Tinnitus at 20

Hey guys

I'm super excited to have stumbled upon this forum. I've had tinnitus for many years. When filling out my info I put down 2013 as when it began but in truth I remember the ringing before going to bed since 2010.

I have not been to the doctor about it yet, however my boyfriend studies sound engineering and he confirmed that the ringing and occasional pressure and pain is not normal like I thought it was, and most probably caused by me going to so many loud concerts and listening to my music really loud.

I got scared into place when, after attending a metal festival, I could not hear out of my right ear for over a week. It was horrifying and I was worried I damaged my hearing permanently.

I find myself at 20 now, and I am really scared that this condition will get worse.

Additionally, I am in a band and my dream is to take it to a professional level. Will I be able to take care of my hearing as a musician?

Also, does tinnitus actually ever get better, or do we just have to get used to it? If there's anything I can do to actually better the condition I'll do it.

These are a few of the things I'm struggling with. More than anything I think I'm just worried and mad at myself for not taking care of my ears when I was younger. But I can't go back so I'll have to learn to live with it as best I can moving forward.

Not to be negative of course, I am positive about the future and I don't think my tinnitus is that bad compared to others on this site.

Thanks for having me here

 

A warm welcome to Tinnitus Talk @Zaps .
Always best let your doctor know and get seen my ENT and audiology and a routine MRI to rule out other problems and have your hearing checked out .

As far as playing In a band you can get some Musision ear plugs and see if it helps.
As you have had tinnitus a long time it most likely stay and h ave good days and bad days and spikes for some days.

With tinnitus you can get unwanted emotions like anxiety and depression and can be just as hard as the sound itself..

Your ears need to have time to settle and its totally up to you if carry on with the band but your ears will always be in danger around loud sounds .

Tinnitus has lots of causes and you could keep away from loud sounds but get a ear infection and that can easy cause tinnitus but we have no control over some causes of tinnitus like a infection but we can help protect our ears from loud sound....

Keep posting on the main forums for more support....lots of love glynis

 

Thank you so much for your warm welcome

Yes I will go to a specialist for the first time ever on Thursday to check and see where to go from there and to get earplugs. Hopefully it isn't too bad or a sign of anything else.

I'm glad to have found this forum, I'm already finding some potential causes as I also had issues with my jaw when I was younger which may be linked to it. It is very helpful to have a community of people who understand.

Thank you so much

 

To get permanent tinnitus there needs to be real extensive damage even if it does not show up well on tests

I would seriously rethink the band and music plans and start looking at other professional options in your life not involving constant sound exposure - plugs have limits and who wants a job where you need to be plugged for the rest of your life and still worry ?

From where you are it can get worse a lot easier Than the noise levels it took to get you where you are now
You are scared and it's a good thing - you cannot force your body to endured what it wasn't designed to

 

Thank you for your honesty, you were right- I went to a specialist and I do indeed have real damage.

It's been a tough few weeks dealing with the diagnosis. I obviously now feel very unsure about pursuing music because I don't want to damage my ears further and not be able to hear at all.

I have gotten custom ear plugs made, with 22 db filters as far as I know.

Making a choice on whether to risk my health to pursue my passion in life or give it up and probably regret it down the line is definitely a tough one. I only really admitted my passion for music and began pursuing it recently, and it seems like a shortlived happiness because it's pretty much been taken away with this diagnosis.

I don't mean to sound negative, and in fact I am hopeful that I can maybe find a way around this issue.

I have read a few other forum posts of musicians with tinnitus who continue working in the industry, and when I asked the specialist she said I could continue with my regular activities provided I use my ear plugs.

Maybe I can compromise and just do some acoustic stuff. I don't have to force myself to be in a loud environment after all.

On the other hand I completely get what you're saying and I agree- I can't be naive and think I won't be causing damage when I'm in an environment that obviously will.

My only wish is to be able to turn back time to before I had this, I wish I'd known how damaging listening to loud music and going to concerts could be. But there's no point in hoping for something impossible, I'd rather focus on what I'm gonna do from now on.

Thanks again for the reply, I'll keep you posted.

 

The older musicians rely on music for their livelihood and have no other skills by then so even though they suffer they have no other choices but to continue

A lot of them seem to suffer in silence and don't like to make it a public issue - they like to give a Tough image but I'm sure that they have it hard at home when it gets quiet since there is no cure or even temporary relief

You are young you have hundreds of other interesting professional opportunities still open that don't involve sound

That's the big difference