Tinnitus

[SteveKD]

Hi, I remembered reading this thread last year and that a number of you seem very well informed about it. Could I have your opinions please.

A few days ago I noticed a ringing in one ear when playing the piano. At first I thought it was some sort of reflected sound off the wall next to me as I only heard it at the beginning of each chord I played. Turning my head and playing backwards revealed that wasn't the case. I then noticed I heard it whenever I whistled a note.

Doing google research (always dangerous with medical issues!) seems to show tinnitus in just one ear is not common and mention scary things like cancer. (This rang alarm bells for me as my best friend died of a brain tumour, she'd been suffering from tinnitus which suddenly disappeared after we went scuba diving, 6 months later she collapsed and was diagnosed).

I couldn't find any reference to tinnitus turning itself on and off like a compressor or gate.

any ideas please?
Steve

[Drew Stephenson]

Get yourself booked in for a check up with an audiologist.
Tinnitus does seem to be a fairly common side-effect from Covid-19, it's not yet clear whether these cases will clear up naturally over time or not.
Either way, get yourself checked by a professional first.

[ManFromGlass]

Wise words. The vaccine actually stopped my tinnitus for 2 days but now it comes back even stronger so I’m booking an appointment.

[Hugh Robjohns]

There are lots of possible causes of tinnitus, and most are benign, if annoying. Your symptoms could be something as simple as a build-up of wax resting on the eardrum...

So before dredging google and fearing the worst, visit your GP and/or a professional audiologist...

[SteveKD]

Thanks, it's just I was very surprised that the assumption is tinnitus effects both ears.

[James Perrett]

If you hear ringing in an ear temporarily for something like a minute or two, it could be the equivalent of a muscle spasm in your ear where one of the receptors at the end of the hair cells activates without any real stimulation. As I understand it, these episodes are fairly normal and nothing to be worried about. If it lasts more than a minute or two then it is worth getting checked out.

[SteveKD]

It's literally just for the 'attack' portion of notes played on a piano above mp/mf and disappears as the note fades.
I will of course get it checked out once lockdown eases.

[ManFromGlass]

I just wanted to pass this on from a musician innovator friend -
In his case he found his tinnitus became not so severe after he started using hearing aids.

“ Also, I’ve been doing some consulting for a company that makes the high-end stage in-ears that the big name artists use. we’re working on getting prosumer models that are much cheaper than their original models which cost about $5k and require ear molds. They sent me an early version that I’ve been wearing and loving. In addition to being in-ear monitors, each in-ear has a microphone on the outside and the software lets you add in a variable amount of ambient sound so you can hear your acoustic voice or instrument while maintaining the acoustic seal in the ear that’s required for low bass response. These sound amazing - much better low end than my hearing aids and I’ve been experimenting using them instead of my hearing aids, without external sound input. The iPhone app has excellent half-octave graphic EQ that goes from 20-20k and the sound is amazing. The price for these will be about $700 for these and we hope to get that down to about $300 for the next versions. I’ll keep you posted.”

[Rilan]

Hi guys! I suddenly got tinnitus and don't know how to deal with this... Tips are appreciated.

[muzines]

Yeah, I have had it for about 6 months now. It's pretty mild fortunately, but annoying. As far as I'm aware, the only thing you can really do is learn to live with it...

[Drew Stephenson]

Hi guys! I suddenly got tinnitus and don't know how to deal with this... Tips are appreciated.

Get properly checked out first.

[Sam Spoons]

Getting your ears checked for excess ear wax and having it removed can help but it appearing suddenly is a worry so I'll echo Drew and say get it checked out. But, have you done anything that could have led to it, exposure to loud noise, bang on the head, or something else?

[ManFromGlass]

I accidentally heard a few bars of a Justin Bieber tune. I better ask the audiologist about that . . .

[RichardT]

Hi guys! I suddenly got tinnitus and don't know how to deal with this... Tips are appreciated.

Get properly checked out first.

Definitely - tinnitus can have many causes and is linked to many other conditions. Get medical advice first of all.

[frandeponte]

Anybody tried CBD for their tinnitus? Does it help?

[ajay_m]

I haven't, but that is definitely a thought because I was vaping it for sciatica, where it definitely helps, and sadly my tinnitus has now recently developed into a problem with my right ear where any frequencies around 3KHz above a fairly modest level cause the ear to 'crackle'. This is rather distressing, like having a blown speaker, so that is a good idea; I need to get another vape cartridge, have the vape pen already. The Aztec brand is almost pure CBD and very effective, though not cheap. But one cartridge lasts quite a long time. There are liquids but they aren't generally very strong and I don't really think they are as effective.