Musician with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis (Not Giving Up!)

[Alessandro Rossi]

Good Evening tinnitus mates,

New to the forum but really glad to have found it. I'm a musician and play in a small metal band here in Italy. Started to face tinnitus problems 8 years ago, as well as hyperacusis. Now I can't stand to enter rehearsal rooms without earplugs (NRR 33). And of course can't stand gigs/loud pubs without earplugs.
Sometimes even with the protection I get strong headaches after gigs, with the ring getting louder for a week.
I'm playing pink noise by night since 4 years and now I'm trying audio notch methods, doing my own mixes of notched pink noise (discovered notching here in the forum!) and sounds of nature.
Anyway I'm not giving up with live music, I'm confident that in the near future we'll have more hopes of getting well.
Any other musician here in the forum? How do you face T ?

 

[JohnnyMx]

ometimes even with the protection I get strong headaches after gigs

Long time before my T getting louder, I noticed that using anything in my earcanals, like earphones without sound, made me feel a headache... Still today, I believe that, if I insert the earplugs so deep they make give me head, TMJ and ear pain. Maybe it's worth for you to check it out.

Regards!

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. I am not a musician but can relate to your problem with T & H. I lived through hell with them. But my type of H just slowly faded, like many other members have reported. I did mention in my success story post about a successful lady jazz singer Melody Gardot who has had to wear ear plugs all the time while practicing or performing with her band due to severe T & H. Perhaps there is hope there for you to continue your music career but you are the best judge on your sound tolerance limit. Check the guiding light section of my story for Melody's story in more detail. She even performed on David Letterman's show who also has 2-tone T 7/24. LOL.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/from-darkness-to-light-how-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

[Alessandro Rossi]

Long time before my T getting louder, I noticed that using anything in my earcanals, like earphones without sound, made me feel a headache... Still today, I believe that, if I insert the earplugs so deep they make give me head, TMJ and ear pain. Maybe it's worth for you to check it out.

Regards!

I noticed that too, expecially because I tend to push them too much in the ears when I feel worried about the loudness. Now I'm trying different earplugs to find the most confortable. First I was using 3M ear classic, now I'm going to try Howard Leight MAX and Hearos Xtreme Protection. Thanks alot for your feedback

 

[Sebastians]

Maybe double up on protection, like earmuffs over the plugs during rehearsals?
The earmuffs will protect you better from the lower freqs.

 

[TeresaD]

I've heard of "musician's ear plugs." Is that what you have? Also, I use noise cancelling headphones and it helps with the H in loud situations. Not a musician though but love music!

 

[Alessandro Rossi]

Maybe double up on protection, like earmuffs over the plugs during rehearsals?
The earmuffs will protect you better from the lower freqs.

Hi Sebastians, I've tried this solution before, but for some reason the earmuffs over earplugs makes everything resound/rumble in a weird way. I should try with better quality earmuffs.

 

[i.m]

Ciao! I am happy you have found some relief with your T. I am not a musician, but in my job I often use Audacity and software like that. Should I explore the notch methods in your opinion?