small gas engines in a day, earplugs or not.

I basically do all the things I want to do and live in the place I want to live, though. I don't think my life would look very different externally if I didn't have tinnitus; I might be a bit less medicated and I'd have an overall higher quality of life, but people who know me pretty well might not see much difference.

If it were ever to get a whole lot worse, of course all bets are off. Hence, earplugs and generally living in a way that minimizes my stress load.

 

[Sash]

I think we all know people that have Tinnitus but still continue their lifes as normal and doesn't bother them at all. The ones that come to the forum perhaps more worriers and rather risk adverse that are just anxious it could get worse which includes myself.

I don't think you should become a recluse because of Tinnitus but where people go wrong is they become complacent and suddenly increase their exposure to loud sounds on a regularly basis. Its just a case of being sensible and weighing up the risks.

While those on the forum constantly site cases of people that has been adversely affected by Tinnitus by say going to a concert. This is still very rare if you look at the numbers as a whole affected by Tinnitus

There are 50 million of the US population have tinnitus around 15% of the population. 2m have debilitating or chronic Tinnitus which is around 1% of the US population (probably can be extrapolated for the world figures). There are always going to be an unlucky minority that end up with severe tinnitus just like by not looking after-self you could end up with other medical condition. Some will just take the risk and hope.