Rock n Roll to the Death?

[Heather D.]

Hello there!

I've had a hard day, stressed out beyond belief, and joined this community to find some support.
I've had tinnitus for 8yrs now. It all started at one gig I played, the guy doing sound was awful and I forgot to put in my musician plugs before hitting the stage.

Now over the past year I've noticed it getting worse. I wear in-ear monitors to try and eliminate any harmful decibels they don't fit worth a damn so I'm constantly shoving them back in my ear. I've contemplated getting custom-fit but am at the point where I'm unsure it will help. The question that I keep asking myself: should I cut my losses and get out of singing in a band? I do not want my T getting ANY worse!! I have 2 children. What if I'm unable to live a happy life for them because of this debilitating ringing?

My band just booked another two gigs, one in Feb and one in March. I feel like I should cancel them.

I would sure appreciate any insight, advice and maybe some hope. Thanks!

 

[jon23]

Hey Heather!

I too have tinnitus from live music. Ive been playing professional for 15 years and it probably started about 2 years ago. long noise exposure without protection and now tinnitus. It sucks. SO music is your passion! Don't give it up... I think you should get custom molds for your in ears and maybe some musicians ear plugs. Don't cancel your gigs ,but protect your ears. Get a good idea of the decibel level you're exposing yourself to, and then protect accordingly. I don't think it will get worse if you preserve your hearing. My ent told me this When I asked the same question. I still play three to four nights a week, but if the gig is over 80db, I have pugs in.. Its not my favorite but beets doing any more hearing damage then I've already done. Hope this helps

 

[RaZaH]

this is a tough question , T can get that bad that all of a sudden music is not that important , even though its your passion in life. I guess I would suggest at least taking a break .

 

[Foncky]

The question that I keep asking myself: should I cut my losses and get out of singing in a band? I do not want my T getting ANY worse!!

You love music and you have a life to live. Loving music means that you want to be able to listen to it and to enjoy it, at the very least. Living a life means that you want to be able to go out, travel, play with your screaming kids, etc.
Maybe you're answering the question alone. Yes, you can still play with earplugs, but your ears are already damaged. Protection is fine, but it's not the absolute answer here.

Your priority these days seems to be saving your hearing. You don't want a louder T. You don't want H. You don't want hearing loss.

So take a break for now. Cancel the two gigs. See how you feel. It'll be easier to take a decision later. There are many ways to enjoy music, other than playing it live.

 

[Sebastians]

My band just booked another two gigs, one in Feb and one in March. I feel like I should cancel them.

Go with your feeling. Your health comes first, don't let other people talk you into doing something you are not (yet) comfortable with. Get the best hearing protection out there in the meanwhile.

 

[Tommy Tinnitus]

Hi there,
I too have been doing live audio/performance for a few years now and slowly started to notice deterioration in my hearing. I always keep my Earasers with me in case I go to a noisy restaurant or catch word of extra tickets. I recommend using studio headphones when listening to music. They seem to keep me from having the volume too high since they cut out a lot of the background noise. Just keep taking care of your ears and never let the T get you down. I wish you the best.

Keep on rockin',
-Tommy

 

[Carlos]

Im puzzled that you didnt give up being in the band as soon as you got hearing damage. This question is easy to answer

 

[Tom Cnyc]

I can say this - if I wasn't affected to the point I felt it was totally necessary to quit live music - I'd never be on this forum.

I'm not sure your current levels but I'd play it very safe for a while if its bothering you. That said - there are many many many musicians with tinnitus that keep at it. I tend to think they post about it in the odd tinnitus thread on music forums more than they post about their gigs on a tinnitus thread though. Goes back to my point about being o this forum.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Ive seen plenty of threads about t on musicians forums and people carry on and seem ok.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hello there!
I've had a hard day, stressed out beyond belief, and joined this community to find some support.
I've had tinnitus for 8yrs now. It all started at one gig I played, the guy doing sound was awful and I forgot to put in my musician plugs before hitting the stage. Now over the past year I've noticed it getting worse. I wear in-ear monitors to try and eliminate any harmful decibels they don't fit worth a damn so I'm constantly shoving them back in my ear. I've contemplated getting custom-fit but am at the point where I'm unsure it will help. The question that I keep asking myself: should I cut my losses and get out of singing in a band? I do not want my T getting ANY worse!! I have 2 children. What if I'm unable to live a happy life for them because of this debilitating ringing?

My band just booked another two gigs, one in Feb and one in March. I feel like I should cancel them. I would sure appreciate any insight, advice and maybe some hope. Thanks!

I believe the reason your tinnitus is getting worse is because of sound being too loud for your auditory system. The fact that you are wearing in-ear monitors will continue to make your tinnitus worse. It is likely you will reach a point where your tinnitus will become so loud you will have to stop playing in the band and the tinnitus being permanent.
Sorry to sound so sobering but that is my opinion on this matter.
I wish you well.
Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

Ive seen plenty of threads about t on musicians forums and people carry on and seem ok

There are also plenty threads @Sam Bridge where musicians are regretting they didn't stop playing in their band and made the tinnitus worse.
I am not a musician but an Audiophile and have quite a high-end system. Therefore, I understand how a musician would want to continue playing music. However, with a condition like tinnitus one has to be careful. If a person notices their tinnitus getting worse due to playing in a band, they will have to make a choice whether to continue playing or stop.

Having the best earplugs in the world won't stop sound reaching the inner ear and irritating the cochlea, if it is loud enough. Sound will pass through the "Mastoid bone" It is the hard piece of bone behind each ear and is honeycombed with air pockets.

 

[Sam Bridge]

There are also plenty threads @Sam Bridge where musicians are regretting they didn't stop playing in their band and made the tinnitus worse.
I am not a musician but an Audiophile and have quite a high-end system. Therefore, I understand how a musician would want to continue playing music. However, with a condition like tinnitus one has to be careful. If a person notices their tinnitus getting worse due to playing in a band, they will have to make a choice whether to continue playing or stop.

Having the best earplugs in the world won't stop sound reaching the inner ear and irritating the cochlea, if it is loud enough. Sound will pass through the "Mastoid bone" It is the hard piece of bone behind each ear and is honeycombed with air pockets.

Aabsolutely agree Michael. It is entirely thier own risk and i'm just commenting on what i've read on various forums.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Aabsolutely agree Michael. It is entirely thier own risk and i'm just commenting on what i've read on various forums.

Indeed Sam...

 

[Foncky]

She doesn't care
And doesn't want to bother replying to people who gave time to offer good advice.

A rock'n'roll girl !