Musical Treatment of Tinnitus

[object16]

Hi, I have been doing google about tinnitus and chronic pain, and I discovered Musical Treatment. Another person posted a thread about music helping get to sleep.

So I am wondering about what music should I play. I have a feeling that Enya would be excellent, because she does very wide-band music, and it does not have any ``pounding`` type qualities to it that many other popular music does - it is more easy listening and fairly steady amounts of volume, so you can put it on low volume, and hear most of the track.

Has anyone done any of this, and what is the best musical tracks to use. thanks, paul.
Plasticity of the human auditory corte... [Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

 

[LadyDi]

Hey object16 (what is the meaning of your board name, I wonder?) I had a consultation about three months ago with an inner ear surgeon and medical school professor -- who, it turned out, was not only a tinnitus specialist but had the disorder himself. He wore two hearing aids, both which included maskers. He recommended light classical music for listening. Has enough tonal variety to stimulate the brain, but does not irritate the ears. I look for "light classical" compilations (which dont use a full orchestra).

My ears also like classical and new age piano music (George Winston is a favorite) and classica guitar (Christopher Parkening).

Looking forward to suggestions from others. I want to expand my album collection.

 

[Mr LDK]

Stick on some Bonobo - Animal Magic Album.

Most tracks do have drums / percussion, but it's soft.

Defo something to listen to in the day rather than before bed.

 

[object16]

hi, I use a microscope at work, and my favorite lens is the 1.6 objective - it is super low power so you can see a very wide field of view, so object stands for objective and 16 is the magnification power.

 

[LadyDi]

hi, I use a microscope at work, and my favorite lens is the 1.6 objective - it is super low power so you can see a very wide field of view, so object stands for objective and 16 is the magnification power.

Cool! I always wondered. Thanks for replying.

 

[object16]

So is there any one else doing music therapy or knows anything about that research?

 

[object16]

I have been listening to the MP3 of Enya for a complete week now, and my tinnitus is showing tiny signs of improvement. It makes me so happy when it is getting better, because otherwise it is so miserable to try to get to sleep and not be able to do it.

The improvement is making me think the sound treatment is working. I listen to tracks that have a constant relentless rhythm to them, alternating with slow melodious songs.

 

[Riikka]

Enya sounds like something I could try too. When my tinnitus started I met an ENT practitioner who told me about music therapy. He said that many kind of music can work, it just shouldn't have clear lyrics that could distract you. Also the volume and rythm of the music should be quite constant. And of course it should be something that is pleasant to you and not starting to annoy you after having listening to it for a while. The doctor also said it is recommended to listen to it for at least 2-3 hours every day.
Another kind of music that comes to my mind is music made for yoga or yoga mantra music. Mantra music has some singing but it's not in any understandable (thus distracting) language.

 

[I who love music]

I suggest that you get a nylon stringed instrument such as a classical guitar or ukelele. Not only are they easy on the ears but it'll take your mind completely off your ears. Plus you'll have the joy of playing music and realize that your ears are wonderful, they just 'happen' to buzz. What could be more positive and healing?

 

[2014winner]

Thank you for the suggestion. Tinnitus is annoying, painful, and not the greatest. However, I have met people who have more severe conditions of other diseases (as has everyone, likely). There is always another approach to try.