Hey Ya'll,
Well, as much as I hate to admit it...I guess I'm getting a bit older (gonna be 45 this summer). I've had problems with tinnitus (that wonderful "ringing in the ears") for quite some time but it really hasn't been that bad...certainly not as bad as some folks I'm sure. Up until this last year or so it's mainly been after being exposed to "loud music"...either my own during really loud practice seasons (which does happen on occasion), loud gigs or simply going to a loud concert...obviously stuff to be expected. From time to time I will also get random bouts of it...I'll be doing something and for no apparent reason my ears will start ringing...but this usually only lasts a minute or so then goes away.

Well especially over the past couple of months or so, I've been noticing that it's been happening...well...practically every night, regardless of whether I've been playing or not. Usually I settle in to bed at night and it seems to start just as I'm getting "comfy". It's not really bad or anything...again not as bad as some folks I'm sure and not bad enough to really be driving me nuts or anything but it is getting to the point that I am getting a bit concerned...I'm sure it's probably going to just keep getting worse as I get older.

Please keep in mind that I don't really work in a loud environment such as a factory or anything (although I did work in a machine shop for about a year back around '89). I'm a fine art photographer...mostly wildlife, critters and landscapes and such. Second to that I'm a "house-husband" (for lack of a better term) where I take care of the house as my wife is really the bread winner of the family (in addition to being a musician, she's a programmer for DEFAC), so except for music, my days are usually fairly quiet.

Now I -know- that tinnitus is a bit different for everyone who suffers from it. Once a few years back I was "comparing notes" with another guitar player bud of mine at the time and I had sat down with my keyboard/synth and had pretty closely replicated the sound I was hearing (which is my case is really high pitched and only moderately loud). He had said his was a MUCH lower pitch when he suffered with it and was a good deal louder...enough to give him a headache at times. I played the synth sound for my wife who doesn't suffer from this herself and she was really amazed that the sound didn't simply drive me insane...

So to cut to the chase, I was recently in a CVS pharmacy picking up some meds for my Dad (who's doing much better since his hip replacement surgery...he's back home and getting around pretty well) and I noticed a couple of over-the-counter treatments that claim they cure tinnitus. Unfortunately I don't remember the names of these products...one of them was something like "Ring-Stop" or "Ring-Ease" or something similar...no idea what the other was called but they were both right around $15'ish a bottle (I think). I had just glanced at them briefly...both seemed to be drops of some kind, along the homeopathic line of medication (herbals and such) and I think the treatment was something like 3-5 drops, 3 times a day or something similar. I made a quick mental note of it but haven't really had a chance to get back there and take a closer look.

Anyways, I'm wondering if anyone has tried any of these products yet and if so, what kind of results have you gotten with them? I am a very strong believer in homeopathic treatments and such so I have to admit this really has my curiosity. I am snooping around on Google but I was wondering if there are any other guitar players/musicians out there who have tried this stuff and how well it's worked for them?

I look forward to hearing some comments on this! Again it's not too bad for me yet but untreated, I'm sure it will be someday...and in my mind the best treatment is usually preventative.

As always, thank you!

Peace,
Jim

I only knew two people who for all intents and purposes were diagnosed with it as 'probably' incurable due to the fact that no prescription medication they took worked. They both went to hypnosis and that did work for them. One, in one shot, The other, in about two or three sessions. Obviously, YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

Sorry to say, damage to your hearing as you note is likely permanent in nature. I have had a ringing in my left ear for the past 29 years. Now, at age 56, my right is is joining in. I now have STEREO!

The only way to prevent it is to use hearing protection. Period. There is no cure.

There isn't a cure or any holistic remedies that I am familiar with. My best friends music career was ended by this disorder. He tried the expensive devices and other remedies with out any improvement.

Here is a link to the American Tinnitus Association.

http://www.ata.org/

There are also support groups and forums online to confide with.

I also have tinnitus. I never walk into a venue without my earplugs in. Unfortunately my damage is done. My hearing is OK, it is just the horrible never ending noise that I will have to live with for the rest of my life.
One thing is for certain, please try not to focus on the actual sound, this will make it more difficult to ignore. I know it is there, I am careful and cautious with my hearing protection, I just try to not focus on the sound if it is possible. this seems to bring it more in our conscious. otherwise, it can consume you and drive you nuts. Bottom line, it is a drag.

Be extra careful with the lower frequencies. Playing the bass doesn't help because unfortunately ear plugs offer very little protection below 500hz. So, even with 33db reduction plugs, you have to aware of the overall volume in relation to the decibels in the lower frequencies. If you have a db meter, set it for the "C' rating, this will indicate what is really going on with the bottom, and hence the overall potentially damaging output.

So, for all the booming stereos on the street that hear a 1/2 mile (about 800m) before they arrive, there is hope for a cure or at least a remedy.
once the problem becomes a overall public issue, maybe it will become a profitable venture to address the disorder.

Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Glaxo Smith Kline, Roche, etc... no pun intended, are listening?

Otherwise, don't hold your breath.

I think this raises an interesting question...

Ok, while I do certainly have more than just a "passing interesting" in homeopathic medicine, I'm certainly no doctor by ANY stretch of the imagination and as such, I could most certainly be wrong on this but it seems to me that "damage to your hearing" or "hearing loss" and tinnitus are actually two separate and distinct things...yes/no? I have certainly known people who have hearing issues...elderly folks and particularly 1 x-sister-in-law who is partially deaf, who certainly have "hearing loss" but don't suffer any apparent issues with tinnitus. Conversely, I've known at least a few people who do suffer from the ringing in the ears who don't have any apparent signs of actual hearing loss. While I haven't had an actual hearing test in quite a few years and I'm sure that my hearing probably isn't as good as it was when I was 20, I do feel safe in saying that any hearing loss I have experienced (if any) certainly isn't proportional to my problems with tinnitus...which is definitely getting worse.

Now please...I'm NOT trying to negate the comments about using "protection" here (condoms for your ears? Sorry...). Again I am a big believer in "prevention is the best cure". That said, at this point at least, no...I don't actually use any myself. I have tried various things such as "Hearos" over the years and frankly, they just annoy the living crap out of me. I know there are others who have used these quite successfully and claim that it's like listening to things "turned down" but to me things always sound "muted" instead and I really don't seem to experience the same frequency response while using them (err...I hope that made sense). I have looked in to those new "in ear monitors" and they do seem like they'd be a great solution but for now they are simply out of my price range. That said, I -do- certainly and wholeheartedly encourage others to use hearing protection!

Again though, that's not really the question or point...it really seems to me that "hearing loss" and "tinnitus" are two very separate and distinct issues. I guess that tinnitus could be considered as some type of "damage to the hearing" but I thought it was important to make some for of differentiation there.




Hey Martian,
Thank you for the comment...I didn't know there were any prescription treatments out there (not that I've actually asked or did any research). I'll certainly have to look in to that.

As far as the hypnosis goes...ehhhh...I'm more than a bit sketchy on that one. At best I think that hypnosis is really a hit or miss thing...for example I've heard of people who have used it successfully to quite smoking where as there are others who have tried it with no effect at all. For me this just raises the question of "with the person who used hypnosis successfully...was it really the hypnosis or was it simply that it gave them something to believe in other than themselves?" (again hope that made sense). I don't mean for this to offend anyone but I typically tend to believe that a great many people are simply very weak-minded fools who will believe anything if it's told to them by the right person. For example, look at how many people still believe in "religion" regardless of facts or reason...they believe because they either want to believe or because someone such as a parent or priest or someone told them to believe. Doesn't make it real by any stretch of the imagination, but they believe it is. Hypnosis in my mind is the exact same way...is it really the hypnotism or is it simply the person being hypnotized? If hypnotism were truly "real", then it should work on everyone, every time...but it doesn't.

Anyways, while I'm still curious about these OTC treatments, I'll do a little digging on prescription stuff for tinnitus...and I'll try and remember to ask about it next time I see a doctor. Thanks!

Peace,
Jim

I certainly agree that "not focusing on it" is certainly a good approach. I suspect that my tinnitus is probably there all of the time but that it's not really bad enough (yet) for me to hear it at times other than when I'm "resting" (or again after being exposed to loud music). Interestingly enough, I have been finding that if I do focus on it while I'm falling asleep, it seems to help me fall asleep faster...kind of along the lines of a "white noise generator" if you will (although a high pitched one). Strange...

I also agree with your comments about these idiots with the loud car stereos. Yea...ok...I was a kid once myself and my buds and I certainly had our loud car stereos as well but nothing like today. I could be wrong but to me it will be really amazing if half these kids today have any hearing at all by the time their 40. It's sad really...such a precious thing to loose all for the sake of being "cool".

I have to admit that I am curious about one thing though...your comments about frequency. Again I'm certainly no expert at all on this but I was always under the impression that it was the loud HIGH frequencies that did the most damage to a person's hearing and not the low frequencies...? Hhmmm.....

Peace,
Jim

Not necessarily so. My left ear was damaged by a motorcycle exhaust. It was not a high frequency sound.

Any extremely loud noise or sustained exposure to a "loud enough" noise will do the trick. There is no magical formula to avoid certain frequencies, at least none that I am aware.

I did see an article about a study where they used exposure to a certain frequency that "matched" the frequency that the tinnitus sufferer was hearing and that treatment was known to have lessened the tinnitus by causing the cilia in the ear to straighten out somewhat. I have heard no more about it. No pun intended.

There is no "treatment" for permanent tinnitus. All you can do is wear earplugs when playing loudly. Gotta protect what's left.

RK

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Hi Lomitus,I was having problems with my ears,the left one especially and would get a sensation like something sharp was getting plunged in my ear whenever I played through an amp at even fairly low volumes.This progressed and worsened to the point that if someone spoke loudly or laughed loudly I'd actually get intense pain.I went to an audiologist and even though I played at high volumes for 35 yrs each ear tested at 100%.The verdict was that despite the years of abuse my hearing is way above normal.Anyway he suggested that I steer clear of loud noises for a couple of months and buy a good set of ear plugs made especially for musicians,I did both and it has cleared up.I don't know if this would work for you as you have the ringing type but you never know.Good Luck.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I'm not saying this is a cure - but there is a body of clinical evidence to support the use of the herb Gingko Biloba. There's some anecdotal evidence that it may reduce tinnitus - and it seems to have reduced mine. But all that is really established is that it increases peripheral circulation, in the fine veins and capillaries. It's been used to try and reverse memory loss in old people, because it's proven to increase blood flow to the brain, but again there's no proof it's effective for that.
However, I took it in small doses as an OTC herbal supplement on and off for years and over that time my tinnitus faded away, to the point where it is gone most of the time. I can't prove it, and it could have been other factors, but the ringing is gone for me, and I'm happy about that.

_________________
"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

Check out this link & note the even line for freq. with the "C" weighted rating. Bottom line, even with hearing protection, although the high to mid freq. are reduced, little if none is done to reduce the lower freq., hence the danger (even with plugs) of hearing damage due to continuous exposure.

http://www.e-a-r.com/pdf/hearingcons/FAQdba.pdf

For fun, take a db meter and set for a "A" (it will be much lower overall db level ) then "C" rating in your vehicle, you will be shocked how much sound pressure your ears are taking just from the road noise in the muffled lower freq. that will result in hearing damage.

Yea, your correct tinnitus and hearing loss are two different problems. But one is certain, continuous exposure to dangerous levels of sound pressure will likely cause tinnitus. hence the ringing you get after a concert or gig. Repeated exposure can eventually and will likely (as I know) make it a permanent unwanted guest in your head.

Lastly, I am glad your tinnitus helps you fall asleep. You should be grateful because that is a rare situation. I personally would opt for silence or my choice of a noise generator, as opposed to a screeching & sometimes varying source of potential insanity. Keep in mind that your sound that you hear can change for the worse, because belief me with the lack of medical advancement, both eastern and western, things don't improve with the human body as we age, we can only do the best we can to milk these tissues for all they are worth while they slowly and inevitably decline. So please protect your ears, become familiar what "C" weighted db level is (full bandwidth), so you don't trade in your sleeping aid for a unbearable noise in which you will need a mechanical noise generator to help you fall asleep.

Someone answer the phone........

I have suffered with tinnitus since my late teens (I'm 53 now). Loud music, loud machines, and loud guns all played a part. Then I added in loud motorcycles, loud trucks, loud racecars, loud concerts and who knows what all else.
I have not heard of anything that actually works.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

mines kicked off with a vengence about the age of 16 , i was playing bass in a punk band and we done a gig in the basement in glasgow (under the mayfair ) and i was stuck next to a huge pa stack , my right ear has been goosed since that day after that i used to use the filters from cigs to help a wee bit , but working in the building trade has taken it's toll over the years as well , and a love of 100 watt marshall amps doesn't help so if anyone has a cure for the fire alarm in my head just gimme a shout

_________________

I've been with the ringing for decades, caused by many years of loud impact print machines and those odd banging/booming sounds that occasionally happen when you do some military service.
(I did not mention loud music might be a factor when I was being tested)
The tests show the haring is definitely reduced and I should qualify for hearing aid assistance (dang things are really expensive) when I hit the appropriate older age (only 57 at this point).

Hearing damage is cumulative, can be caused by repeated exposure to sounds over 90Db for prolonged periods. And the effects can show up years even decades after the damage was done.
The stuff that claims to restore hearing is mostly a joke, the damage is caused by the tiny hair cells in you ears being damaged and eventually dieing off.
A web site with some interesting info http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.php

Mostly too late for me, but now I always carry ear protection with me hoping to hang on to what I've still got.

Can't wait for all the guys with the annoying pintos/hondas that are powered by 12000 watt subs to wake up one day and not be able to hear anything.

_________________
Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

Ok...not going to debate any of the comments here but simply go back to my original question...I take it no one has actually tried any of these OTC treatments? I'll have to take a look at the names (and ingredients) in the next day or two and I'll post them back here...

Nickbeatnik...
While I haven't heard of it in reference to treatment of tinnitus, yes...I do know about Ginko Biloba as a homeopathic treatment for other ailments, in regards to increasing blood flow. I'll have to look at the OTC's...I suspect that could certainly be one of the ingredients.

It's a shame that there isn't more research on herbals and such...some of them do have well earned reputations for being very effective. At the risk of sounding paranoid, I suspect this is more of a pharmaceutical conspiracy more than anything...the big pharm's don't want people using inexpensive, easy to obtain treatments for things that they can charge -A LOT- of money for with prescription meds.

Anyways, I'll look in to the Ginko Biloba...if nothing else my memory isn't what it used to be 20 years ago either! LOL!!!

Peace,
Jim