Do I Have Tinnitus?

Hi... I am a 23 year old musician who has been mixing his music at loud volumes for a long time now.

A few weeks ago my left ear started aching and I have a swollen red bump that almost looks like a pimple in it.

It subsided a bit so I went back to mixing at what I presume was too loud in my headphones and I've developed a hiss in my left ear that has been constant for 3 days now.

I also feel semi painful aches in that ear when I swallow too hard or burp. I already suffer from daily chronic migraines and if what I'm reading is true and tinnitus is for life , I don't know what I'm to do. My dreams are to be a artist , and performing with loud music blaring is part of that lifestyle...

Is there any chance this hissing will go away? I plan to see a doctor on Monday.

Thanks... I'm quite discouraged right now having suffered from 24/7 intense chronic migraines for four years and now this...

 

Yes there is, but you need to stay away from loud noise to increase your chances.

 

You need to be careful of being around loud sounds. If you don't change your ways then your music career could end before its started and I'm not kidding. Click on the links below and read my articles on tinnitus. If you use headphones I advise you to stop using them for a while and if possible never use them again.

Michael


https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

Your ears have taken abuse from the loud volumes. Your hissing is what usually starts out with tinnitus. The more you continue to listen to loud music, the more of a chance that...it(tinnitus) can get louder. Our ears are very sensitive and loud music does take a toll on them.

 

I see, I will take a break from mixing music on headphones the last thing I want is this. I've been naive to think loud music wouldn't harm my ears, This comes at a terrible time for me since I've just started to have music industry connections and label interest but I will do my best to show restraint .. Just praying it goes away soon.

 

I don't want to frighten you but just want to give you a little more advice. Listen to what @fishbone and I have told you and act upon it and read the articles in the links I have sent you. If you take care now, you could save yourself a lot of heartache in years to come.

Michael

 

I agree 100%! Your ears can get worst and then it can be a alot harder and LOUDER. We don't get many chances with our ears, once they are abused and damaged. If I only had a site like this 30 years ago, to be mentored. If I did, then my volume would be cut in half....

 

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I read them and I understand , the hissing is noticable but it's not effecting my sleep or anything so I'm hopeful it will go away in time. I will be using my monitors at low volume to finalize my music instead Of headphones for s long time. Is it bad to have headphones on at any volume? If I let my ears rest for a few months then use headphones at a low volume to record will I be damaging more?

 

Since you have read my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, you would have read my piece on headphone use? If I were you, I would never use headphones again. It is true some people with tinnitus use headphones without any problems. However, it is something I don't advise. Give the headphones a rest for a few months. Then, if you want to resume using them but keep the volume low. At the first sign of hissing or increase in your tinnitus stop using them. I advise you to use "sound enrichment" using a sound machine at night as I've advised in my article.

I wish you well
Michael

 

Yes sir ,I read it just a little desperate I guess because you can't record music without headphones. Such a cryptic response truly frightens me, thanks for all of the insight though. I'll just keep my mind off it. Thankyou

 

You're welcome. I am a HI-FI enthusiast and used to listen to music through high quality headphones which eventually gave me tinnitus. That was 2o years ago and haven't used headphones since. Take things slowly and when you monitor /mixing music using speakers try not to turn up the volume too loud.

Best of luck
Michael

 

Its been about 4-5 days now, and it's barely there. I think it's subsiding already , I still hear a faint ring but it seems to be going away.

 

That is good news. Take things slowly and don't rock the boat. I advise you to stay away from headphones for a least a month two would be better. When you resume keep the volume low. Read my articles and follow the advise.

Take things slowly.
Best of luck.
Michael

 

Happy to say it's been completely gone the past few days. I will keep tinnitus in mind at all times now and not take this silence for granted.

 

Pleased to hear your good news. Just be careful and take things slowly...
Good luck
Michael