Introducing Myself — Singer with Tinnitus

[Mike in Brooklyn]

Hello all,

I am a 45-year-old male who developed tinnitus on Tuesday, November 20th, 2018, while sitting at my desk at work. However, there is a long buildup to it, I would say.

I started attending live concerts in clubs at 14 years of age. I began playing live shows as a bass player at 16. I do not think I wore earplugs much, but I did from time to time. At age 21, I switched from being a bass player to a vocalist. Since then, I have performed hundreds of shows, released records, toured, etc. I have worn ear protection most of the time too. Additionally, I have been listening to music on headphones nearly every single day for some 20 years.

Sometime in late 2017 or early 2018, I noticed that my ears would ring briefly out of nowhere and then stop. I also experienced light bouts of dizziness, which I attributed to the medication I am on: 100 mg of Seroquel and 1000 mg of Depakote for anxiety and depression, two things I have struggled with for a long time as well.

Sometime after a meeting I was stressing about on Tuesday, November 20th, 2018, I went back to my desk, and the ringing in my ears came on again. Only this time, it didn't go away. I am now on day 13 of this, and the sounds get louder, higher, change pitch, go from ear to ear, and for one moment last week, stopped briefly, only to come right back.

I went to an ENT in Brooklyn who came recommended. After conducting the audiogram, I learned that I have mild to significant hearing loss in both ears. My lows and mids are good, but my highs are bad... whatever that means.

The ENT prescribed me the following: Lipo-Flavonoid three times a day for 60 days to start and a week-long 10 mg Prednisone course that ends today.

My biggest and most pressing current issues:

- The current ringing volume is bad, worse than ever. What should I do? I am at work and in a fog.

- What will become of my singing? Can I still rehearse and perform live? I have not even told my band members yet. I will very soon. We have a gig on December 14th.

- Sleeping and nighttime used to be two of my favorite things. Now I fear them both. Last Thursday night and last night were horrendous. The sounds were so loud I was, and still am, in a panic. I took 3 mg of Melatonin very late. Should I take it earlier?

- Music listening. Should I stop for a while? I have certainly stopped headphone listening.

Thank you all.

Sincerely,
Mike in Brooklyn

 

[Mike in Brooklyn]

Sadly, I am back. After several years of habituation, my tinnitus returned with a vengeance around two weeks ago.

I flew on a plane for the first time on May 8th and May 13th and attended a music festival on May 11th. I wore EarPeace earplugs, which I have been using for years.

I went to several concerts on May 19th, 21st, 23rd, and then briefly on the 25th.

This was my normal life for years, again, with hearing protection.

Since the 23rd, my tinnitus has been about a 9 out of 10, sometimes 10 out of 10. I saw the ENT last week; no earwax, fluids, or redness were found in either ear. I see the audiologist tomorrow for a new hearing test and hearing aid check. I am nervous about further hearing damage.

Is this a long-lasting spike? Is the tinnitus back due to more hearing damage?

I need to get back to where I was for years, living a good, normal life with my tinnitus at about a 2 or 3.

Will I get that back again?

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @Mike in Brooklyn.

I am sorry to hear that you are going through so much difficulty with your tinnitus.

Please take note of the following advice. It is not absolute because we are all different. However, it is based on personal experience and people I have corresponded with and counseled who have noise-induced tinnitus, which is your type of tinnitus.

Some people believe when they habituate to noise-induced tinnitus, they will be able to listen to audio through headphones without the risk of their tinnitus increasing as long as the volume is kept low. Some also think they can go to places where loud music is played and be safe as long as they wear noise-reducing earplugs. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to everyone with this type of tinnitus. More often than not, even after several years of habituation, as you have mentioned in your post, a person who has noise-induced tinnitus can find their tinnitus suddenly changes.

This change is usually brought on by exposure to loud noise or listening to audio through headphones, earbuds, headsets, and AirPods, even at low volumes. Some people with noise-induced tinnitus can indeed listen to audio through headphones at low volume, and their tinnitus will remain unchanged. However, there is no guarantee this will always be the case. I believe it is playing Russian roulette with one's health every time a person with noise-induced tinnitus listens to audio through headphones or attends places where loud music is played, believing they will be kept safe by wearing noise-reducing earplugs.

Please click the link below and read my thread: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? Its contents are quite sobering. I didn't intend to frighten people when I wrote it; quite the contrary. It makes them aware that noise-induced tinnitus is not something to take lightly, which can easily happen after a person habituates to this type of tinnitus.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

All the best,
Michael

Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum