I'd HIGHLY recommend the ETYMOTIC ER-20s or the Heros HIFI plugs on a budget... just realize the if the bass sounds "right" to YOUR ears then it may be too LIGHT for the rest of the band, but you'll hear more of the band than with foam ear plugs...
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I'd HIGHLY recommend the ETYMOTIC ER-20s or the Heros HIFI plugs on a budget... just realize the if the bass sounds "right" to YOUR ears then it may be too LIGHT for the rest of the band, but you'll hear more of the band than with foam ear plugs...
+1 to the Etymotic ER-20s. I'm not currently in a band, but after coming back from one too many shows with my ears ringing until the next day I realized that I really needed to do something about it. So far I've worn them whenever I go to shows and they really do a great job. As others have mentioned they also tend to cut a lot of the distortion and noise that you hear at, well, almost every rock show since apparently soundmen don't know how to mix, just turn everything up as loud as it'll go. I mean, it's not yet to the point where you can generally make out vocals for songs you don't already know, but it's a start.
I think the best test was just putting them in and listening to some music at home on the stereo. In a clean listening environment like that it's a lot easier to make out exactly what muffling and distortion the plugs are adding. Yes, it's a bit, but it was surprisingly flat and, like the package claims, lowers the volume by about 20 or so decibels.
If you have the money and play in a band I'd say to definitely go with the custom-molded musician's style. Otherwise, for $15 the Etymotics are where I'd go. From what I can tell the Heros Hi-Fi are just a rip-off or licensed version of them.
If you're really worried about looking uncool, well, you can always grow out your hair. Since I stopped cutting it seven years ago it's long enough that whenever I have plugs in all I have to do is let my hair fall over my ears and nobody can tell the difference.
I think the best test was just putting them in and listening to some music at home on the stereo. In a clean listening environment like that it's a lot easier to make out exactly what muffling and distortion the plugs are adding. Yes, it's a bit, but it was surprisingly flat and, like the package claims, lowers the volume by about 20 or so decibels.
If you have the money and play in a band I'd say to definitely go with the custom-molded musician's style. Otherwise, for $15 the Etymotics are where I'd go. From what I can tell the Heros Hi-Fi are just a rip-off or licensed version of them.
If you're really worried about looking uncool, well, you can always grow out your hair. Since I stopped cutting it seven years ago it's long enough that whenever I have plugs in all I have to do is let my hair fall over my ears and nobody can tell the difference.
I happened to be watching a Bloc Party DVD bootleg a while ago, and... what's that in their frontman's ears?! Yup! Looks like ER20s to me! 
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I have a question. I know music doesn't sound nearly as good through the cheap foam plugs, but do they offer similar protection? Right now I use foam Hearos, they do weird frequency things, but I soundcheck without them, so it's no big deal. Will these protect my ears as much as the custom molded ones? I'm going to get molded ones eventually, but if the foam ones still protect your ears, I'm not in a rush.
I agree about wearing ear plugs. Ears are to a musician as eyes are to an artist as I have been told. I stand next to the drummer's crash cymbal in practice and without earplugs I think I would go deaf.
Going deaf is my worst fear, so i often wear ear plugs. I heard from a 40 something year old (who was half deaf) that it is especially important for young people to have ear protection whaen listening to loud music. Aparrently it doesnt matter as much when you reach adulthood.
ear protection is always important, no matter if you'r 12 or 54. Loud noise wreaks havoc on your ears. It's not only about going deaf, it's also about tinitus,
as long as the dB reduction is enough for the levels you're playing at and you've got them inserted fully with no leaks - the answer here is yes, equal protection
It's only more important for kids because:
a) their hearing hasn't already been trashed, so they've got more to loose
b) they'll have to live with it for longer.
If you're 75 and half deaf already, who cares that you'll be 3/4 deaf in 10 years. If you're 15 and have perfect hearing then being 1/2 deaf at 25 would suck...
I've posted this link before, but it's worth reposting:
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My kids have both got a set of these - and one of them isn't BORN yet...
Ian
Good thread!
A couple of points. If you attend future AES shows, just the exhibition, they have a special deal on custom molds, so you could save some money. Or otherwise, just do the custom ones if you could afford them, or use the ER-20s.
Tinnitis is nasty, you could somehow get rid of some of it if you let the ear rest for a very, very long time, i.e. no loud sounds or even better, no sounds whatsoever. This is sometimes very impractical for a musician, though...
Some of hearing loss could be attributed to extensive and loud headphone use, such as iPod usage, so be careful with any hearing experiences. This is why I rather use loudspeakers at work (low setting.)
When you listen to music, production work in the studio and so on, or play, try to use a very low level. This means that you train your ear to hear more differences, which is good in the long term.
--Kent
A couple of points. If you attend future AES shows, just the exhibition, they have a special deal on custom molds, so you could save some money. Or otherwise, just do the custom ones if you could afford them, or use the ER-20s.
Tinnitis is nasty, you could somehow get rid of some of it if you let the ear rest for a very, very long time, i.e. no loud sounds or even better, no sounds whatsoever. This is sometimes very impractical for a musician, though...
Some of hearing loss could be attributed to extensive and loud headphone use, such as iPod usage, so be careful with any hearing experiences. This is why I rather use loudspeakers at work (low setting.)
When you listen to music, production work in the studio and so on, or play, try to use a very low level. This means that you train your ear to hear more differences, which is good in the long term.
--Kent
BTW, Its been almost a year since I got my custom ER15s from Ultimate Ears, and I still feel its the best money I've spent on equipment ever. I can carry on a conversation with them in no problem and I don't lose any of the highs or lows, its just quieter overall. Get a pair! Don't wait! Go!
I have two different sets of custom made earplugs. Both made by an Audiologist. Sure they're expensive. But I pay more on insurance every year in case I lose my equipment. I could lose all my gear and have it replaced but can't ever get my hearing back if it goes.
The plugs I have are a set db level reduction. And almost perfect frequency response (As shown by a hearing test with them in). I have 10db for during gigs and 20db for everything else.
There is no excuse. Just get 'em.
The plugs I have are a set db level reduction. And almost perfect frequency response (As shown by a hearing test with them in). I have 10db for during gigs and 20db for everything else.
There is no excuse. Just get 'em.
They might even protect better, but it's not fun playing when the attenuation across the frequency field is not similar, i.e you don't hear highs as well. --Kent
this to the thread starter
hey i wanted to know about other band members of the above mentioned band did they actually go deaf ultimately?
am sorry if u have already answered this before but i couldnt read through all the 28 pages
I've been wearing ear plugs to all shows (that I see) and most shows I play for the past 3 years or so. Before that I didn't wear ear plugs, but I didn't go to as many shows or play in a band.
Lately I've been trying to wear my earplugs pretty much all the time, at shows and at practices.
My band is loud, but with dynamics; those dynamics simply don't come across as well without higher volumes at the top end.
But despite my constant use of ear plugs, I still have tinnitus. It scares me because I love music and I love being able to hear.
I don't understand why this will happen to me even though I wear protection all the time. I know many bands and musicians who play much louder music than me, and don't wear hearing protection. I don't understand why it happens to me and not them
I understand that tinnitus is permanent and won't go away. But I can't stop playing music or I won't have a reason to live.
I'm not sure what to do.
I used to use regular foam plugs, then I switched to Hearos. I find the Hearos are comfortable and sound better, but I might have to switch back to the foam plugs. They seemed be a 'jackhammer' solution: they worked by sheer ugly force, just blocking out noise without regard to tone.
No matter how much I love music, I would rather hear it muffled than not hear it all in a few years.
I'm considering getting custom fitted plugs, but I hear they provide even LESS attenuation than the other plugs (30ish db for the cheap foams, 20 or so for the Hearos, 10-15 for the customs). If that's the case it's not worth it to me to spend $200 on earplugs, and still damage my hearing.
Keep in mind that 'turn it down' doesn't always apply; I love going to shows and I can't very well turn down other people's bands! So decent protection is a must.
At the same time I see guys who've been gigging for years, back in the 70's even, who still work today as mix engineers, live sound, etc. On that note, I don't know if I could stand to do live sound for a lot of bands, since you can't wear earplugs while you're mixing!
Lately I've been trying to wear my earplugs pretty much all the time, at shows and at practices.
My band is loud, but with dynamics; those dynamics simply don't come across as well without higher volumes at the top end.
But despite my constant use of ear plugs, I still have tinnitus. It scares me because I love music and I love being able to hear.
I don't understand why this will happen to me even though I wear protection all the time. I know many bands and musicians who play much louder music than me, and don't wear hearing protection. I don't understand why it happens to me and not them
I understand that tinnitus is permanent and won't go away. But I can't stop playing music or I won't have a reason to live.
I'm not sure what to do.
I used to use regular foam plugs, then I switched to Hearos. I find the Hearos are comfortable and sound better, but I might have to switch back to the foam plugs. They seemed be a 'jackhammer' solution: they worked by sheer ugly force, just blocking out noise without regard to tone.
No matter how much I love music, I would rather hear it muffled than not hear it all in a few years.
I'm considering getting custom fitted plugs, but I hear they provide even LESS attenuation than the other plugs (30ish db for the cheap foams, 20 or so for the Hearos, 10-15 for the customs). If that's the case it's not worth it to me to spend $200 on earplugs, and still damage my hearing.
Keep in mind that 'turn it down' doesn't always apply; I love going to shows and I can't very well turn down other people's bands! So decent protection is a must.
At the same time I see guys who've been gigging for years, back in the 70's even, who still work today as mix engineers, live sound, etc. On that note, I don't know if I could stand to do live sound for a lot of bands, since you can't wear earplugs while you're mixing!
To start with, the best is to visit a doctor and he or she could do an assessment about your tinnitus. It could even be something medical, so don't be worried. Or high blood pressure which you need to fix ASAP:
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With the custom plug-ins you could get different filters, 10dB, 15dB, 25dB and even one that totally blocks any including audio, so you have more flexibility than with other solutions.
Another thing you could do, but it means some sacrifice, is to let the ear rest for a month or so, no loud music, if possibly as little as possible, no iPods and so on. That might eliminate some of the problems as the ear could rest and readjust.
I suspect a lot of people get tinnitus due to using iPods with loud volumes, constantly increasing the volume as the hearing goes down and one needs to adjust. Also, any strong sounds outside the music realm, like using chain saws will of course add to the problem.
--Kent
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With the custom plug-ins you could get different filters, 10dB, 15dB, 25dB and even one that totally blocks any including audio, so you have more flexibility than with other solutions.
Another thing you could do, but it means some sacrifice, is to let the ear rest for a month or so, no loud music, if possibly as little as possible, no iPods and so on. That might eliminate some of the problems as the ear could rest and readjust.
I suspect a lot of people get tinnitus due to using iPods with loud volumes, constantly increasing the volume as the hearing goes down and one needs to adjust. Also, any strong sounds outside the music realm, like using chain saws will of course add to the problem.
--Kent
Thanks ksandvik. I don't think it's high blood pressure, I'm still young and skinny, so far.
I would like to do a month long rest. I do listen to my iPod everyday, but I'm very careful with the volume. I turn it down more than I turn it up, and I always set the volume before I leave the house, and don't turn it up when I get on the noisy bus. Using high quality, well sealed headphones helps.
Again, this is another area where I seem to exhibit a great deal more caution than my peers: I frequently see their ipods jacked most of the way up, and I always hear people's headphones on the bus.
Maybe they do suffer the same amount of tinnitus as me? That's what makes it really frustrating I guess. I will ask them.
I also tend to be a pretty paranoid person; the only time I hear my tinnitus is at night when everything is dead silent, and then it's never enough to keep me awake, just enough that I can hear it.
I would like to do a month long rest. I do listen to my iPod everyday, but I'm very careful with the volume. I turn it down more than I turn it up, and I always set the volume before I leave the house, and don't turn it up when I get on the noisy bus. Using high quality, well sealed headphones helps.
Again, this is another area where I seem to exhibit a great deal more caution than my peers: I frequently see their ipods jacked most of the way up, and I always hear people's headphones on the bus.
Maybe they do suffer the same amount of tinnitus as me? That's what makes it really frustrating I guess. I will ask them.
I also tend to be a pretty paranoid person; the only time I hear my tinnitus is at night when everything is dead silent, and then it's never enough to keep me awake, just enough that I can hear it.
I joined TalkBass five years ago, but have been dormant; work was all-consuming, and life was problematic. This forum shows me that attitudes about health and hearing among musicians are changing, and I am very glad. Here's why: Most concert venues, musical instrument corporations and the music stores et al. are afraid of our concern for our hearing. Have you noticed the zero-to-very-little hearing conservation equipment or mere information available in even the largest of music stores? Did your bass/es and amps come with brochures containing the information we come across on our own? I'd like to know, But I think I already know. We were kept in the dark, and we felt invincible.
But I am writing to give some suffering folks some hope, hopefully....
There are way too many misconceptions about tinnitus. First off, although those of us w/the real McCoy, chronic tinnitus, feel at times like we are about to go mad and even contemplate suicide (don't--a permanent solution to temporary depression is not the way), there are ways to greatly reduce the suffering. Masking helps many people. Just plug that word into your search engine, and see what you find. Theres a lot. Please, though: Do not build up false hopes buying those herbal or homeopathic "cures" for tinnitus. They are rackets rigged by people who cruelly feed on the frantic hopes of tinnitus sufferers. Notice how they claim that "studies show" that their junk works, but they never give you the references. RED LIGHT!
They are simply lying--their potions do not help at all, but there is real help available, once you overcome your hearing-clinic phobia, should you have it. If necessary, a clinical psychologist can do just that: Help you chuck that nasty phobia.
Who am I to be talking about this? Good Q. OK: I'm a doc, a combat veteran, an electric bassist for two decades now, and I have tinnitus, not necessarily in that order. Out of desperation I tried every herbal prep from the placebo-nostrum "Ringstop" to ginkgo-leaf extract and other herbal preps to various vitamin combinations. BTW, ginkgo does possibly help those whose tinnitus stems from circulatory problems, but it also thins the blood & could be dangerous; talk to your doctor. Natural does not always mean safe. Snake venom is natural. Earthquakes are natural. Death can be natural.
1. Tinnitus is NOT an illness: It is a symptom of anything from significant hearing loss to cerumen (wax) impaction. When associated with noise exposure, it may subside or not. Think of tinnitus like you would of pain: Sure, pain hurts by-definition, but it is a symptom, not an illness. It can stem from many medical conditions, and it too can be temporary (acute) or chronic.
2. It is absolutely false to state that all folks with tinnitus have clinically significant hearing-loss. Many do, but quite a few don't. So please stop frightening your fellow musicians who tell you--usually desperately, seeking encouragement-- that they have tinnitus, with preachy statements that contain stern (and baseless) admonitions like "well, to protect WHAT'S LEFT OF your hearing" wear earplugs, etc. Wear earplugs? Most certainly! But "what's left of?!" Is that the way to talk to a terrified, depressed colleague?! Yes, it seems like such a statement would apply to one of us who in her/his mid-30s rquires high-power behind-the-ear hearing aids after years of playing rock concerts and indulging in loud personal listening habits. Even there, correlation does not equal causation: The person may have had a hereditary form of hearing loss that would have kicked in no matter what. We're all different.
3. Like s/o posted a long time ago, different people respond to high and sustained levels of sound differently. There is no way to predict the damage, so of course unless you PLAN or even just HOPE to die before you get "old," get yourself at least a few pairs of the one-size-fits all ER-20 relatively hi-fidelity "musicians' earplugs." Be prepared: Music will sound far better than through foam earplugs, but the "brilliance" will be much diminished. Oh well. And hey, much better: Instead of buying that "must have" $200 used bass or what not, go to an audiologist and get custom musician ear-plugs: The earmolds are made from impressions taken from YOUR ear-canals, so the fit will be much nicer that the "better than nothing" stuff you can get online.. I got the ER-25, the highest level of protection available in musicians' earplugs. The music sounds more natural through these plugs in comparison to the mass-produced ones. Does it sound like "the real thing?" No, but it sounds good enough, especially if you keep in mind that these plugs will help you continue to enjoy music with its high frequencies into old age. Think of how music sounds through 33dB foam earplugs. Now imagine that this was how things sounded to you with nothing stuffed in your ear-canals: Don't go there.
4. Example in Re #2: Although my tinnitus has been a constant buzzing and ringing companion for thirteen years now, my hearing tests (one @ the onset of the chronic tinnitus, the other before the fitting of the ear-plugs) revealed that my hearing was very acute and normal. After the second testing, which was by far the more thorough of the two (I was "a bit" older, see) the audiologist told me that my hearing was, in fact, way above average for my age-group. Like I said, tinnitus is a symptom: In my case, it is most likely a chronic symptom of the frequent excitation of my auditory cortex (that's deep in the brain, not in the ears, although the ears are the initial "doorway," yes) by very loud noises. Yes, my bands were loud, but warfare's infinitely louder. It added up, and what research is showing is that for people like me, all that noise exposure "rewires" the auditory nerve and the auditory cortex into a state of abnormal and constant excitation, which we perceive as phantom noises--tinnitus. And this happens irrespective of how well you hear.
5. This not just a bunch of med-talk: It's useful for musicians to know, and it's also encouraging for those of us who struggle with what we call amongst ourselves "T." In fact, understanding the many mechanisms of tinnitus &/or hearing loss has become a priority in the USA at long last. The VA reports that 1/3 of soldiers returning from deployment in Iraq have tinnitus, significant hearing loss, or both. Usually such estimates are on the low end, for political/legal reasons. Not surprised, are you?! At any rate, the Federal government is pumping a huge amount of money into grants for researchers with promising basic and applied research programs relevant to better understanding the mechanisms behind tinnitus, and ultimately actually helping folks with tinnitus. As for hearing loss, scientists are studying the cochlea of song-birds: Unlike humans, these birds regenerate damaged hair-cells. Once they can figure out how this can be induced in humans without triggering an out-of-control cancerous regeneration process, it will be possible to actually CURE hearing loss and deafness that is cochlear-based.
6. Did you know that tinnitus and/or hearing-loss is just as common (you "heard" me correctly) among classical musicians, especially those who sit in front of the brass... Yes, and violinists play their super-high-pitched instruments very close to one ear and guess what? That's right: The majority of them have quite a bit of hearing loss in that ear, and much less if any in the other. And most of them, irrespective of whether their hearing is compromised or not, have T in a big way.
Stop kicking yourselves for what is: It's not productive; it just adds to the depression & anxiety; and DEFINITELY stop pontificating at the terrified new members of the T club. When we were younger (and we mature at different rates), we believed or wished fervently that our music could not possibly have the damaging effect of plain old "noise." After all, this was art; our music was and is beautiful to us and those who are smart enough to appreciate it
. Ease up on yourself: You were intoxicated with the high of creating music as well as the high generated by very high levels of sound, which is why some people never get it and eventually do go essentially deaf.
I recommend that those of you suffering from tinnitus that does not fade away within 72-hrs tops see an ENT- or otology -physician, who will after a cursory exam refer you to an audiologist for thorough testing. No, there is no cure for tinnitus at this time, however, there are some excellent scientifically-based treatments that help many people immensely (e.g., Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, or TRT; Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, or CBT; and lots more). Also, tinnitus can stem from many different things. Please, do not let fear keep you ignorant of your condition. That state-of-being is far worse than being aware of what ails you, even if the news isn't that good.
Also, there is a wonderful org that is not just about hand-wringing and sharing woes. It provides cutting-edge info and referrals to specialists of all stripes for us T-club members. It's the ATA--the American Tinnitus Association. It's got a great website, and even greater people on staff. I know that there are similar orgs active in England, Germany and Israel, and I would imagine that such is the case in most countries. You owe it to yourself to find out. Refuse to be a victim of this condition; don't guilt yourself; don't let others guilt you with "I told you so" talk--it's cruel of them & please tell them that. Get earplugs suitable for musicians, preferably the custom ones (2/3 the price of a Squier and far more important for you). If you get in-the-ear monitors, that's nice, but if you crank them up they are no better than shoving your head into the PA/stacks/etc.
And be kind to yourselves: You're human. Humans make mistakes, and then the brave ones stand up, brush themselves off, and do what they can to correct these mistakes, even if merely partially. Believe it or not, a lot of good can come out a lot of misfortune. It does take time, but humbling experiences make us kinder people, far better people. The ego gets cut down to a more natural size. Humbler people are known to make far better music than the arrogant ones. Look around you; there are many examples to demonstrate this truism.
Good luck. My education didn't help me @ all in the beginning of my life with Mr. T, b/c I was too addicted to my playing and music plus the sheer intoxicating volume: When it was clear that my tinnitus was not going away, I was not in good shape. I remember spending an entire summer driving solo all over the USA in a tiny Toyota Tercel visiting people just so as not to be alone for one minute with the T. When people got tired of me and my woes, I hung out by fountains, waterfalls, anything that could drown out the "head noise." I didn't sleep; I'd wander from one bar to another. It was a miserable existence. But I am a better person now than I was pre-T (not that I'm recommending that you acquire this condition for self-improvement purposes!), and so can you. We all have it in us to turn the proverbial lemons into lemonade. Each one of us finds a different route to get there, but those of us who try hard enough get to a better place than we could ever envision. I promise. Going through the fire forges you into steel, modest steel.
But I am writing to give some suffering folks some hope, hopefully....
There are way too many misconceptions about tinnitus. First off, although those of us w/the real McCoy, chronic tinnitus, feel at times like we are about to go mad and even contemplate suicide (don't--a permanent solution to temporary depression is not the way), there are ways to greatly reduce the suffering. Masking helps many people. Just plug that word into your search engine, and see what you find. Theres a lot. Please, though: Do not build up false hopes buying those herbal or homeopathic "cures" for tinnitus. They are rackets rigged by people who cruelly feed on the frantic hopes of tinnitus sufferers. Notice how they claim that "studies show" that their junk works, but they never give you the references. RED LIGHT!
They are simply lying--their potions do not help at all, but there is real help available, once you overcome your hearing-clinic phobia, should you have it. If necessary, a clinical psychologist can do just that: Help you chuck that nasty phobia.Who am I to be talking about this? Good Q. OK: I'm a doc, a combat veteran, an electric bassist for two decades now, and I have tinnitus, not necessarily in that order. Out of desperation I tried every herbal prep from the placebo-nostrum "Ringstop" to ginkgo-leaf extract and other herbal preps to various vitamin combinations. BTW, ginkgo does possibly help those whose tinnitus stems from circulatory problems, but it also thins the blood & could be dangerous; talk to your doctor. Natural does not always mean safe. Snake venom is natural. Earthquakes are natural. Death can be natural.
1. Tinnitus is NOT an illness: It is a symptom of anything from significant hearing loss to cerumen (wax) impaction. When associated with noise exposure, it may subside or not. Think of tinnitus like you would of pain: Sure, pain hurts by-definition, but it is a symptom, not an illness. It can stem from many medical conditions, and it too can be temporary (acute) or chronic.
2. It is absolutely false to state that all folks with tinnitus have clinically significant hearing-loss. Many do, but quite a few don't. So please stop frightening your fellow musicians who tell you--usually desperately, seeking encouragement-- that they have tinnitus, with preachy statements that contain stern (and baseless) admonitions like "well, to protect WHAT'S LEFT OF your hearing" wear earplugs, etc. Wear earplugs? Most certainly! But "what's left of?!" Is that the way to talk to a terrified, depressed colleague?! Yes, it seems like such a statement would apply to one of us who in her/his mid-30s rquires high-power behind-the-ear hearing aids after years of playing rock concerts and indulging in loud personal listening habits. Even there, correlation does not equal causation: The person may have had a hereditary form of hearing loss that would have kicked in no matter what. We're all different.
3. Like s/o posted a long time ago, different people respond to high and sustained levels of sound differently. There is no way to predict the damage, so of course unless you PLAN or even just HOPE to die before you get "old," get yourself at least a few pairs of the one-size-fits all ER-20 relatively hi-fidelity "musicians' earplugs." Be prepared: Music will sound far better than through foam earplugs, but the "brilliance" will be much diminished. Oh well. And hey, much better: Instead of buying that "must have" $200 used bass or what not, go to an audiologist and get custom musician ear-plugs: The earmolds are made from impressions taken from YOUR ear-canals, so the fit will be much nicer that the "better than nothing" stuff you can get online.. I got the ER-25, the highest level of protection available in musicians' earplugs. The music sounds more natural through these plugs in comparison to the mass-produced ones. Does it sound like "the real thing?" No, but it sounds good enough, especially if you keep in mind that these plugs will help you continue to enjoy music with its high frequencies into old age. Think of how music sounds through 33dB foam earplugs. Now imagine that this was how things sounded to you with nothing stuffed in your ear-canals: Don't go there.
4. Example in Re #2: Although my tinnitus has been a constant buzzing and ringing companion for thirteen years now, my hearing tests (one @ the onset of the chronic tinnitus, the other before the fitting of the ear-plugs) revealed that my hearing was very acute and normal. After the second testing, which was by far the more thorough of the two (I was "a bit" older, see) the audiologist told me that my hearing was, in fact, way above average for my age-group. Like I said, tinnitus is a symptom: In my case, it is most likely a chronic symptom of the frequent excitation of my auditory cortex (that's deep in the brain, not in the ears, although the ears are the initial "doorway," yes) by very loud noises. Yes, my bands were loud, but warfare's infinitely louder. It added up, and what research is showing is that for people like me, all that noise exposure "rewires" the auditory nerve and the auditory cortex into a state of abnormal and constant excitation, which we perceive as phantom noises--tinnitus. And this happens irrespective of how well you hear.
5. This not just a bunch of med-talk: It's useful for musicians to know, and it's also encouraging for those of us who struggle with what we call amongst ourselves "T." In fact, understanding the many mechanisms of tinnitus &/or hearing loss has become a priority in the USA at long last. The VA reports that 1/3 of soldiers returning from deployment in Iraq have tinnitus, significant hearing loss, or both. Usually such estimates are on the low end, for political/legal reasons. Not surprised, are you?! At any rate, the Federal government is pumping a huge amount of money into grants for researchers with promising basic and applied research programs relevant to better understanding the mechanisms behind tinnitus, and ultimately actually helping folks with tinnitus. As for hearing loss, scientists are studying the cochlea of song-birds: Unlike humans, these birds regenerate damaged hair-cells. Once they can figure out how this can be induced in humans without triggering an out-of-control cancerous regeneration process, it will be possible to actually CURE hearing loss and deafness that is cochlear-based.
6. Did you know that tinnitus and/or hearing-loss is just as common (you "heard" me correctly) among classical musicians, especially those who sit in front of the brass... Yes, and violinists play their super-high-pitched instruments very close to one ear and guess what? That's right: The majority of them have quite a bit of hearing loss in that ear, and much less if any in the other. And most of them, irrespective of whether their hearing is compromised or not, have T in a big way.
Stop kicking yourselves for what is: It's not productive; it just adds to the depression & anxiety; and DEFINITELY stop pontificating at the terrified new members of the T club. When we were younger (and we mature at different rates), we believed or wished fervently that our music could not possibly have the damaging effect of plain old "noise." After all, this was art; our music was and is beautiful to us and those who are smart enough to appreciate it
. Ease up on yourself: You were intoxicated with the high of creating music as well as the high generated by very high levels of sound, which is why some people never get it and eventually do go essentially deaf.I recommend that those of you suffering from tinnitus that does not fade away within 72-hrs tops see an ENT- or otology -physician, who will after a cursory exam refer you to an audiologist for thorough testing. No, there is no cure for tinnitus at this time, however, there are some excellent scientifically-based treatments that help many people immensely (e.g., Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, or TRT; Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, or CBT; and lots more). Also, tinnitus can stem from many different things. Please, do not let fear keep you ignorant of your condition. That state-of-being is far worse than being aware of what ails you, even if the news isn't that good.
Also, there is a wonderful org that is not just about hand-wringing and sharing woes. It provides cutting-edge info and referrals to specialists of all stripes for us T-club members. It's the ATA--the American Tinnitus Association. It's got a great website, and even greater people on staff. I know that there are similar orgs active in England, Germany and Israel, and I would imagine that such is the case in most countries. You owe it to yourself to find out. Refuse to be a victim of this condition; don't guilt yourself; don't let others guilt you with "I told you so" talk--it's cruel of them & please tell them that. Get earplugs suitable for musicians, preferably the custom ones (2/3 the price of a Squier and far more important for you). If you get in-the-ear monitors, that's nice, but if you crank them up they are no better than shoving your head into the PA/stacks/etc.
And be kind to yourselves: You're human. Humans make mistakes, and then the brave ones stand up, brush themselves off, and do what they can to correct these mistakes, even if merely partially. Believe it or not, a lot of good can come out a lot of misfortune. It does take time, but humbling experiences make us kinder people, far better people. The ego gets cut down to a more natural size. Humbler people are known to make far better music than the arrogant ones. Look around you; there are many examples to demonstrate this truism.
Good luck. My education didn't help me @ all in the beginning of my life with Mr. T, b/c I was too addicted to my playing and music plus the sheer intoxicating volume: When it was clear that my tinnitus was not going away, I was not in good shape. I remember spending an entire summer driving solo all over the USA in a tiny Toyota Tercel visiting people just so as not to be alone for one minute with the T. When people got tired of me and my woes, I hung out by fountains, waterfalls, anything that could drown out the "head noise." I didn't sleep; I'd wander from one bar to another. It was a miserable existence. But I am a better person now than I was pre-T (not that I'm recommending that you acquire this condition for self-improvement purposes!), and so can you. We all have it in us to turn the proverbial lemons into lemonade. Each one of us finds a different route to get there, but those of us who try hard enough get to a better place than we could ever envision. I promise. Going through the fire forges you into steel, modest steel.
Megadan: Please, get the custom earplugs. You've been misinformed: The ER-25s attenuate @ 25 dB. Also, the dB attenuation printed on those drugstore foam-plug boxes is very misleading: It represents more than anything the fact that it cuts the highs by as much as 60 dB, and the mids and lows by FAR less. Because your bones conduct sound, the highest in-ear attenuation possible @ this time is 33 dB with earplugs intended for shooters (who are dealing with impulse noise well over 150 dB). But no audiologist is going to fit you with ER-25s (stay away from the ER-9s and ER-15s; they're not "strong" enough for you) before thoroughly testing your hearing. S/he will then answer all your Qs and address all your concerns regarding anything hearing-related, including the earplugs.
