Music Teacher with Tinnitus

[MusicTeacher]

Thanks for that, Bill. Hopefully we can all find some quiet days again.

 

[Capstan]

You ought to be Thrilled! This (high pitch switching to static) is what fading/recovery feels like. When it doesn't keep changing and is always relentlessly at the same level, it means that spontaneous recovery is unlikely.

You have every reason to be happy - eventually you ought to get your life back.

It never smoothly fades. If we plot volume (or how irritating it is) vs time, normally it resembles a stock price. What matters is the monthly trend and the global low. In your case, the trend is for it to improve, and your global low is already a soft hiss. It will eventually get back to that, and will continue to fade. Give it time. If you manage to avoid hurting your ears again, in a year or two you ought to be feeling a lot better.

Pardon the pun, but yes, based on my experience, this rings true. Keep your spirits up, it takes time to improve.

 

[Robert44]

Hi,

I am a music teacher also... Retiring this year. Put in 36 years. Like you I always took care of my ears. Played gigs and in Wedding bands for over 30 years. I was always the one wearing ear plugs. Until... that one concert I went to without ear protection. Woke up the next morning with ringing in both ears. The left side stopped but the right side never did. Mostly in my head now.

When it happened I was suicidal. Stayed home for 2 weeks and even missed my Spring Concert. It didn't get better over the years and maybe has gotten a little worse. I did basically get my life back. Somehow you get used to it and don't hear it most of the time. I use "noise makers" at night to help sleep. I do exercise. Try to stay in shape.

It can be annoying and sometimes it makes me feel sad. I try to warn everyone I know about it but most of the time they don't listen. I would say the most important thing I can tell you is that you can become your "old" self again. I still listen to music sometimes loud in the car. I try not to blast it too much. I am still hoping that someday they will come up with something to help us.

Have hope and continue to take care of your ears. I do use ear plugs in loud situations. This place Tinnitus Talk has helped. When I first got it someone on here @erik really helped me out a lot. He used to be a moderator I think.

All the best, Robert

 

[MRItechssuck]

Same here... always wore earplugs when playing gigs... until that one time I didn't... tinnitus. That was 20 years ago and after 4 years it seemed to go away. And then 3 months ago looking for a short nap in an MRI scan... 20 minutes with no way to escape and I am back scouring forums looking for cures...and after 20 years... still nothing.

 

[MusicTeacher]

@Robert44 thanks for the note. I'm curious, how did you handle rehearsals after the tinnitus started? Earplugs or no? Did your doctors give you any indication if running rehearsals would make the T worse? I haven't been able to get an answer from anyone I've seen. I've just been wearing ear protection constantly (when teaching). Much harder to run rehearsals like this.

And I guess I'll be avoiding MRIs.

 

[MusicTeacher]

@MRItechssuck thanks for your note. I'm really curious how other musicians are dealing with this. Did you give up gigging or invest in ear protection? I feel like my ears have defined part of me for a long time. Now what ???

 

[MRItechssuck]

@MusicTeacher... well just find a technician that knows what they are doing and don't rely on these "medical professionals."

I think it depends what type of rehearsal... woodwinds... ok... trumpets and percussion... not so sure.
You will figure what works and what doesn't in time..good luck.

My first time with tinnitus, I didn't gig for two years... and then when the technology come out I did Shure IEMs with my own personal mixer. My tinnitus was basically gone on it's own then.

Now... it is much more severe, so now I am done.

You can take it easy for a couple of years but you don't have to give it up, I think you may be just fine.

 

[Tweedleman]

I get the sense that no one in my family wants to hear about this anymore. Guess I can't blame them. We all have our own problems. But I get the sense that people forget you are dealing with this... all day long... it just slowly beats you down. And no one knows but you.

Yeap. Hear no evil see no evil.

 

[Robert44]

@MusicTeacher I only wear ear plugs for concerts not rehearsals. My rehearsals aren't too loud, chorus....My biggest problem is controlling myself to not listen to the music too loud in the car. one tends to not be as careful over time , at least that's what has happened to me. I have to remind myself to take care of my ears....

 

[MusicTeacher]

Ok. I have tinnitus in both ears and what feels like - in the head. But... the pitch that sounds like it's in my head, might be coming from my left ear. If I plug up my right ear, I just hear the annoying sound from my right ear. If I plug up the left ear, I hear the normal annoying sound from my left, plus the very high (newish) pitch that feels like it's in my head.

Question - if I hear it when I plug up the left ear, is it probably coming from there? I'm not sure why this even matters, but it's driving me crazy. Is head tinnitus a thing, or just my ears playing tricks on me?? I'm hoping it drops as the others have... or just goes away. So frustrated. The only good news, my right ear noise, which started this new life, continues to become less annoying... softer... less pitch.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Has anyone had their tinnitus spread from one ear into what feels like their entire head? This happened - after my right ear was calming down. Will this potentially lower as my right ear did?

I remember the panic when I realised the noise was in both ears and my head. It happens to most of this, I think.

My t started after an ear infection in my right ear. Within days, it spread to my head and other ear.

My t likes to move .. gets louder in one ear, softer in the other, then it'll switch, then the head noise will take centre stage. I think it gets bored.

I wont tell you not to worry because I know that doesnt help. I will say you are not alone.

For someone who is having a setback myself, I will say this: take one day at a time ( as Ed said to me ), get plenty of sleep, do some self indulgent relaxing things, have a look at the back to silence threads, and podcasts detailing research interviews. There are some reports here of t fading or going away completely.

I'll pray for you

 

[DebInAustralia]

Ok. I have tinnitus in both ears and what feels like - in the head. But... the pitch that sounds like it's in my head, might be coming from my left ear. If I plug up my right ear, I just hear the annoying sound from my right ear. If I plug up the left ear, I hear the normal annoying sound from my left, plus the very high (newish) pitch that feels like it's in my head.

Question - if I hear it when I plug up the left ear, is it probably coming from there? I'm not sure why this even matters, but it's driving me crazy. Is head tinnitus a thing, or just my ears playing tricks on me?? I'm hoping it drops as the others have... or just goes away. So frustrated. The only good news, my right ear noise, which started this new life, continues to become less annoying... softer... less pitch.

I think the general consensus is that tinnitus is generated in the brain, even though you are perceiving it in your ears.

It's normal to monitor your tinnitus. I still do it after all these years to some extent.

Some here have been helped by changing the way they respond to their tinnitus (Back to Silence thread).

I understand your frustration completely. I'm currently living it. Whether it goes away or not, either way, you are going to get through this.

 

[MusicTeacher]

Thanks @DebInAustralia
Seems like some days are just much harder than others. When I do have better days, I get worried that at any moment, it will be over. Getting a plan together to see some different types of doctors. Three months in today!

 

[Tara Lyons]

Hello forum,

I've been reading your posts for the past 6 weeks - very helpful to know this support group is here. Thank you. I've only had tinnitus for six weeks, but it feels like FOREVER. I'm a music teacher/conductor/musician etc. I noticed the ring after a performance six weeks ago today. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep that night for an hour or so, then woke to the loudest, shrieking, high pitch, (with static)... EVER. I spent the next week seeing doctors who seem to be completely useless when it comes to tinnitus. I felt pushed out of every doc visit, with very little information. Told my doctors I was having panic attacks and they suggested I "relax" and "start exercising". The first couple weeks were pure hell- SO LOUD all the time. Nothing would cover the sound with the exception of a shower. High D - 3 octaves above middle C (for the musicians out there). I had several complete breakdowns over those first weeks.

So- I went into desperation mode, cut out everything listed as a trigger for tinnitus from my diet. Started taking NAC and every suggested vitamin. I also invested in some very expensive earplugs - as I can't get away from music - it's how I support my family. I started measuring every dB rating in my life. Full on panic. Ironically, I've always used ear protection when playing anything loud, but most conductors don't use ear protection in moderate settings - it's just too hard to hear. Well - now I'm wearing them all the time which makes the tinnitus so much louder - but I'm concerned about making it worse. I should mention that I've had two hearing exams - no hearing loss, at least not any they could detect. The doctors actually said - "you have beautiful hearing - there is no issue here". You can imagine my head exploding at that point. Regardless, it's hard to habituate when you are constantly using ear protection which bring more attention to the ring.

But - a little hope. My psychiatrist mentioned that the ring could be caused by my meds. I'm off of them for 10 days and am recently hearing less volume, less pitch... and more hiss (the last 5 days) Maybe a connection? It seems like the sound in my life is the obvious culprit, but with no hearing loss, I'm open to anything. The mornings have been more peaceful, but it seems to build as the day moves on. One last note - I Just gave hearing aids a try. Had them for a week. I was shocked when I realized that they did indeed bring the ring down... a lot. I'll be doing some research before purchasing anything.

I guess the biggest thing I'm taking from this is... no one has any idea what this is like unless they live it... and I miss having moments of silence... and peace.

So, there's my story... Any suggestions are welcome.

Tom

It's hell, did it ever go away?

 

[Tara Lyons]

Same here... always wore earplugs when playing gigs... until that one time I didn't... tinnitus. That was 20 years ago and after 4 years it seemed to go away. And then 3 months ago looking for a short nap in an MRI scan... 20 minutes with no way to escape and I am back scouring forums looking for cures...and after 20 years... still nothing.

Omg it made it worse? The MRI?

 

[MusicTeacher]

@Tara Lyons
I wish I had better news, but nope - still very much a part of my life. I'm 5 months in and my tinnitus has continued to change... or multiply. Not sure why. The good news- there are times when I just hear mostly hiss from both ears. The pitch is still there but I've been told that hiss is a sign of fading/healing. When I plug my ears - the pitch is more clear. It's not often that I hear a pure tone like the onset. I've also got some low tones in both ears- but those are still quiet room situations. Hoping they fade or just leave. So you know - I have had random sounds that would enter my head, but eventually did go away, so I'm hopeful the others will as well. It can happen.
Ironically, I'm now on a pretty good diet, exercising, meditating, trying to be sweeter with my kids... maybe this will make me a better version of myself. I do miss playing music though - desperately.