using tinnitus to your advantage?

sleeplessknight · #1 01-23-2010, 09:26 AM

So, for about the last couple years or so, I've developed some tinnitus in both ears. It's not *horrible* like some people describe, but it is persistent and it does get real old, real quick.

I was wondering, does anyone know if the pitch changes over a short period of time (say, weeks or months), or does it stay pretty much constant the entire time unless more damage occurs? I ask because I'm thinking: if I have a constant reference tone bouncing around in my skull that never/rarely changes, why not use that as another tool in my musical toolbox and work on relative pitch exercises? Have you guys heard of anyone doing this, and failing/succeeding?

Cannabass · #2 01-23-2010, 10:27 AM

i don't know and cant really be of any help here, but GOOD IDEA!!

MooseLumps · #3 01-23-2010, 10:35 AM

There are a lot of factors that influence the way you perceive your tinnitus. It can easily change pitch depending on a number of different physical, environmental and perceptual factors. Also, while everything is quiet, it can be perceived, only the most extreme cases would you be able to hear it over even a small combo. It's an intriguing idea, and you ought to tell us if you perceive it to change, but I expect it to be some random tone who-knows-how-many cents off the nearest note, and that would be quite difficult to tune to, even if you could hear it in a band setting.

I'm interested to know if you can figure out what pitch it is and if it changes. If you can make it work for you, It will be quite useful and I would be very impressed. Best of luck to you and I'm sorry to hear about the ringing.

TimWilson · #4 01-23-2010, 10:36 AM

I've had severe tinnitus for 20 years, and I do believe the pitch has never changed. But in my case, the pitch is SO high (approximately an octave over the highest Eb that a guitar can play) that it's hard to use as a pitch-reference for bass.

Also, it often seems in my own case, that there's another pitch behind it... slightly flatter and dissonant to the first, louder one. It's not really loud enough to be of practical use to me when there's any other noise going on around me, but lying in bed, in the quiet dark, it's enough to drive you nuts..

varunkapahi · #5 01-23-2010, 10:43 AM

i cant hear that ringing in my ear unless its dead quiet so dunno

varunkapahi · #6 01-23-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimWilson

I've had severe tinnitus for 20 years, and I do believe the pitch has never changed. But in my case, the pitch is SO high (approximately an octave over the highest Eb that a guitar can play) that it's hard to use as a pitch-reference for bass.

Also, it often seems in my own case, that there's another pitch behind it... slightly flatter and dissonant to the first, louder one. It's not really loud enough to be of practical use to me when there's any other noise going on around me, but lying in bed, in the quiet dark, it's enough to drive you nuts..

yeah i think both your ears ring at different pitches as the damage to both of them is different, so do mine and this is how i think it can be explained. actually when i focus on the ringing in one ear i can hear that pitch better and then the other if i try to think about it! and i also do believe that my right ear rings louder than my left year or the opposite dunno

TimWilson · #7 01-23-2010, 10:53 AM

It's funny.. You know, I've never, in all the years I've lived with tinnitus, really CAREFULLY listened to the pitch and the stereo spread until today. Now that I do, I believe you're right: My left ear rings a piercing high Eb, but my right ear rings the flatter note and modulates slightly, like there's a tiny leslie speaker in there.

BadB · #8 01-23-2010, 11:04 AM

C# in one, F# in the other. I have never considered it to be useful. There is never any peace and quiet, just rock 'n roll.

makanudo · #9 01-23-2010, 11:21 AM

I just want it to go away =(

Dee-man · #10 01-23-2010, 11:29 AM

Good luck with that. It won't go away, from what I understand. What has to change is your perception of it. I've had it for several years and finally went to this guy touted as the tinnitus guru at UCSF. I have slight hearing loss in the upper register. This guy has developed a software program that forces you to practice focusing your attention on only particular sounds. In other words, you have to learn how to distract yourself/ignore the tinnitus. It showed potential but, like other things, I didn't follow-through with it enough. Beyond that, there's no known cure, I'm afraid. I could try to find this guy's name for you if you're interested. You should also consider wearing ear plugs or at least a little tissue paper to save your hearing. Again, good luck, DM

**lowendfriend** · #11 01-23-2010, 12:08 PM

My tinnitus is a sign of the pretty significant hearing loss I have. I hear almost nada above 7 Khz.

Doesn't bother me that much unless I'm tired.

If you want a very high quality hearing test that calibrates for "minimum discernable signal" of you computer setup go to this link:

http://www.digital-recordings.com/he...ht_help_p.html

Use real good earphones. Have your room be as quiet as possible. Folow the instructions.

This test is rather elaborate, but should be quite accurate. This was developed by a bunch of PhD acoustic guys in Nova Scotia.

To show how bad mine is I'll attach a PDF of my test. Now you will understand my signature line!

This file is just a text listing...on the site you can see a graph which is much more useful but that PDF was too big to upload.

varunkapahi · #12 01-24-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimWilson

It's funny.. You know, I've never, in all the years I've lived with tinnitus, really CAREFULLY listened to the pitch and the stereo spread until today. Now that I do, I believe you're right: My left ear rings a piercing high Eb, but my right ear rings the flatter note and modulates slightly, like there's a tiny leslie speaker in there.

its kinda cool isnt it!? lol hell its not! tinnitus sucks