Tinnitus- Hearing Loss.

zxcvbs · #1 12-10-2012, 01:56 PM

Hi, after treatment how do you keep playing the bass?
Last years, i had periods of taking the bass.
But every week, of practicing, moves me forward to more hearing loss, and sensivity.
How do you keep improving your playing/musicianship with this health condition?
I tried to use ear protectors, but is not the same, and the doc said they are bad, because the ear has to adapt to sound in its own. Also headphones, make it even worse.

neebs · #2 12-10-2012, 02:02 PM

I'm going to assume you're using ear plugs?

I'm not a doctor or anything, but in the middle of this year I became scared because I had sensitive ears and ringing after practicing. My conditions were "driver pointed at ear, no ear plugs, right next to drummer."

I immediately started to wear ear plugs, pointed the cab a ways apart from "straight at" ears. The drummer, well I'm still right next to her.

I notice my hearing isn't as good. But my ears aren't sensitive anymore. For a while I would cringe in pain anytime loud noise was near me.

lowsideonacurve · #3 12-10-2012, 02:05 PM

What kind of treatment have you had?

zxcvbs · #4 12-10-2012, 03:06 PM

4 hours a day 5 months, listening to a 30 minute track mixed with withe noise. And pills with L-acetylcarnitine (neuroactil).

preside · #5 12-10-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxcvbs

4 hours a day 5 months, listening to a 30 minute track mixed with withe noise. And pills with L-acetylcarnitine (neuroactil).

WHAT!?!? I have never heard of any treatment for tinnitus that includes listening to white noise. I'm not a doc and would happily eat my words but this sounds like nonsense.

DeadHeadSF · #6 12-10-2012, 03:17 PM

As far as I know, tinnitus is not really treatable (at least, that's what I was told by an audiologist). I have it too - not severe, but it's definitely gotten worse over the years. I was supposed to get fitted for proper ear plugs that are shaped to fit my ears, but I still haven't done it yet... they're not cheap.

Any kind of ear protection is better than none at all.

Tinnitus can sometimes also be caused (or worsened) by muscle tension in the head/neck area, especially the SCM and jaw muscles. Massage (regularly) in these areas *might* help (or it might not).

neebs · #7 12-10-2012, 03:40 PM

I was also under the impression "No cure, only prevention." So... are you wearing earplugs or what? The only thing I can legitimately suggest is, USE EARPLUGS. Practice at lower volumes... but when you have to play louder just don't have the driver pointed DIRECTLY at your Eardrum. Did I say earplugs? Don't forget earplugs. Buy several pairs until you're happy with the kind you have. I've only used cheap foam plugs, Hearo's RocknRoll and Hearos High Fidelity. The High Fidelity ones suck in my opinion... they're not comfy. I was able to hear a bit more with the High Fidelity... but the comfort of the rocknroll plugs was better.

I notice I always have a faint ringing in my ears, it's so faint I can live with it.
When I was a child, it was worse. When I was a teenager it was the worst, because of a med I was taking that caused ringing in my ear. That side effect alone was a wake up call to "hearing protection."

Ozonbass · #8 12-10-2012, 03:47 PM

I use these. A little "spendy" but work incredibly well. I'm also trying to stem the tide of any more hearing loss.

http://www.sensaphonics.com/?p=331

woodsideh · #9 12-10-2012, 03:51 PM

Next time you are at the pharmacy or health food store pick up some Niacin capsules and take a couple a day (500mg each). It will help reduce the ringing a bit. Niacin is also referred to a vitamin B3 which is ironic since I spent 5 years in my 20's touring full time playing a B3 with a Leslie blasting in ears.

zxcvbs · #10 12-11-2012, 12:00 PM

White noise, is an even signal on all freq. The treatment consisted on listening a music with backing white noise at low volume to mask the ringing, this make the ear used to noise at near ear area. This is what the doc said.

Im not searching for the cure. But finding the way to practice long time every day without reducing losing more audition.

yodedude2 · #11 12-11-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxcvbs

White noise, is an even signal on all freq. The treatment consisted on listening a music with backing white noise at low volume to mask the ringing, this make the ear used to noise at near ear area. This is what the doc said.

Im not searching for the cure. But finding the way to practice long time every day without reducing losing more audition.

i'm no doctor, but i do not like the sound of that treatment. it seems illogical to me. it seems like it would make the condition worse, long term. like trying to cure alcoholism by drinking a bottle of wine every day...

i have tinnitus symptoms. i use earplugs. think of earplugs as sunglasses for hearing. you can still see with sunglasses on, right? you can still hear with earplugs in, right?

DWBass · #12 12-11-2012, 12:53 PM

Yeah, that kind of treatment sounds odd! Why not just rest your ears. Take some time off from listening to music. Go outside and listen to nature and such. But you have to give your ears a rest!

Ewo · #13 12-11-2012, 01:08 PM

Here's a related thread:

Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

I've switched to using the Etymotic ER-20s; they reduce the volume level considerably but don't affect the mix much. I like these much better than the foam plugs I used to use.

kurt · #14 12-11-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxcvbs

White noise, is an even signal on all freq. The treatment consisted on listening a music with backing white noise at low volume to mask the ringing, this make the ear used to noise at near ear area. This is what the doc said.

Im not searching for the cure. But finding the way to practice long time every day without reducing losing more audition.

How about practicing at a very low volume or none at all? I used to practice all the time in my apartment with the amp turned off.

Bassamatic · #15 12-11-2012, 01:21 PM

I did read of some experimental treatments in development at UCLA that would "re-train" the nerves in the ears to reduce or eliminate the perception of the tinnitus sounds. I am still looking for this and hope that it becomes reality.

Meanwhile, listening to sound tracks will not enhance the problem unless that sound is too loud.

There are a few homeopathic remedies I see -perhaps they are all B3 based.

I now use musician ear plugs for practice and performing for insurance.

ZedZed · #16 12-11-2012, 01:28 PM

Treatment for tinnitus... there appears to be some headway in recent research, something called Acoustic Coordinated Reset:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...ing-brain.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22414611

acubass · #17 12-11-2012, 01:33 PM

I have the opportunity to treat tinnitus in our student acupuncture clinic occasionally. It really is hard to treat. Most of the patients say their pitch or intensity is lowered, but I've never seen anyone "cured" of it and prognosis depends on the etiology. If I had a patient that had tinnitus d/t childhood antibiotic overdose then i would have to tell them The prognosis isn't good.

I had a patient who summed it up by saying "my tinnitus was there but I didn't feel like cutting my head off last week."

DeadHeadSF · #18 12-11-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt

How about practicing at a very low volume or none at all? I used to practice all the time in my apartment with the amp turned off.

At home, I keep the amp down as low as possible (the first or second detent in the volume knob is plenty adequate on my 900W amp) or use headphones. Have to be careful with headphones though - it's real easy to crank those beyond a safe level and not even know it. It may not sound too loud, but duration of exposure matters too.

kreider204 · #19 12-11-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acubass

I had a patient who summed it up by saying "my tinnitus was there but I didn't feel like cutting my head off last week."

LOL. That's where I am most of the time. After a few months, my brain started filtering it out most of the time. I notice it more in the evening, when I'm home and things are quiet, and I'm just plain tired and over sensitive. There are occasions when it gets louder in one ear, almost feels like a stinging sensation, and that gets annoying. But most of the time, it's just "Oh, that's the sound my ears make when it's quiet - no big deal."

Fergie Fulton · #20 12-11-2012, 01:41 PM

Tinnitus can take many forms and has a few well known causes..and a few not so well knowing causes....so make sure you have the source of any problems correctly identified.

Treating tinnitus

If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying health condition, treating it will help stop or reduce the sounds that you can hear.
For example, if your tinnitus is caused by a build-up of earwax, eardrops or ear irrigation may be recommended. Ear irrigation involves using a pressurised flow of water to remove the earwax.
However, in most cases of tinnitus, there is no cure and treatment aims to manage the symptom on a daily basis. Staff at specialist tinnitus clinics will be able to give you information about tinnitus and help you develop a strategy to manage it more effectively.
Some of the treatments that may be recommended are described below.
Correcting hearing loss

Any degree of hearing loss you have should be addressed because straining to listen makes tinnitus worse.
Correcting even fairly minor hearing loss means that the parts of the brain involved in hearing do not have to work as hard and, therefore, do not pay as much attention to the tinnitus.
Your specialist will be able to test your hearing and recommend the appropriate treatment for you. This may involve having a hearing aid fitted or having surgery.
Improving your hearing will also mean that sounds you would not otherwise be able to hear will now be audible and may help override the sounds of your tinnitus.
Sound therapy

Tinnitus is often most noticeable in quiet environments. Sound therapy involves filling the silence with neutral, often repetitive sounds to distract you from the sound of tinnitus.
Some people find that having the radio or television on provides enough background noise to mask the sound of tinnitus. Others prefer to listen to more natural, relaxing sounds, such as the sound of the sea.
Environmental sound generators are electronic devices that resemble a radio. They produce quiet, soothing sounds that are often heard in nature, such as a babbling brook, wind rustling the leaves of a tree or waves lapping on a shore.
Sound generators are particularly useful when placed by your bedside because they can distract you from your tinnitus when you are falling asleep. Many environmental sound generators have timers so that they can turn themselves off after you have fallen asleep.
An ear-level sound generator is a small device that resembles a hearing aid. It may be recommended if you have normal hearing or mild hearing loss. For more severe hearing loss, some hearing aids have built-in sound generators. These are known as combination instruments.
Tinnitus counselling

Understanding tinnitus is an important part in learning how to manage it more effectively. Tinnitus counselling is usually carried out by hearing therapists, audiologists (hearing disorder specialists) or doctors.
Tinnitus counselling is a talking therapy that helps you learn more about your tinnitus and find ways of coping with it. Talking about your tinnitus and how it affects your everyday life may help you understand the condition better and possibly lessen its effects.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the term for a number of therapies that help treat problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
CBT is based on the idea that a person’s thoughts affect the way that they behave. Treatment aims to retrain the way a person thinks to change their behaviour.
If you have tinnitus and your knowledge about it is limited, you may have certain ideas about it that make you anxious and distressed. However, these beliefs may be untrue and changing them may reduce your stress and anxiety.
Read more about CBT.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) uses a combination of sound therapy and counselling to help people cope better with their tinnitus.
TRT involves retraining the way your brain responds to tinnitus sound so that you start to tune out of it and become less aware of it. This is known as habituation.
In the UK, very few specialists use TRT in its full form but many doctors, audiologists and hearing therapists use the principles of TRT in a less structured way.

TRT should only be carried out by someone who has been trained in using the technique.
Self-help

Some people can manage their tinnitus using a number of self-help techniques. These techniques include:
Relaxation - stress can make your tinnitus worse so regular exercise, such as yoga, may help you relax.
Listening to music - calming music and sounds may also help you relax and fall asleep at bedtime.
Support groups - sharing your experiences with other people who have tinnitus may help you cope better with the symptom.

Next point is certain metals used in dental fillings have had a reported associating with Tinnitus. Fillings to the back of the mouth using % of silver or mercury in them, have thought to have contributed to or in flame certain Tinnitus conditions. Certain testimonials by sufferers have had symptoms reduced or cleared by having dental work corrected.

Try searching "Tinnitus and Dental fillings" for more Info on this point.

Tinituss is not really a hearing problem as deaf people can suffer from it as well. Try a search on "deaf people and tinnitus".
Tinnitus is more of a mental problem that the brain fixates on, some of the best treatments are based on "not thinking about it", in other words distracting your thinking from it.

It is a worrying problem but the very fact your worry about it, could be one of the things that makes it more obvious than it should be...catch 22 comes to mind.