Tinnitus

[Slim]

I think I've got tinnitus. It's subtle, but there's an ever-present faint electronic hissing sound in both ears. I can't even remember when it started; I went to a gig a couple of weeks ago and I think I knew I had it then, but I forgot about it and didn't take ear plugs.

It's very like the slight ringing in your ears that persisted a couple of days after a Motorhead gig.

It's not really distracting, it doesn't prevent me from sleeping, I'm not suffering any hearing loss and I can hear conversations as normal without any trouble. I'm most aware of it in the morning when I wake up. Most of the time I'm not consciously aware of it; it's just there like the sound from my computer fan, or air-conditioning, or the humming of a fridge.

From what my Google research tells me there's a chance it will go away, but I have a feeling it won't. I'll probably never hear complete silence again. But I'll be careful not to listen to music at excess volumes.

[David L]

I think I've got tinnitus. It's subtle, but there's an ever-present faint electronic hissing sound in both ears. I can't even remember when it started; I went to a gig a couple of weeks ago and I think I knew I had it then, but I forgot about it and didn't take ear plugs.

It's very like the slight ringing in your ears that persisted a couple of days after a Motorhead gig.

It's not really distracting, it doesn't prevent me from sleeping, I'm not suffering any hearing loss and I can hear conversations as normal without any trouble. I'm most aware of it in the morning when I wake up. Most of the time I'm not consciously aware of it; it's just there like the sound from my computer fan, or air-conditioning, or the humming of a fridge.

From what my Google research tells me there's a chance it will go away, but I have a feeling it won't. I'll probably never hear complete silence again. But I'll be careful not to listen to music at excess volumes.

Sorry to hear that. I hope it's only temporary.

I've tried ear plugs at gigs but they were rubbish, I just didn't like what they did to the sound. Maybe I should've persevered. I'm careful at home to not listen to music at high volumes, especially as most of my listening is on headphones.

[Nick]

Had high pitched tinnitus for many many years. Never goes, I just put up with it, it's a high pitched electronic sound, like the sound an old telly would make on switching off.I actually think its from my brain rather than my ears.

Tried reverse pitch settings on my headphones/ zinc tablets etc but nothing works. I can put up with it but I always question what I am missing from my hearing, but hearing tests have been ok. One of the worst aspects I find is that if I am in a crowd of loud talkers the sound gets jumbled and I struggle to pick up individual conversation.

I blame it on Loud gigs.

[Fishy]

My wife reckons her's started after a Rush show.... Doesn't bother her too much just a constant hum sometimes when there's no other noise...

[Slim]

Had high pitched tinnitus for many many years. Never goes, I just put up with it, it's a high pitched electronic sound, like the sound an old telly would make on switching off.

That's it exactly! Sorry to hear. Mine is not bothering me at all at the moment, in fact there's something almost comforting about it, hard to explain.

[captainkurtz]

I've worn earplugs at select gigs since R30.  The volume of those shows up until Glasgow was stupid. 

Whoever said 'if it's too loud, you're too old' deserves a slap.

I have a mild ringing too.  I sleep with foam earplugs which subconsciously help.

[Nickslikk2112]

I've got a constant high pitched sound in my ears. Had it years. When I worked at a Chemical Works, we got an annual medical, the company invested in a high tech hearing testing booth. The results of my test were - INDUSTRIAL DEAFNESS. The Doctor couldn't fathom out why an office worker had INDUSTRIAL DEAFNESS.

I didn't mention about sticking my head in Motorhead's bass bins on the Bomber tour...

[David L]

I've got a constant high pitched sound in my ears. Had it years. When I worked at a Chemical Works, we got an annual medical, the company invested in a high tech hearing testing booth. The results of my test were - INDUSTRIAL DEAFNESS. The Doctor couldn't fathom out why an office worker had INDUSTRIAL DEAFNESS.

I didn't mention about sticking my head in Motorhead's bass bins on the Bomber tour...

Stone Deaf Forever

[Slim]

So I was at a BSP gig last night, I took earplugs but I was slightly concerned to find that they didn't diminish the volume very much once I'd put them in. They did seem to attenuate some of the higher frequencies.

My ears are hissing a bit now but I hope that will did down a bit over the next 24 hrs.

I do have more powerful earplugs, the ones I used to use for shooting years ago. But they would have cut out a lot of the sound. They actually make you virtually deaf for most intents and purposes.

[Matt2112]

I certainly have tinnitus but generally only notice it when, say, I'm on a walk with the dog and I stop to take in the view in a quiet area. But even then it's not really intrusive.

I wear ear plugs when practising with the band but not during our occasional gigs. The hissing is obviously louder for a while after I've spent a couple of hours with a 4x12 right behind me, a wedge monitor in front of me and a large drum kit just to my left. And a screaming crowd, of course.

[Slim]

Oh dear, lets hope it dies down soon. your experience puts me off going to gigs.

It has actually died down to the usual level again, so perhaps the earplugs did help. However I will try a slightly more powerful pair next time.

[The Letter R]

My wife has had tinnitus for a few years now. She has issues in crowded situations where a lot of conversations are going on. She doesn't do that many gigs anymore but really enjoys live music so she has to be careful.
There have been some recent studies linking covid and the vaccines with increased numbers of people getting tinnitus or making it worse.
Unfortunately there is no cure although as someone else mentioned stress can make it worse.

[Slim]

I did wear a different pair of earplugs last night at another Sea Power gig; they did attenuate the higher frequencies noticeably without spoiling the fun. My ears aren't "ringing" this morning though I do have the usual background hiss.

Interestingly fatigue definitely makes it worse - the morning after a long bike ride for example, or after a late night it's definitely more apparent.

So far though it doesn't really bother me - I can still hear normally and it's not intrusive.

[Thenop]

Been drumming for ages and soon fond out I needed plugs to make it over 20 without hearing damage. Still, it is there, the high pithced beep that is. I listen to a lot of music with headphones or in-ears as well but it mostly bothers me in large(r) rooms when people are talking. I find I am having more difficulty understanding what people say, it frequency loss I guess.
It bothers me on and off, when stressed it execerbates, when I am tired as well. But when relaxed it is there but I hardly notice it. Something I need to learn to live with, I guess.

[Slim]

I saw Sea Power at a venue in Milton Keynes last night. Nice to see this, although I'd taken my own pair.