Poll: Have You Experienced a Permanent Worsening of Your Tinnitus?

[MiaX]

I was, quite a bit actually. I studied music full-time, tons of practicing, rehearsals, recording, gigs, concerts... I've worn earplugs more often than any other musician I've seen during that time. At the same time, you cannot avoid all noise exposure. Yet, I've never experienced the slightest hint of an increase during that time. All the musicians I know from that time are still playing too, most don't even own earplugs.

Then came that surgery, which involved quite a bit of drilling, followed one week later by one week of loud tinnitus. Then one rehearsal, and now I have a tea kettle in my brain. I understand that hearing damage is cumulative, but I strongly suspect that the surgery negatively impacted my ears.

Sorry for my late reply!

I'm sorry! And it scares me that you can get an increase so fast!

Btw, I am also from the Netherlands!

 

[walkthroughwalls]

Sorry for my late reply!

I'm sorry! And it scares me that you can get an increase so fast!

Btw, I am also from the Netherlands!

Late? There was only one day in between the messages! Thanks for replying so quickly

Yeah, I'm also surprised at how even moderate sound levels, with earplugs, have led to significant increases with me. While others, being in the same room without earplugs, don't get tinnitus at all. I expected that any increase would be very gradual.

PS. Hello fellow Dutchie!

 

[walkthroughwalls]

It was quite succesful, everything is alligned perfectly just a small overbite, which is not very noticable. I just wanted it to be perfect and started pushing my lower jaw forward. stupid idea because now im paying for it. The surgery itself is horrible, i was in so much pain for a week, i couldnt eat and talk for months afterwards, and my face was so swollen i resembled a hamster. I would only advice people to do this if it's really neccessary and not for cosmetic reasons (which i did)

I looked like a hamster too. I hardly felt any pain, but was very nauseous for weeks and couldn't sleep. I chose to have it done to avoid dental complications years down the road, but I'm quite happy with what it did for me cosmetically.

For me it was worth it. It's six weeks of discomfort, but the results are there for years. If the tinnitus was caused by pushing your jaw forward, then letting the jaw relax might solve it. I hope it will!

 

[Carlyi]

I looked like a hamster too. I hardly felt any pain, but was very nauseous for weeks and couldn't sleep. I chose to have it done to avoid dental complications years down the road, but I'm quite happy with what it did for me cosmetically.

For me it was worth it. It's six weeks of discomfort, but the results are there for years. If the tinnitus was caused by pushing your jaw forward, then letting the jaw relax might solve it. I hope it will!

Yes i know, its a muscle issue, but it caused an unblance in my neck and jaw muscles and it takes a while to fix it. I'm having dry needling done and i go to a chiropractor who treats the muscles inside the jaw. My T. is one day very low and the next moderate. The progress is very slow but i have hope it will go away soon.

I'm quite happy with the results too, i just have very limit mouth opening and a very stiff jaw, but thats my own fault.

I'm glad the surgery went well for you

 

[walkthroughwalls]

Yes i know, its a muscle issue, but it caused an unblance in my neck and jaw muscles and it takes a while to fix it. I'm having dry needling done and i go to a chiropractor who treats the muscles inside the jaw. My T. is one day very low and the next moderate. The progress is very slow but i have hope it will go away soon.

I'm quite happy with the results too, i just have very limit mouth opening and a very stiff jaw, but thats my own fault.

I'm glad the surgery went well for you

Aw... Don't be too hard on yourself You didn't choose to have tinnitus.
It sounds like whatever damage there is, is not permanent. Hopefully it'll all be over before too long, and you'll just have the result and none of the downsides

 

[MiaX]

Late? There was only one day in between the messages! Thanks for replying so quickly

Yeah, I'm also surprised at how even moderate sound levels, with earplugs, have led to significant increases with me. While others, being in the same room without earplugs, don't get tinnitus at all. I expected that any increase would be very gradual.

PS. Hello fellow Dutchie!

Do you still go to places with loud music? Yesterday I went for the first time in 9 months to a (really) loud party with good custom molded ear plugs. Afterwards my T seems a little bit louder (not sure though and I need to mention that the T that became louder, is probably related to my neck- and shouldersmuscles). I know I take huge risks, but I don't want to miss this kind of things. I feel so much happier after I went out yesterday!

 

[MiaX]

Ugh, and I really feel like I need to leave this forum. I was so happy that I went out and thought: I just need to go more often if it makes me this happy, even if it is a risk. After reading a couple of minutes on this forum, my mood changes completely and I feel so anxious and I feel like going out more often is such a mistake...

For some people this forum may be good, but I really think that this forum also makes people anxious. To be honest, if I hadn't googled about my T, I am 80% sure I would have forgot about it (my T is mild and probably not even caused by noise ) .

It is just a really big dilemma for me: I really NEED to go out, but I don't want to increase it. BUT it is not even sure I will increase it!

 

[walkthroughwalls]

Do you still go to places with loud music? Yesterday I went for the first time in 9 months to a (really) loud party with good custom molded ear plugs. Afterwards my T seems a little bit louder (not sure though and I need to mention that the T that became louder, is probably related to my neck- and shouldersmuscles). I know I take huge risks, but I don't want to miss this kind of things. I feel so much happier after I went out yesterday!

I have done so, maybe once or twice a year. The first couple of times I was perfectly fine. But the last two times seemed to have increase my tinnitus and gave me slight hearing loss. Coincidentally, I used different earplugs the last two times, so that may have had an effect. I'm not sure if I'll continue doing this, because it may impact the enjoyment I get out of listening to records at home.

I went to a rock concert and rehearsed with a local band. Both were loud, but not as loud as going to a night club, I think.

I have basically given up being in a music scene, and playing in bands and attending concerts regularly. This all bothers me a lot more than the actual tinnitus itself. I'm trying to find some way back in, but at the same time I don't want to put my ears at risk more.


Have you been to the UMCG hospital in The Netherlands? They have a special department for tinnitus and they are a lot more thorough in diagnosing and finding help. They told me that a temporary increase in tinnitus after an exposure doesn't mean permanent damage has been done. It up to you to decide if the temporary increase offsets the enjoyment of the concert or night out.
Did you use molded plugs with filters or earplugs that completely block the ear canal?

 

[Sam Bridge]

@walkthroughwalls did you get an audio gram done?

 

[MiaX]

I have done so, maybe once or twice a year. The first couple of times I was perfectly fine. But the last two times seemed to have increase my tinnitus and gave me slight hearing loss. Coincidentally, I used different earplugs the last two times, so that may have had an effect. I'm not sure if I'll continue doing this, because it may impact the enjoyment I get out of listening to records at home.

I went to a rock concert and rehearsed with a local band. Both were loud, but not as loud as going to a night club, I think.

I have basically given up being in a music scene, and playing in bands and attending concerts regularly. This all bothers me a lot more than the actual tinnitus itself. I'm trying to find some way back in, but at the same time I don't want to put my ears at risk more.


Have you been to the UMCG hospital in The Netherlands? They have a special department for tinnitus and they are a lot more thorough in diagnosing and finding help. They told me that a temporary increase in tinnitus after an exposure doesn't mean permanent damage has been done. It up to you to decide if the temporary increase offsets the enjoyment of the concert or night out.
Did you use molded plugs with filters or earplugs that completely block the ear canal?

It is a pity you have given up being in a music scene. it really is, but I really understand your decision and for your health, it is definitely a good decision.

No, I have not, but I did go to a audiologic centre. Thank you for the information! I just feel like I need to go out, it makes me so much happier!

I use molded plugs with filters!

 

[walkthroughwalls]

Ugh, and I really feel like I need to leave this forum. I was so happy that I went out and thought: I just need to go more often if it makes me this happy, even if it is a risk. After reading a couple of minutes on this forum, my mood changes completely and I feel so anxious and I feel like going out more often is such a mistake...

For some people this forum may be good, but I really think that this forum also makes people anxious. To be honest, if I hadn't googled about my T, I am 80% sure I would have forgot about it (my T is mild and probably not even causes by noise ) .

You're probably right

The people here are mostly in the minority in that they have tinnitus quite badly. Most people do get used to it and can continue their lives like normal, including going out, but you'll never hear their stories.
Most coping programs also recommend not feeding the anxiety by reading more and more articles and posts about tinnitus. Sometimes it only makes you focus on that which you're trying to avoid.

On the other hand, Tinnitus Talk can also be a very nice place with very caring people who are there when you need the support or advice

 

[walkthroughwalls]

@walkthroughwalls did you get an audio gram done?

Yes, multiple times, but not recently.

After the initial tinnitus at age 28 the audiograms showed a near perfect hearing. I was pleasantly surprised after studying music full-time and everything!

I had another one done much later, I can't remember when exactly, and that one did show some damage. I'm not sure how reliable that one is, though. I remember leaving for that appointment a little late, then cycling as fast as I could and arriving just on time. Next moment I'm sitting in this booth with headphones on, while I'm mainly hearing myself panting

 

[Sam Bridge]

Yes, multiple times, but not recently.

After the initial tinnitus at age 28 the audiograms showed a near perfect hearing. I was pleasantly surprised after studying music full-time and everything!

I had another one done much later, I can't remember when exactly, and that one did show some damage. I'm not sure how reliable that one is, though. I remember leaving for that appointment a little late, then cycling as fast as I could and arriving just on time. Next moment I'm sitting in this booth with headphones on, while I'm mainly hearing myself panting

I am 28 and have mild loss in my t ear, 30db at 3 and 4khz. What kind of music you into? I been to Netherlands to see Within Temptation 3 times in 2015!

 

[walkthroughwalls]

I am 28 and have mild loss in my t ear, 30db at 3 and 4khz. What kind of music you into? I been to Netherlands to see Within Temptation 3 times in 2015!

I think I have similar hearing loss. I should have an audiogram done one of these days to confirm it. Everything sounds a little distant and the high frequencies are not as crisp as they used to be.

I've seen them too on a festival in 2004! It's only a vague memory at this point, though. You saw them three times? A bit of a fan...?


Through the years I've always been going from genre to genre, but I believe I've found my musical home in shoegaze/ambient/experimental music. Stuff like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Dinosaur Jr., Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Cocteau Twins, Radiohead and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's first record. Then to stuff like Grouper, William Basinski, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Tim Hecker, Caterina Barbieri and Chihei Hatakeyama.

Then I also have degrees in music from a jazz department. What stuck with me is mostly the freer (more free?) playing of the Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Wayne Krantz trios, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane. I don't listen to this music often anymore, but the improvisational spirit has never left me.

Then another part of me likes the stripped down folk of Townes van Zandt, Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited, Blood On The Tracks) and Neil Young (the ditch trilogy, and the stuff with Crazy Horse).


I generally like anything that's raw, honest, on-the-edge, slightly dark/melancholic, passionately creative and with artistic integrity.


Edit: Sorry for the long rambling. Apparently it is very easy to trigger me into producing a wall of text by beginning to talk about music

 

[MiaX]

You're probably right

The people here are mostly in the minority in that they have tinnitus quite badly. Most people do get used to it and can continue their lives like normal, including going out, but you'll never hear their stories.
Most coping programs also recommend not feeding the anxiety by reading more and more articles and posts about tinnitus. Sometimes it only makes you focus on that which you're trying to avoid.

On the other hand, Tinnitus Talk can also be a very nice place with very caring people who are there when you need the support or advice

Yep, you're right! The people here are definitely caring and sweet. But I really think that if you just developed tinnitus and you are not too worried about it, reading on this forum will definitely make you really anxious. So you are right!

 

[Bill Bauer]

Ugh, and I really feel like I need to leave this forum. I was so happy that I went out and thought: I just need to go more often if it makes me this happy, even if it is a risk. After reading a couple of minutes on this forum, my mood changes completely and I feel so anxious and I feel like going out more often is such a mistake...

You can ignore reality, but there is a chance that you won't be able to ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. Loud tinnitus is very hard to ignore.

 

[Bill Bauer]

To be honest, if I hadn't googled about my T, I am 80% sure I would have forgot about it (my T is mild and probably not even caused by noise ) .

One possibility is that after you would have forgotten about your T, you would not have protected your ears, and then you would have a higher chance of ending up with screaming life-long T that you would not be able to forget for longer than a couple of seconds at a time.

 

[MiaX]

You can ignore reality, but there is a chance that you won't be able to ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. Loud tinnitus is very hard to ignore.

This forum is definitely NOT reality. I have learnt that in my country, there are around 160.0000 people who have tinnitus and I believe around 16.000 people have daily problems with it. I believe that you can compared that to this forum: the people here are the people who have daily problems with it, so this is not reality. I know some people in real life with pretty bad T and only one of them has once told me she had a spike. She wasn't even dramatic or something, she just mentioned it. These people I know just live there life, and yes, they go out and everything, some even without earplugs. Only on this forum you will read people who ask: "I slammed the door, do I have permanent hearingdamage now?" (I don't know if you can get permanent hearingdamage from that, but I think that a lot of people will not get permanent damage from slamming a door, or am I wrong? However, I see a lot of people here freaking out about some noise they were exposed to and a lot of times I think they will be perfectly fine).

I am lucky that I was able to talk to people from a audiologic centre who learnt me that not everything is dangerous for your ears. And I believe that that is sometimes a problem on this forum: people here make each other more anxious.

One possibility is that after you would have forgotten about your T, you would not have protected your ears, and then you would have a higher chance of ending up with screaming life-long T that you would not be able to forget for longer than a couple of seconds at a time.

Yes, that is possible, OR I would just have lived my life, maybe with earplugs, and I would have been fine. You see, they have test my hearing twice and my hearing is fine, I have probably the same hearing as someone who does not have T (my T is problaby related to my jaw, neck and shoulders, although I am not 1000% sure that not some noise played a part in it).

I just saw someone posting about the fact that he just realised he had T (after watching the movie 'baby drive'). I had the same thing: one night I just realised that I hear a loud pieeeep. I knew I heard that for years, but I didn't really realised it was that loud (that night it was proably louder because my neck and shoulders were hurting). I wasn't really panicking for the first couple of days, but then I started googling and stuff and after 3 days I was an anxious mess with panic attacks. You see, the internet is full of negativity, you don't read about the people who are perfectly fine with their T and that makes habitation definitly more harder.

But yes, sometimes I believe I am happy that I ''discovered'' my T, because I protect my ears now, but I really, really regret googling, that is definitly a lesson I have learnt.

 

[Bill Bauer]

This forum is definitely NOT reality. I have learnt that in my country, there are around 160.0000 people who have tinnitus and I believe around 16.000 people have daily problems with it. I believe that you can compared that to this forum: the people here are the people who have daily problems with it, so this is not reality.

But YOU are on this forum. So of the two groups, you are closer to the people on this forum. You have a chance to learn from the mistakes of others who not only have T, but whose mental attitude to T is similar to your attitude.

These people I know just live there life, and yes, they go out and everything, some even without earplugs.

It is impossible to know how they would be feeling now, had they had a different lifestyle (and had they protected their ears). They might be T free by now. It is also impossible to know what kind of a life they are setting up for themselves in the future. Just because they are not getting a huge spike right away, doesn't mean that they won't be getting a huge spike sometime in the future.

I don't know if you can get permanent hearingdamage from that, but I think that a lot of people will not get permanent damage from slamming a door, or am I wrong?

I don't think you can get permanent damage, but I personally have had horrific 3-day spikes following slamming door incidents (on two separate occasions).

I am lucky that I was able to talk to people from a audiologic centre who learnt me that not everything is dangerous for your ears. And I believe that that is sometimes a problem on this forum: people here make each other more anxious.

Soon after I began protecting my ears from moderate noises like that of a vacuum, I stopped having as many spikes, and my T actually began to fade [a lot of this progress was undone when I accidentally pressed a loud phone (its volume stuck at "max") to my bad ear]. The people at your audiologic center would probably tell you that a phone can't hurt one's ear. And they would be right, as far as healthy people are concerned. For a person with T, a phone can (permanently?) change your T from a nice hiss to an unbearable high pitch tone (as was the case for me).

I would just have lived my life, maybe with earplugs, and I would have been fine. You see, they have test my hearing twice and my hearing is fine

My hearing is fine too, according to those tests. In fact, hearing tests indicate that the hearing of the majority of the people on this forum, as well as T sufferers in general is fine. What might be happening is that the tests are not sensitive enough. The point is that this information is somewhat irrelevant, as far as T is concerned. It is not like if your hearing test is perfect, you don't need to worry about T.

I wasn't really panicking for the first couple of days, but then I started googling and stuff and after 3 days I was an anxious mess with panic attacks. You see, the internet is full of negativity, you don't read about the people who are perfectly fine with their T and that makes habitation definitly more harder.

I had a similar experience as you. When I tried to learn more about the prognosis for T on the internet, all sources seemed to say that it is a lifetime condition. Eventually I found some scientific studies that say otherwise. I posted those studies on this forum. Also, after I read posts on this forum, and after I sent private messages to people who posted on this forum more than a year ago, I now know that for most people T fades or goes away completely. Based on my personal experience, my uneducated guess is that this is more likely to happen if one protects his or her ears. Well, another thing this belief is based on are the countless horror stories you can read on this forum of people getting better and then trying to "live their life", going to a place like a pub where music was playing, and then ending up at square one as far as their T is concerned.

 

[MiaX]

But YOU are on this forum. So of the two groups, you are closer to the people on this forum. You have a chance to learn from the mistakes of others who not only have T, but whose mental attitude to T is similar to your attitude.

It is impossible to know how they would be feeling now, had they had a different lifestyle (and had they protected their ears). They might be T free by now. It is also impossible to know what kind of a life they are setting up for themselves in the future. Just because they are not getting a huge spike right away, doesn't mean that they won't be getting a huge spike sometime in the future.

I don't think you can get permanent damage, but I personally have had horrific 3-day spikes following slamming door incidents (on two separate occasions).

I don't really have the same attitude towards my T as the people here. Most of the time, T doesn't bother me and I am not really anxious anymore. I have accepted my T and I am not waiting for a cure or something.

Maybe, or maybe not. I know that one of them had a break from things like festivals (I don't know for how long) and he said that it didn't change. I don't know if he still goes to festivals, but I am sure he still goes out. He even said that his T almost disappeard, he only hears it when he focus on it or when he's stresst.
I think that a lot of people just don't care about their T and prefer to have a social life and to go out and stuff and I definitely understand that.

And I know someone with tinnitus which got worse over the years and she didn't go to concerts or stuff. So yeah, it can get worse even if don't go to loud places.

Soon after I began protecting my ears from moderate noises like that of a vacuum, I stopped having as many spikes, and my T actually began to fade [a lot of this progress was undone when I accidentally pressed a loud phone (its volume stuck at "max") to my bad ear]. The people at your audiologic center would probably tell you that a phone can't hurt one's ear. And they would be right, as far as healthy people are concerned. For a person with T, a phone can (permanently?) change your T from a nice hiss to an unbearable high pitch tone (as was the case for me).

I am suprised about that, didn't know that protecting your ears from moderate noises could help your T. Happy for you that it worked! Didn't you get H?

My hearing is fine too, according to those tests. In fact, hearing tests indicate that the hearing of the majority of the people on this forum, as well as T sufferers in general is fine. What might be happening is that the tests are not sensitive enough. The point is that this information is somewhat irrelevant, as far as T is concerned. It is not like if your hearing test is perfect, you don't need to worry about T.

Yes, I know that. But I think that a lot of people have T, but don't even know they have. That doesn't mean that everyone will end with screaming T because they didn't protect their ears. It is possible, but not sure. I try to say that it is possible that I have the same hearing as someone else without T and that it may be possible that the chance we both get screaming T are the same. I am definitly not sure about that, because I have visited concerts in my life, but it can be possible.

I had a similar experience as you. When I tried to learn more about the prognosis for T on the internet, all sources seemed to say that it is a lifetime condition. Eventually I found some scientific studies that say otherwise. I posted those studies on this forum. Also, after I read posts on this forum, and after I sent private messages to people who posted on this forum more than a year ago, I now know that for most people T fades or goes away completely. Based on my personal experience, my uneducated guess is that this is more likely to happen if one protects his or her ears. Well, another thing this belief is based on are the countless horror stories you can read on this forum of people getting better and then trying to "live their life", going to a place like a pub where music was playing, and then ending up at square one as far as their T is concerned.

But when you just start to google, you don't see the postive things, the negative things are overwhemling. And then again: yes, you can make it worse, but that is a risk. Life is full of risks. You need to be careful and know your ears, that's all.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think that a lot of people just don't care about their T and prefer to have a social life and to go out and stuff and I definitely understand that.

It all depends on how loud T is. If T is as loud as a person screaming into your ear 24/7, then one Would begin caring about it and would rank "social life" low on a list of priorities, compared to the ranking of the desire to not have to listen to T.

I am suprised about that, didn't know that protecting your ears from moderate noises could help your T. Happy for you that it worked! Didn't you get H?

I had H before I began protecting my ears. My body was sending signals to me that certain noises were not ok. Once I gave it a chance to recover (by protecting my ears), H was gone. It is not like I would wear earplugs 24/7. I would not wear them inside of my home. I would watch video files at moderate volume. There was no reason for H to get worse. And in my case it had disappeared.

I realize that the improvements in H and T could have happened for reasons other than me protecting my ears. But I believe that it is likely that protecting my ears had contributed tohealing.

a lot of people have T, but don't even know they have

In this case either it is super quiet, or it doesn't last longer than a day or two. Once you experience T for over a month that is loud enough to interfere with your sleep, you know your ears have been compromised.

My interpretation of the results of the poll below
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...the-onset-of-tinnitus-and-regretted-it.23061/
is that the chance of getting a permanent spike following attending a loud event is higher than 1%. The way I see it, nothing is so enjoyable that a couple of hours of it is worth a 1% risk of permanently louder T for the rest of one's life.

In fact, in that thread, I justify the following statement: "We are 90%-99% confident that the fraction of tinnitus sufferers who will get a permanent spike after getting into a habit of attending loud events is between 8.5% and 58%."

 

[MiaX]

It all depends on how loud T is. If T is as loud as a person screaming into your ear 24/7, then one Would begin caring about it and would rank "social life" low on a list of priorities, compared to the ranking of the desire to not have to listen to T.

Yes, I agree with you. I think my T is kinda mild, so for me it doesn't play a huge part in my life. I understand when it is so bad, being social is less important.

I had H before I began protecting my ears. My body was sending signals to me that certain noises were not ok. Once I gave it a chance to recover (by protecting my ears), H was gone. It is not like I would wear earplugs 24/7. I would not wear them inside of my home. I would watch video files at moderate volume. There was no reason for H to get worse. And in my case it had disappeared.

I realize that the improvements in H and T could have happened for reasons other than me protecting my ears. But I believe that it is likely that protecting my ears had contributed tohealing.

I am really happy for you that worked! For some people it may work too.

In this case either it is super quiet, or it doesn't last longer than a day or two. Once you experience T for over a month that is loud enough to interfere with your sleep, you know your ears have been compromised.

Yep, I understand what you are saying.

My interpretation of the results of the poll below
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...the-onset-of-tinnitus-and-regretted-it.23061/
is that the chance of getting a permanent spike following attending a loud event is higher than 1%. The way I see it, nothing is so enjoyable that a couple of hours of it is worth a 1% risk of permanently louder T for the rest of one's life.

In fact, in that thread, I justify the following statement: "We are 90%-99% confident that the fraction of tinnitus sufferers who will get a permanent spike after getting into a habit of attending loud events is between 8.5% and 58%."

If the risk really is 1%, then I will go out without hesitation. 1% isn't really a big risk. I would rather have a very enjoyable life and take a 1%-risk, than never ever going out again my whole life.

Guess we will not know what the risk is, because there are too many factors that are important.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think my T is kinda mild, so for me it doesn't play a huge part in my life.

The point I was trying to make is that if one is reckless, T Could get loud enough to begin playing a huge part in one's life. It makes sense (to me) to make it a big part of one's life, to lower the chance that it becomes a huge part of one's life.

If the risk really is 1%, then I will go out without hesitation. 1% isn't really a big risk. I would rather have a very enjoyable life and take a 1%-risk, than never ever going out again my whole life.

If the risk of being burned alive were to be 1%, would you still go out? Would you be able to enjoy going out knowing that there is a 1% risk that you will be burned alive as a result? Wouldn't you agree that a lifetime of T is kinda worse than being burned alive (that is over and done with in no time)?

than never ever going out again my whole life.

You could go out hiking at a quiet local national park.

Guess we will not know what the risk is, because there are too many factors that are important.

The statement above implies we can't use learn anything about anything by using statistics. The reality is - we can.

The reason statistics works is that all of those factors average out. Some of the respondents have higher than average risk, others have lower than average. We know the relationship between this averaging out and the sample size, our point estimate (the actual fraction of respondents who got a permanent spike after being reckless), and the interval estimate (containing the true value we are trying to estimate X% of the time). The larger the sample size, the narrower is our 99% confidence interval (an interval that 99% of the time will contain the true fraction of people who get a permanent spike). Like I said, given the results of the poll and the sample size: "We are 90%-99% confident that the fraction of tinnitus sufferers who will get a permanent spike after getting into a habit of attending loud events is between 8.5% and 58%."

 

[MiaX]

The point I was trying to make is that if one is reckless, T Could get loud enough to begin playing a huge part in one's life. It makes sense (to me) to make it a big part of one's life, to lower the chance that it becomes a huge part of one's life.

If the risk of being burned alive were to be 1%, would you still go out? Would you be able to enjoy going out knowing that there is a 1% risk that you will be burned alive as a result? Wouldn't you agree that a lifetime of T is kinda worse than being burned alive (that is over and done with in no time)?

I understand what you are saying, but don't forget that that is YOUR opinion and feeling about T. Just like I said, I know some people with T and I am pretty sure that they prefer T than being burned alive... Even if you T get worse, it will not say that it will be a T that you can't live with, that it will be screaming T.

To be honest, your attitude towards T makes me (and I think some other people who will read this) very anxious. When I read on other forums (just forums for example people who like to party, that forum really exist) about T, people are a lot less negative and anxious and I don't think that on that kind of forums people have only mild T. It is just a different attitude towards T.
And yes, I understand that living with screaming T must be a hell, I really do, but I also believe that there are other gradations of T and that there are people who just live with screaming T.
Don't you agree with me that this forum is not a representation of a life with T? That it CAN be different?

You could go out hiking at a quiet local national park.

I don't know if you ever went to a bar or club or something, but I don't really feel that hiking is the same thing. Sure, you can do a lot of other things, but if you really enjoy going to bars, clubs, pubs, etc. , going on a hike isn't really the same thing. It can definitely be pleasent, but it doesn't make me just as happy as going to a party.

The statement above implies we can't use learn anything using statistics. The reality is - we can. The reason statistics works is that all of those factors average out. Some of the respondents have higher than average risk, others have lower than average. We know the relationship between this averaging out and the sample size and our point estimate (the actual fraction of respondents who got a permanent spike after being reckless). The larger the sample size, the narrower is our 99% confidence interval (an interval that 99% of the time will contain the true fraction of people who get a permanent spike). Like I said, given the results of the poll and the sample size: "We are 90%-99% confident that the fraction of tinnitus sufferers who will get a permanent spike after getting into a habit of attending loud events is between 8.5% and 58%."

I have read an other thread about this and I am not going to discuss it. The only thing I want to say is: this forum is not a representation, it just isn't. For example: I almost never have a spike, people here have spikes all the time.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I don't know if you ever went to a bar or club or something

It had never occurred to me to go.

Don't you agree with me that this forum is not a representation of a life with T? That it CAN be different?

I am not sure what you are talking about. On this forum there is a lot of heterogeneity: some people have struggled with T for decades, others have had it for a couple of days, the volume differs, people's attitude differs, etc. There are certainly people here who are similar to you. I guess what most people here have in common is that T bothers us - we really want to be T-free. If you also feel this way, then you can learn useful information here.

I realize that some people are not bothered by T. If you are not bothered by T, then I am not sure why my posts make you anxious. If I am right, the worst that can happen is that you will get louder T. It will most likely still not be a screaming T (unless you continue not learning from your mistakes), so what's the big deal, right?

 

[MiaX]

I am not sure what you are talking about. On this forum there is a lot of heterogeneity: some people have struggled with T for decades, others have had it for a couple of days, the volume differs, people's attitude differs, etc. There are certainly people here who are similar to you. I guess what most people here have in common is that T bothers us - we really want to be T-free. If you also feel this way, then you can learn useful information here.

I realize that some people are not bothered by T. If you are not bothered by T, then I am not sure why my posts make you anxious. If I am right, the worst that can happen is that you will get louder T. It will most likely still not be a screaming T (unless you continue not learning from your mistakes), so what's the big deal, right?

Maybe I am overreacting, sorry. It is true that there are also people here who are more relaxed about their T.
The posts make me anxious because I am afraid of getting louder T. It is my own problem that the posts makes me anxious. It is just so difficult: on this forum, I read about people who get louder T from going to a concert only ONCE and in real life I know people who go out all the time without earplugs and don't feel a difference with their T. I just don't know what to think, but the only thing I know is that I just really like going out, to bars, a party, etc. , and it can be weeks after the party and I still smile when I think about it... May sound ridiculous, but I really like to talk to people, especially strangers. People are just so different when they are at a party or bar, more social or something.

 

[Julien87]

In my case, no significant increase (maybe no increase at all, hard to say) in eleven years. Although I became more careful with time just to be on the safe side, in those eleven years, my ears experienced :

- several nights in nightclubs and loud bars, sometimes with gigs, with earplugs on (though I don't go there anymore and I recommend not going to such places)
- more than 20 flights of several hours (but wore protection for those longer than 4h)
- several weddings without plugs
- a gunshot a few meters from me, without plugs
- lots of people honking, without plugs
- lots of ambulance/police cars with siren passing by, without plugs (but now i put my fingers in my ears when that happens)

 

[Krish230]

In my case, no significant increase (maybe no increase at all, hard to say) in eleven years. Although I became more careful with time just to be on the safe side, in those eleven years, my ears experienced :

- several nights in nightclubs and loud bars, sometimes with gigs, with earplugs on (though I don't go there anymore and I recommend not going to such places)
- more than 20 flights of several hours (but wore protection for those longer than 4h)
- several weddings without plugs
- a gunshot a few meters from me, without plugs
- lots of people honking, without plugs
- lots of ambulance/police cars with siren passing by, without plugs (but now i put my fingers in my ears when that happens)

Wow that's pretty impressive, to say the least! Even one of those events, with earplugs, would spike my T significantly. Sometimes even permanently if it's loud enough.

You have a pretty solid set of ears look after them!

 

[Sam Bridge]

It had never occurred to me to go.


I am not sure what you are talking about. On this forum there is a lot of heterogeneity: some people have struggled with T for decades, others have had it for a couple of days, the volume differs, people's attitude differs, etc. There are certainly people here who are similar to you. I guess what most people here have in common is that T bothers us - we really want to be T-free. If you also feel this way, then you can learn useful information here.

I realize that some people are not bothered by T. If you are not bothered by T, then I am not sure why my posts make you anxious. If I am right, the worst that can happen is that you will get louder T. It will most likely still not be a screaming T (unless you continue not learning from your mistakes), so what's the big deal, right?

Your posts make me anxious because you always consider the worst case scenario which is fair enough i guess. I mean, it is possible to from a quiet hum to a squealing t i suppose.

 

[Sam Bridge]

In my case, no significant increase (maybe no increase at all, hard to say) in eleven years. Although I became more careful with time just to be on the safe side, in those eleven years, my ears experienced :

- several nights in nightclubs and loud bars, sometimes with gigs, with earplugs on (though I don't go there anymore and I recommend not going to such places)
- more than 20 flights of several hours (but wore protection for those longer than 4h)
- several weddings without plugs
- a gunshot a few meters from me, without plugs
- lots of people honking, without plugs
- lots of ambulance/police cars with siren passing by, without plugs (but now i put my fingers in my ears when that happens)

My experience is similar to yours, no spikes from loud places.It's just that i am now scared to go to gigs/ very loud places after reading this forum. Its like the big IF is permanently in my mind if i consider going somewhere loud. Whereas before I read this forum I didn't realise it was something that could get worse, I was more worried about hearing loss and thats why I started to wear plugs to gigs ect.