Let's talk about TINNITUS
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
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Rick Beato: • Tinnitus: The Musician...
In the Mix: • Is Music Production Da...
Andrew Huang: • My hearing loss is get...
Shawn Crowder: • Save Your Ears (before...
00:00 One Billion Young People
01:10 My Own Hearing Loss
01:50 Awareness and prevention
02:11 Decibels
03:25 Lessen the risk
03:54 Pre-order my debut album!
04:10 The Studies
07:04 Tinnitus 🥁
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Thank you Mary Spender 😊
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Never recovered from wearing headphones on film sets for 12 hours a day. Ring ring!!!
According to another recent study, the study you mentioned is largely false… according to it, all these previous studies didn’t different music from loud noise. I can send you the link to it if you want, might be good to correct the video as in my opinion, as I think all aspect of this controversial topic should be considered!!!
Best, Jonathan
@@jimi272 Well, that's just one of the problems with pooled analysis. Epidemiologicla research is difficult, and if you had even a passing familiarity with it, you'd know that, and understand that the study in question was never intended as definitive reasearch.
Laypeople gonna layperson, I guess.
I have developed tinnitus after many years playing in bands, attending loud music venues and concerts, and occasionally cranking up the loudspeakers at home. There is no place on earth that is quiet to me anymore as there is this constant high pitched ringing in my head. Mary is absolutely truthful in everything she says in her video and we must make sure that the younger generations know how to protect their hearing.
I've had tinnitus since about age 30. I'm lucky, though, because it's not extreme and usually sounds like birds chirping. I go long periods without noticing or thinking about it. What bothers me the most is not being able to experience real quietness like I used to. I can't even imagine what it could be like.
My hearing is poor enough that I eventually got hearing aids, and they are great. I have heard that they can help tinnitus sufferers. Hard to say in my case, they seem to sometimes replace the bird chirps with a soft white noise that is easier to ignore.
Not sure what caused my tinnitus, I was in a band for a few years in high school, but have no idea of the decibels we generated.
I got hearing aides at age 50. I’m not at all bothered by that fact. I know I influenced a few co workers my age to get them too. I’d have to say I loved loud music as a teen and was a budding audiophile in my 20’s. I got a manufacturing job where 120db is normal. Earplugs were worn and when needed earmuffs included. Problem is you have a hard time communicating with a coworker when its most critical (riveting aircraft skins is a 2 person job) so you’d remove half an ear muff to hear better. Just as another person is blasting away with a rivet gun. Hearing loss took 20 years to manifest itself and now I have to use noise cancelling ear muffs to help in a “white noise” air handler environment. Frequency of your hearing loss is the key. Mine is mid frequency where most voices exist. So i found like Dave Grohl said, I’ve been reading lips for years. I have to but context is important. Hearing aides have fixed my prior tinnitus but I’d rather have my hearing back. I’m still learning guitar, piano and drums and I hope my hearing stays stable enough to enjoy those hobbies into retirement.
Hey, we flew airplanes without headsets, and fired shotguns. And cranked up the Vox to 11. Yeah, I wish the sounds would go away. My audiologist humored me and we nailed down the frequencies!
If I knew back then, what I know now ...
For the common simple NOT CONSTANT "ringing ear", white noise calms the ear to stop it. Cup two hands together so sound bounces into your ear and make SHHHHHH shower sound with your mouth, time needed will vary. This is not guaranteed for a more serious ear issue.
I think it's important to note that the decibel scale is logarithmic. Every 10dB is a doubling of sound energy. So 90dB is twice as loud as 80dB. 100dB is 4 times louder than 80dB. 110dB is 8 times louder than 80dB. I've had so many people tell me "it's only 20dB louder, that's not much.". They simply don't understand the reality.
Underrated comment
You're right, but you're wrong. It's logarithmic, but it isn't doubling, it's 10x for each 10dB, so 110dB is 1,000 times louder than 80dB
@@chriswest1996 3 dB is twice.
@@alecepting1371 3dB increase requires double the power to a speaker able to produce it. If a speaker puts out 100dB with 20 watts, it will need 40 watts to put out 103dB... and 80 watts to put out 106dB, etc. So you are correct in terms of power requirement. But the OP is correct also in terms of perceived loudness to the human ear.
Also worth bearing in mind that distance from the sound source dramatically reduces the energy of the sound wave.
Double the distance from the sound source and you effectively lose 6dB.
Yup. I'm a musician myself and I always pride myself in taking care of my hearing. I played ONE gig where I had forgotten my ear protectors, and that did it. I got tinnitus ever since. You do need to be careful EVERY time. You never know what situation could affect you for the rest of your life...
As a kid through teens, I used to go shooting in the woods with my father and we never wore protection (yes, am that old when folks didn't do that. Now, like smoking, you wonder - was 'no-protection' ever a thing, really?). As a lefty, I think that explains my predominantly left-side tinnitus, but like most with a number of other at least moderately bad indiscretions over time, I think attendance at a particularly rockin' concert fifteen years ago sealed the deal - 2nd row at an arena, sitting to the side in front of a major stack of Marshalls and speaker towers. That was really bad. I was really kicking myself for no protection as I should've known better by then.
I'm a drummer.
Protected my hearing for decades.
ONE street drummer wailed on a Roc Bloc and BAM! Utter pain in both ears....and I had a new friend that never shuts up, and yeah, I'm listening to it right now.
That was Sept 27th, 2017.
I wish I could get my hands on that guy for just two minutes.
The same here, I didnt have plugs for 15 minutes during music video recording... It was 6 months ago and still have it. It changed my life.
Same here, I grew up playing drums and when I was a teenager one of my bandmates' mom was actually an audiologist - so she insisted we always wear ear plugs during practice. From there on out it become a habit I took pride in, whether I was performing or simply going to a concert - always wore protection. Then earlier this year I ended up at a last-minute friend's concert without protection, where I was standing fairly close to the mains, and since then the ringing is just kinda always there. 😿
I've been wearing earplugs (rated at 32 dB sound reduction) at concerts since my early 20s. It actually makes the music better -- I can hear it completely clearly while still feeling the vibrations in my body. My tinnitus hasn't gotten any worse, that I can tell, since I started wearing them.
Yes, because pretty much every concert is objectively way too loud. It's a weird cultural thing, where they think you have to be assaulted by the sound. Maybe they're worried if you can hear anything else you might not be paying attention.
Which ones do you use? Do you have any recommendations or things I should look out for? I'm using those cheap ones that you get free at venues, but I probably need ones that are small enough for my ear canal. The standard ones are too big to fit. I already have some intermittent tinnitus. Had grommets as a kid and I struggle to hear if multiple sounds are happening. So I really need to protect myself from a further decline.
@Christina I'm not the OP but I like the cheap high-fidelity earplugs with the triple flanges and a flat filter on the end. I've got them from Eargasm and many other brands seem to be the same product
@@Void-Realm It depends on where you're using them.
For the absurd volume of concerts, I use Mack's foam earplugs and they sound clear. But at mid-loud levels they sound a little muffled. Also, they may feel uncomfortable after some time if you have thinner ear canals.
For mid-loud situations (like band practice), Eargasm is the way to go and they have different sizes. They're specifically designed for clarity of sound and attenuate by 21-23dB vs the 32dB of Mack's.
@@Void-Realm I struggle with the disposable ear plugs (I ride a motorcycle). I find the custom fit silicone ones are great, easy to fit and carry. Most hearing specialists do them, worth the money for the piece of mind that they fit properly. They are in the region of £60 to £150 a pair.
I’ve had tinnitus since 1997 when I turn 28 years old. Wish I would’ve been told about using earplugs when I was a DJ when I was younger. No one talked about it. These videos are so important preach on Mary appreciate you.
You and I are the same age and it was probably about the same time that I noticed my tinnitus. The biggest advice I have for young musicians (and car guys ... and shooters ... and fabricators ... and wood workers) is to always wear your ear pro.
I've had tinnitus since a similar age, getting louder more recently, but I don't recall ever participating in any activity that would damage my hearing.
@@OliverBatchelor Note that its not always loud noise that causes it (I'm pretty sure it is for me though). Tinnitus can also be caused by (or exacerbated by) other medical issues (particularly cardio-vascular), or just good old fashioned aging.
@@Zundfolge Yes. Wear Ear Plugs. I never did. Thought I was indestructible. I now have a permanent ring tone in my left ear, where I placed the headphones while spinning records. As a result I can no longer use headphones as any loud sound close to my ears causes pain.
@@OliverBatchelor It can be any combination of loud sounds that can cause it over time. I used to be in a support group for Tinnitus. I had to consult a mother and daughter once who went to a Motley Crew concert together to celebrate only to both come home with Tinnitus. One concert ruined their hearing.
I've been a lead singer in a very loud Canadian pop band for 40 years now and I've literally plugged my ears onstage for the last 20. I mean plugged! I hear the music on stage way better than before and although I do have a bit of tinnitus (bearable) I haven't lost any of my hearing abilities and I'm 65 years old. Cheers!
Wow, you just took me back to being a kid in Ottawa. I believe I liked The Box's "Closer Together" the best but I'd have to go back and listen. Really liked your band, thanks!
Wasn't hearing damage the reason Brian Johnson of AC DC fame, was forced to take a long break in 2016 ?
@@brianwhittington5086 Yes, but a very new and different treatment method got him up and running again. Not so sure about the rest of the band though. A lot of mileage on those guys.
@robertthurman9866 Yes, they've lived the rock n roll lifestyle to excess. The way Angus runs around, he must wear out a pair of shoes each month 😁
@@theissancowbell That's the point I tried to make for so many years as a lead singer that I finally gave up...
Thanks for this. One result of hearing loss you didn't mention is an increasing sense of isolation, which can lead to depression. After a while, you get tired of constantly asking "What?" - and you can tell people become more annoyed each time you do - so you stop asking. You only catch parts of conversations, so you often stop bothering to stay engaged at all. You retreat, alone, into your own silent bubble (silent except for the tinnitus).
I was not a musician, attended few loud concerts as a youth, did not live in an especially loud environment, but have always preferred listening to music with over-the-ear headphones. Now, at 68, with tinnitus, I face the dilemma of not being able to hear very well, so I turn the volume up in my headphones, which surely is damaging my hearing more, which means I'll need to turn it up even louder in the future. Advice from older people to younger people too often falls, ironically, on deaf ears, but I urge all young people to take hearing protection seriously, or you will regret it.
I have to wear over-the-ear headphones. Ear-bud type are uncomfortable in my left ear and fall out of my right ear because the ear canal is too big. Ear plugs are fine because they expand.
Have you tried bone conduction headphones? Shokz is the most popular brand. The sound quality is not as good as normal headphones but it definitely saves your hearing! To make it sound slightly better, they can be used together with earplugs.
I completely identify with everything you wrote here. In our youth, we all feel indestructible and it is almost 'natural' to disregard the inconvenient words of advice from the oh-so-boring elders. But yes, today I understand that they really did know more than me... We always find these things out too late, alas.
I am slightly older, have had tinnitus since my mid 50s. You describe perfectly the tragedy of aquiring the wisdom you need 30/40 years after you needed it. As a teen I would never have started smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and eating all the worst foods for health. Oh well, maybe our future AI overlords WILL know better :)
I have a brother who is developing and has severe hearing loss and he is now in this boat. He denies he has hearing loss and tells his grown adult kids he just is not paying attention to them , or anyone else for that matter. He only knows you are trying to talk to him and you spin him around look him in the eye and say something to him. Then he gets mad and says he can hear you ok!!
I have tinnitus for about 6 years now, I was a sound engineer in a live band, at one night after a gig the ringing didn’t stop, I was in panic, I suffered from depression for months, now I’ve learned to live with it.
Thank you Mary for making this video.
Tinnitus sucks. I've got it permanently already at the ripe age of 24. Some days it causes me extreme anxiety. Mine is not extremely loud but still noticeable at many times throughout my daily life. I've had to adapt my habits to help distract from it and lessen the anxiety when I do notice it. It's part of life for many of us. And I wish there was a cure. All we can do is hope for a better day and keep going. Don't let the buzz, whoosh, or ringing get you down. Good luck everybody.
I've got weird thing going on with my ears, its bizarre, like whooshing and so forth, I did something to my ear one day and woke up ringing so loud, extremely loud, I've had ringing from earwax so I went on a crusade to remove the wax and that helped sum, but now and again it rings so loud I think it's something from somewhere, I've listened to loud music, played loud guitars, worked construction and experienced helmet noise to the point my ears rings when I am done riding over 50 years now..
that day woke up my ears ringing super loud I remembered doing something to my ear but not exactly what, today it's just a fog, don't get old those things happen.. I thought tinnitus was from an infection like mold something I dont think its that it goes away for weeks, I believe I have a few things going on, exactly what I dunno, someo noise some wax, more wax that anything else, I do remember sticking my finger in that same ear and pushing a bunch of wax down there, prolly still there, doc looked said it all looks good? hale I dunno, crank up the tunes or the guitar and it goes away... lol
also I get odd nasal stuff all the time since I moved, allergies I believe high desert pollen, bt it can be so dry it gives me headaches to dripping the next day.. so odd
I've had mine for the past 2.5 years now (got it from an ear infection). The anxiety is crippling sometimes, but I just keep going on! We got this.
HeyI felt the same way, I’m years into it, I felt the same way for the first couple years, now it’s more than manageable, I try to see it as two separate problems, anxiety and tinnitus, they are separate, focusing on my physical and mental health has helped immensely, good luck! ❤️❤️❤️
When I was in high school, I woke up one morning with a feeling that my right ear was blocked. It wasn't. The hearing had simply diminished on that side, and there was a constant ringing in that ear. I went to my doctor, then to specialists, and there was nothing to be done. I'm now in my sixties, and the tinnitus has never gone away. I don't always notice it, and I can still hear out of my right ear (though in a diminished capacity), but it's always there. I'm aware of it right now, because I just watched a video about it 🙂, and I notice it when my surroundings are very quiet, but fortunately it doesn't seem to have negatively impacted my ability to experience the world. But to this day, I still don't know what caused it. It literally just appeared overnight. Puzzling and frustrating. Thank you for this video, and thanks to anyone who read this entire lengthy comment. Cheers!
Same with me. I was drifting to sleep and heard a ringing noise get louder and louder.. I jolted awake and ever since my tinnitus hasn't gone away.
Really good video Mary. I’m a pro sound engineer with tinnitus and can attest to the fact that it’s a really big deal in music and sound engineering circles. You addressed all the main causes and solutions very accurately. For those who get tinnitus it can be incredibly anxiety laden, potentially leading to depression. It physically depletes you as it affects sleep which exacerbates the issues. A couple thoughts for anyone getting tinnitus. Firstly know that you are not alone, and that there is help available in a variety of paths. Start with a medical exam to rule out (or address) an illness such as Meunier’s disease. Second get a hearing test with a professional audiologist. Those audiologists who specialize in tinnitus are preferred as they will run a wide frequency test and identify the level/loudness of your tinnitus with matching tones. It’s very common that your tinnitus frequency will match a dip in your hearing response. Mine is at 12.5khz with a lower harmonic. Third get some counseling, preferable CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). A simplistic view of this is that you learn to reframe the problem and decide that the tinnitus does not matter. It’s very effective. Forth, start with tinnitus retraining therapy. This sounds fancy, but in essence it means running relatively low level steady state noise (pink noise or waves, etc) for multiple hours a day. I used Aftershox bone conduction headphones with low level noise for about 6 months. Fifth, get with your doctor to get advice on medication that will stabilize you if you are having anxiety attacks, help you to sleep and reduce depression if you are experiencing that. Keep in mind that tinnitus is literally in your mind unless it’s a medical illness of the ear or generated by ototoxic drugs. The working theory is that your brain goes into protect mode and turns up your hearing at the frequency of hearing loss. Your body can react as if you are under threat and go into panic mode. But it’s not real and once you learn that, it settles down. Sixth, you probably know several people who suffer from tinnitus, some who might have had it for years. Taking to them helps as most will say “yeah I have ringing in my ears all the time, but it’s no big deal, you get used to it and grow to accept it”. Seriously, you will get used to it and it won’t rule your life. Finally, for goodness sake DO NOT watch the flaky videos that promise total recovery if you will just tap on the back or your head, or take high doses of B12 and any of the other snake oil offerings that run around You Tube.
Again, Mary thanks for putting out such an important and well rehearsed video.
Very well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Wonderful explanation.
I had tinnitus so bad I felt like I was gonna pass out if I focused on the noise. However there's two things that quite literally cured me of it. A year later, and it's completely gone.
I can't even remember the pitch of the sound.
Firstly, I knew the noise was all in my mind, because of the type of work I used to do (worked in a loud kitchen, lots of noise and stress combined) and the high-pitched whine suddenly stuck in my head one night rather than dissipate the way it always did. This got me worked up for weeks, as the noise only got worse. I tried to drown it out with radio, TV, etc. and this only got me through the night. You can train yourself not to think about it and this helps but it's always there, and it'll come back and bite you if you don't tackle the source of it.
So here's how I got rid of it completely. One of the KEY things that brought it on and what I believe causes it is CAFFEINE. It was over-stimulating my senses and I knew it, even if I had one sip of coffee before work. People underestimate how much of an addictive drug caffeine is, and how it changes your perception and the way you concentrate on things (esp. NOISE!!!).
When I cut it out COMPLETELY, cold turkey, I started to focus on other things, and the noise became something in the back of my head that I had to actually think about in order to start hearing it again. 1-2 weeks of no caffeine whatsoever, and I actually started to forget that I had tinnitus. That deep ringing noise emanating from the middle of my head had subsided, and was eventually gone. I only ever have decaf coffee now, and even then I try to limit that.
The other thing that seriously helped is this incredible thing called Lavender. No, not chamomile. Chamomile is a sedative that makes you sleepy, it does not help whatsoever.
Lavender on the other hand calms and relaxes both your senses and your nerves; the exact opposite of what a stimulant like caffeine does.
When I couldn't take the noise, I would steep a teaspoon and a half of lavender buds. As soon as I drank, the noise fizzled away and was almost unnoticeable.
It also counteracts the anxious/jittering effects of caffeine, so if you really need that morning cup, try adding pure lavender to it.
Hope this helps anyone dealing with tinnitus or anxiety. I'm also curious why nobody mentions either of these things (caffeine & lavender). I'd say anyone with tinnitus needs to be prescribed lavender and told to cut out all caffeine *completely,* without hesitation. but I'm no doctor =)
I always thought lavender helped me too. I’m going through a setback and lavender pills help me get through a bad bout of tinnitus.
Craig, may I repost your comment on the Facebook Tinnitus Sufferers page? I am a musician/producer, and I think that your advice would be very helpful. It's scary how many people are not only depressed, but turning to snake oil and conspiracy theories for comfort.
Hi Carlos, happy to have you repost it.
I've had tinnitus for decades. As a teen in the late 70's/early 80's I listened to music at obscene levels, both with and without headphones. It's too late for me to say "I wish I'd made better decisions" because my hearing is already compromised.
Thank you for keeping this important topic in the forefront, Mary.
I went to see Mephistopheles down at the cross road and asked if he could fix the ringing in my ears. He said, "we only do blues guitar stuff here". The moral is, don't go hear Hendrix live like I did w/o ear protection. In fact, you should always carry (don't skimp on quality) ear protection with you.
Thank you Mary for bringing this awareness. I’ve had tinnitus for about 25 years, I’m only 39 years old… so almost 2/3rds of my life.
Like most people, I used to listen to loud music, loud concerts, playing guitar, and worked in a factory with heavy machinery to get enough money to go to university.
I went to a hearing specialist about 10 years ago and was diagnosed with hearing loss and mild and constant tinnitus. I was told that my hearing will only get worse as the damage has already been done and my hearing was at a level of a 65 year old (I was 30 at the time). Pretty unfortunate, but what’s done is done.
People need to realise that they need to do everything to protect their hearing, as if you damage it, you won’t get it back.
I’m 26 years old bassist and a singer with tinnitus. I really wish I knew more when I was younger. Thank you for spreading awareness and for making this video! 🙏
I've had chronic tinnitus for three or four years now, and although things got pretty dark when I had to accept that it was probably never going to stop, now it almost never bothers me at all. I can go for weeks without even noticing it, and when I do notice it, I don't care, and it quickly escapes my notice again.
One part of my turnaround was learning the details of my hearing loss and the ways I can keep it from getting worse, which helped me to stop freaking out about that. (I'm very glad to see Mary spreading the word about this!) But I think the biggest thing was learning about habituation-sweet, sweet habituation. It turns out that worrying about your tinnitus is exactly what makes it worse, and if you can stop ruminating on it, your mind will learn to tune it out just like it tunes out the feeling of your clothes on your body or seeing your nose out of the corner of your eye. This is easier said than done when you're deep in the anxiety, but like Mary mentioned, there are tools that can help. My favorite resource on this was Dr. Bruce Hubbard, who has a website called CBT for Tinnitus. For me, just reading his story and watching his webinars helped so much that I didn't end up needing his services.
For others still struggling, please know that temporary setbacks are just a part of the process, and you can habituate no matter how bad it seems (chances are it's largely psychosomatic). Good luck! ❤
Dr. Hubbard treated me and I have completely habituated.
I used to play in bands with no ear protection. We'd talk about how cool it was that our ears would be ringing hours after a gig. "Yeah man, it's rock-n-roll!" In the middle of the night, I got wakened up by my right ear screaming with this constant high pitched tone that I thought I would drive me insane.
Welcome to tinnitus. It'll never go away, so if you have it - make friends with it....that's what I did. Otherwise, people have gone insane from it. And I use ear protection when I'm around anything that could damage my hearing further.
If you're a musician, and you don't have it yet - use ear plugs NOW. They make one specifically designed for musicians, and they're not expensive. Hearing loss is very expensive.
exactly...make friends with it because it aint going anywhere. I use it as an excuse now to ignore people talking somtimes lol
I'll have to try that one LOL. I've tried listening to it and try to and find the note that it's closest to, then play scales or chords and sometimes that drowns it out better. Honestly, after this long, I don't notice it much unless I allow it to.
That's right!! I have a pair that look like little rubber Christmas trees, and they do a much better job. By the time I learned about the plugs for musicians, I had stopped playing in bands for other reasons.
@@fibonacho it's weird that you say that, cause (at least according to the manufacturer) the least they attenuate, in the low hz, is nearly 30db. Maybe it's matter of a different brand, because the one I looked at is a pretty big and seems rather trusted.
I'm 18. Got diagnosed with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss a couple of weeks back. Tinnitus comes with the package.
It was pretty scary for the first week, hearing a constant ringing in my ears and it caused anxiety bad enough to further deteriorate my health.
It takes some getting used to, but you eventually get to a point you only hear the ringing when try and pay attention to it. While that's relief, I still am scared about loss more of my hearing.
I don't even expose myself to loud sounds or play music at a high volume.
Would be cool if someone comes up with a cure.
Thanks for making this video.
Thank you for producing this video. I am 43 years old, a metal fan, and have always used common sense with my sound levels. My hearing is great. I avoid hearing fatigue and because of my diligence my ears are doing great. Take this serious and rock on. 🤘
As a musician, tinnitus has increased and become an issue the past five years. Previously it had come and gone but it feels more like it's here (hear) to stay. I'm 65 and have decreased my professional playing and focused more on tutoring my youngest son's enthusiasm for learning to play guitar.
I'm aware of many of the studies out there and am concerned.
Thank you for using your platform to promote awareness of this critical issues and its compounding affects and effects. 🙏❤
I've consistently had a mild ringing in my ears since I was 20. I'm lucky in that most of the time I can tune it out (except in really quiet moments), but it's always there, and now I try to be more conscious of how much audio stimulus I'm taking in. Thanks for the video! :)
I am an ENT researcher and the amount of people that refuse to wear earplugs in clubs and concerts is staggering. You can't grow your own hair cells back. Yes we are doing research on organoids but we are many many years away from implanting people with artificial hair cells. Protect your ears people.
Thank you Mary, such a great share and wonderful information. Definitely a daily battle for me as well, some days not so bad, other days it can be very debilitating. When it impacts my sleep it can just pile up on me adding to the stress of the day and stress always seems to make my Tinnitus worse, so creating a vicious cycle.
Thank you for making this. this video came at the perfect time. I recently attended an ultra loud festival wearing absolutely no ear protection. afterwards I felt like my hearing was slightly damaged in one ear, and was starting to get concerned. thank you for making me aware of this issue, and how to prevent it. I legit used to not care about those (annoying) little alerts from my watch.
now, idk if I have tinnitus, and if I do, its not too strong. I definitely have been experiencing temporary bits of it, and I feel that recently it has gotten worse as I get older. I'm 21. but thanks to you, now I will have that awareness to protect myself for the rest of my life. no more festivals with no protection.
I feel like ppl don't make these kinds of videos often so I am just happy it came up for me
Thank you for the information! Thank you for doing all of the leg work to give us this comprehensive warning. ❤❤
As someone who has tinnitus, a heart felt thank you very much for this video. I was a jet mechanic in the USAF and a listener to very loud rock and heavy metal in my late to to early 20's and now I'm paying the price so to speak. Sometimes it's a mild buzz, sometimes it's not there at all, and sometimes it's so loud it makes it difficult to hear conversations TV shows, or videos. The changes in tone and the multiple tones can cover up some sounds and once in a great while sound almost like a siren. It can be a bit maddening. I really appreciate you helping to raise awareness so that hopefully it will help others to avoid it.
Thank you so much for this. I worry so much about my teenage nephews who have earbuds in their ears pretty much all the time. I have tinnitus myself, just from living life - playing the piano, going to concerts, etc. It's so important to protect your hearing. I'm glad you are paying attention to your own hearing as a musician.
Can’t believe this is your DEBUT album! I haven’t followed you for long but you seem so confident, experienced, and knowledgeable that I would have guessed it’s at least your 3rd or 4th! Rock on, Mary, and thanks for the excellent PSA!
Thank you Mary, for this and all your wonderfully informative videos.
Hearing loss is a subject we all need to be aware of. Especially those of us involved in music.
Wow Mary this is so real for me. As a result of a viral infection 10 yrs ago I suffered 85% loss in my left ear and 40% loss in my right ear. I tell people it was standing in front of a Marshall stack in a band, but in truth it doesn’t matter. I’m a musician and hearing loss sucks. It affects so many aspects of music from tuning instruments, identifying harmonies and hearing your band mates. I’m very lucky having some amazing hearing aids but they cost thousands and are not available on the British NHS. I’m so glad you pointed out the dangers of high level noise from personal listening devices.
Do you have Ménière’s disease?
I’ve begun learning to tune my guitar my feel, because I wear a hearing aid in my right ear - which, is the ear I like to use/hone in on, as weird as that sound), and it can be difficult to pick up certain frequencies.
Mine wasn’t due to a viral infection, though, due to being prescribed oxycodone long-term, as well as kidney disease/heavy metal toxicity from excessive exposure to barium contrast, from CT scans.
Thankfully, because of my low income prior to getting ill, the social system has been kind to me, here in America, regarding what’s been covered medically.
However, I still had to shell out over $2,500 for one hearing aid - that I’m afraid to wear, in case I lose it.
Though, I find it hilarious I contracted heavy metal toxicity as a disease, which, damaged my hearing - all while being an autistically obsessive heavy metal music fan and aspiring musician.
Oh, the IRONy. 😂
At least none of the people whom said they believe the hearing loss was from my attendance to many a rock and metal show, all without hearing protection, were proved wrong. Lol.
For the record, I find the viral infection story to be more gnarly 🤘 I picture trekking through the Amazon
Great topic Mary, very real but ignored by so many people. This has been my world in recent months, buzzing is there, some days very loud and annoying, others subtle like today. Hearing loss is in my right ear regardless I use hearing protection when I’m in loud work sites, but I’m guilty of being in concerts and other noisy environments.
Wish I could click the like button a thousand times. Excellent information, Mary.
Thank you for raising awareness about hearing loss. I have always been sensitive to loud sounds. I used to be less aware of the negative consequences of being exposed to loud sounds, and it took just one event (sitting too close to the speakers at a very loud concert) to cause me tinnitus. Fortunately, it is not something that annoys me, but I sometimes struggle a little to distinguish speech in a noisy and busy environment. So, investigate a little about the risks and take care of your hearing
Wow this is the first time I’ve seen a musician talk about this….finally. Thank you. I have had tinnitus for years and it’s sad. The noise never goes away. There is no such thing as silence any more……ear buds and ear phones are horrible …they let no other sound in…..they should have a warning on the package. 😕..it’s not just hearing damage or loss….tinnitus is a life sentence …..the only thing one can do is get use to it ……there is no treatment…..thank you for this PSA Mary ❤️
Another great and informative video! I’ve been suffering with tinnitus since the mid-80s because of working around jet engines while I was in the Air Force. Now because of doing that for 26 years I have to wear hearing aids just so I can hear people talking, music and listening to life! Mary is spot with the information about hearing loss and dementia. I’m seeing it with my Mom! Thankfully I’ve gotten her wear her hearing aids now and they have slowed the dementia. One other place that’s very are movie theaters. I recently used my decibel app in the theater and was regularly hitting 100db!
The attitude of 'haha wimps are using hearing protection at this concert, they can't handle the noise' is crazy. People talk about their ears ringing like crazy the next day as if its a badge of honour
Your analogy of 'smoking for the ears' is something I've thought for years. For a guitar player, smoking would probably cause less harm to their career than never protecting their ears.
Thank you for making this video. I’ve had tinnitus since I was about 3 years old, and I’m extremely sensitive to loud noises both due to chronic ear infections when I was a baby and being on the autism spectrum. As a result I almost always have ear protection in and the volume on my phone never goes above the exact middle point. Doctors have said it’s overly-precautionary, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially as a fellow musician.
No such thing as being overly cautious with you hearing and health in general.!!
Mary, an excellent presentation and thank you for raising awareness of the issue.
I have both tinnitus AND a hyperacusis, loosely defined as an extreme sensitivity to certain types of sound. I first noticed it when performing simple tasks like putting away dishes would trigger extreme sharp pain in the ears. Hyperacusis has only recently gained recognition as an auditory condition, but when I spoke to people about common tinnitus issues I was surprised to learn how many suffered from this "companion" problem.
There are things that are known to sometimes have an effect on tinnitus, but in dealing with this for many years I've learned that practicing the things that help the sufferer to accept the condition and work to "tune it out". I'd suggest that anyone suffering from tinnitus try a blocker, which takes the form of a low level, pleasant sound best used with headphones. It doesn't cure, but the relief it offers is like taking a deep breath of fresh air.
Thanks again for your channel and addressing this, as you have a lot of followers who might otherwise simply not pay close enough attention to protecting their hearing.
Thanks so much for raising awareness on this Mary. I lost the hearing in my left ear when I was about your age, and suffer from tinnitus. I wear hearing aids now and can no longer enjoy playing music with others. In my case it was a sudden viral infection in my left ear and incompetent doctors who missed what was happening over 8 weeks. One of my biggest regrets in life is the loss of my hearing and not getting better care. I take good care of my remaining hearing. Your video is an important warning. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for this video, you helped me to avoid a decision that I would have regretted. I was planning to get an amp for my new headphones that are "just not loud enough" but I have changed my mind now and decided to be happy with a lower volume that is, tbh, perfectly fine. Thank you again for bringing this up!
The quality of the amp matters hugely, because amps inherently add distortion. Good ones cost a fortune, but may be worth it.
Protect your hearing, kids! I'm 54, and my hearing loss and tinnitus is absolutely maddening for both myself and my wife. It's absolutely depressing knowing that I'm going to have to live the rest of my life with this screaming in my head.
Thanks so much, Mary. Well researched, insightful and well communicated.
There's not nearly enough discussion of this issue. Gigs, especially in small venues, are often massively over amplified.
After shooting a loud gig in 2010 to which I'd forgotten to take ear plugs, I got tinnitus. I was going through a stressful period and was forgetful - but that excuse didn't help my ears.
The hearing injury changed my life. Unfortunately, I also have a stress-sensitive illness (ME/CFS) - a perfect storm. Eventually the stress stopped me sleeping and I wound up bedridden and/or in a wheelchair for about five years.
Not many people will have those specific complications, but the hyperacusis (sound sensitivity) that can also result from noise-induced hearing loss can be very debilitating. Early on, the sound of cutlery at the dinner table was physically painful. The distress from the noise in my head, severe headaches that started with the tinnitus, plus the hyperacusis (also ear ache, which I had for a couple of months after the gig) was great enough to prompt suicidal thoughts.
Headaches started with the tinnitus and I still occasionally have them - disabling in their severity. I’ve had to lie motionless for half a day in the past, when I’ve had a bad one. Fortunately, these really severe headaches are now rare. But earlier on, they were more frequent.
The distress I had early on gradually abated. I still can't listen to anything moderately loud (especially with head phones) for more than a few minutes at most. The last gig I went to, I had to leave after twenty minutes, although I was at the back and had ear plugs in. It just got too uncomfortable. My ears simply can't go near loud sounds anymore.
These messages are so important, Mary. More people have to voice these truths. It's the misfortune of the young to feel indestructible, but somehow it has to become cool to play music a bit quieter - or for the PA volume to be a bit lower. Yes, loud sounds good - but only up to a point. And only when you have good hearing - which no one will have, after too much of it.
Although loud sounds good, painfully loud never does. Long before my injury, I went to gigs in spite of the volume, not because of it. I usually wished they were at least 25% quieter. So many times I was in discomfort because the volume was too high. (I must also have done some damage at gigs, before the night when the tinnitus started.)
What can be done to protect people? How about giving a complimentary pair of ear plugs at the door of the club, (or turnstile of a stadium) that's covered by the ticket price? Not hard to implement.
We have to do more to stop this from happening to young people. Hearing damage is a blight. Tinnitus adds a stress load to one's life that is avoidable - and, along with hyperacusis, reduces one's options in life.
With hearing damage, one lives a diminished life. It is avoidable. Please: protect your hearing.
Thanks again Mary - you've done something important here.
This is very informative and useful as well presented clearly. Thank you!
Excellent video on a relatable topic! I'm a guitar player of more than 40 years and I have had tinnitus from early 20's. I also have a hearing loss ( both ears from child-birth ) that has progressively gotten worse over time. I am now 62. Besides the indirect isolation and anxiety I have with the 'hearing world', hearing loss in general sucks big time - socially, work, sports etc. I enjoy your passion for music and your fun, instructive videos. Keep up the good work and your music dreams.
I see that with my father who is your age and his hearing loss gets worse and worse but the problem is he doesn't admit it...
@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Pride gets in the way as does admitting being venerable. Tell him from me " It is okay, there is help with hearing loss but most importantly, reconnect back with your family and friends - you won't regret it ". Good luck.
Thank you for taking on this painful topic.
At age 75, I've been suffering from tinnitus and hearing loss for over 40 years. About 6 months ago, my younger daughter bought me a good pair of hearing aids, and the restoration of hearing generally, especially the upper octaves of my hearing range, has enriched my life beyond measure. I can hear the ticking of distant clocks and the singing of birds that had escaped my notice before. I also can hear the popping of synovial bubbles in my knee joints when I stand up. Whew! Especially welcomed is the restored clarity and full timbre of people's voices and of acoustic musical instruments that had been lost to me for decades.
Hearing aids are not a perfect remedy for hearing loss, but I am so grateful for what these do. For those folks who are fortunate to have perfect or near-perfect hearing right now, I hope your video motivates them to protect what they have. I hope it also motivates people who already are suffering from partial hearing loss to protect what they have.
What kind of hearing aids, if you don't mind me asking? Looking for some for my father..
lucky us where insurance pays for them.....
Hey Bob, very happy to hear you're better, and even happier your children care for you. Congrats to you as a father, and to them as a great people.
I agree, i thought my HiFi was broken & the top end was gone… but after i get my hearing aids, the top end was back. I can hear so much better , but a room of people talking is impossible to join a conversation, sadly😮
@@PMCN53 It's been about ten years since I had my hearing tested, but I can't focus on anything when a room full of talking is going on. I get overstimulated. Another situation is when shopping in stores that sell electronics. There are always at least two idiots blasting stereos too loud.
This was the most informative and beneficial video I have seen in a very long time. Thank you Mary, that took work and focus and it is very much appreciated. You are 1000% correct.
Thank you for posting this. My Grandfather made hearing aids for a living, so I've been aware of these issues for most of my life.
I've found that certain earplugs reduce the volume more evenly than others.
Thanks again!
Like many I fear more hearing loss or tinnitus, so thanks for raising awareness and the reminder to be careful. Sometimes I think I'm just hyper sensitive about noise pollution, but the other extreme is our neighbours who use chainsaws, angle grinders et al. without hearing protection all the time because “…used to it”. Which hurts just thinking about it, but also makes it oh-so-tempting to drown out their noise with headphones despite knowing better.
Thank you for talking about this Mary, I've been frustrated about the level of live music for a long time and no one seems to be bothered!
We no longer attend concerts in large venues such as those here in Toronto as we are concerned, even with good ear plugs, that we will come away with our hearing permanently. As Mary says, there's no getting it back. Sitting for a long period of time with the amps and crowd on 10 is simply self-injurious.
Thank You for yet another fine video Mary.
Funny enough it turns out that my "Pinlock" earplugs for MC riding are also perfect for Concerts.
I've been to two Rammstein concerts wearing them, and I swear I didn't miss a bit !
The exact information I needed at this precise moment. thank you very much.
As social creatures who rely on verbal language, one of the most important parts of our body is our ears. In particular, high ambient noise levels are insidious as many people don't realize how bad it is, because its seen as a matter of course in a normal environment, not as a special event like a concert. Thank you for bringing this issue more awareness, especially since you are someone who is publicly recognized as an experienced live musician.
As an audio engineer I always took good care of my ears. I started recording in the late 60’s. My audiologist tells me that even though I am 71, I still have the hearing of a healthy 30 year old. When I was in my 50’s, my college students were taken aback when I could clearly hear their 17 kHz ring tones from their phones. As a lead guitarist, I often refused to sing with the band I played with because I cannot sing in tune when wearing ear plugs, and I will not take them out when playing with a live band. Even though I love music, the guitar, rock ‘n’ roll, cut my teeth on The Beatles, I believed in the science. Many musicians think that the sound of a loud guitar is actually far more engaging. But the truth is a small amp with a small speaker can create some very engaging sounds, you just can’t hear them with human ears, but a microphone can. And when tossed into the mix some “BIG” sounds have come from small amps. I think of the song “Lies“ by the Knickerbockers. The Lead guitar was recorded on a 5 W amp and I think it sounds great.
I have dB meters in my iPads and a handheld dB meter in my recording studio. I wear ear protection when mowing the lawn and working with power tools. The only band I sang with was Reprise 60’s because for an unusual reason I was able to convince them to maintain a low stage volume. I monitored my amp or guitar processor from a hotspot monitor. There were times when the bass player could only hear my guitar leaking back to the stage from the FOH mains. The band learned to trust each other to play in time & in tune and let the FOH worry about the overall mix. Now retired I am still enjoying the music I have appreciated over the years including the music from my youth.
Thanks Mary. A very clear explanation.
Thank you for the information, Mary
I remember as a kid seeing loud bands in school gyms and small rooms and how my ears would ring for hours afterwards. I feel bad for anyone who has to endure this as part of life. The movie "The Sound of Metal" illustrates the outcome of exposure to loud music very well.
I've always been the lame person who is super sensitive when it comes to noise. I kind of make it a challenge to find out how quiet I can listen to something while still having the whole experience. This way you'll always dial it down until it's too quiet and then you go one up and stay there. Maybe you have to get used to this first and slowly work your way down the dB's but it might help if you want to be become more aware.
Yea I got that from the tools aswell great stuff 😊really loving your positivity these days 😮
Credit to you for raising this subject Mary. I have impaired hearing from working in noisy environments ( woodworking industry, telecoms call centre, Fire & Rescue). Despite a hearing aid, I find it impossible to communicate in very noisy environments. Seven years ago, I started learning to play the guitar. The hearing loss makes ear training vastly more difficult. I can’t urge the young folks to look after their ears and eyes, you only get one set and they’re precious. Treat them with care.
had a mild tiniitus as long as i can remember. i don't know exactly what caused it, but i remember laying in bed at night and hearing a ringing and just thought it was normal. i also did the no earplugs at loud concerts and mowing and shooting guns, but i learned pretty quickly to wear hearing protection and i don't think it's gotten much worse. i try to be vigilant with friends at concerts and bandmates about ear protection. i'm glad there's more awareness and more preventative measures in place with smartphone monitoring. thanks for making this video
I am 70 and suffer every day with very loud tinnitus.its horrible
I'm also 70 and I notice that my Tinnitus is getting worse. It's quite frustrating.
Hold my beer i am only 17:-) suffering from this
@@Udayfrrrr sorry to hear that. You can get used to it.
@@conifergreen2 ya i'm kinda trying
Hi Mary, Thanks for bringing this important subject to your followers. It’s really important to warn people about potential hearing loss - the earlier the better. I’ve suffered from Tinnitus for approx. 20 years now and it keeps getting a little worse as time goes by.
However, I didn’t get my Tinnitus from music. Sure, I’ve listened to my share of loud music and been to a few really loud shows but no. I’m a computer guy who’s spent 30 years working in loud Data Centers at first filled with a few and eventually hundreds of computers with screaming cooling fans. The DB level was often well over 100 - with at times, hours of exposure with no protection.
The result? I have a permanent ~8000hz ring in both my ears every waking minute. Even though I haven’t been inside a DC for 14 years. As you mentioned, the damage was done pretty early on.
The ringing masks almost all frequencies above 8K so I miss out on a lot of the high end of the music spectrum. Luckily though, it’s well above the human speech range so hearing people talk isn’t too bad - yet. The ringing has been getting steadily louder and at some point, I expect it to mask even more by the volume alone.
Protect your ears kids! (I’m 64 - I think I can get away with “kids.”) Most smart phones present volume warnings, take them seriously! Wear ear protection when attending shows/concerts/festivals. Avoid loud noises whenever possible. You WILL thank yourself in the future.
I have hope that efforts such as yours will educate people to the importance of preparing themselves to save their hearing. I’ve profound hearing loss and Tinnitus For over a decade, gave up listening to music because certain high notes would ring off key. Yes, I was a young Chicago suburban musician (Black Friday Panic singer/guitarist) in the 60’s and 70’s. I take solis in that humans are so adaptable, our brains do work to bypass the damaged nerve pathways and we can recover certain db levels over time through training. Thank you, Mary. Take care of yourself and great news on the move to LA, keep educating us!
As notification for this video arrived I was noticing how my tinnitus has become worse after working in a loud place for the last several months. The original damage was from going to see bands like Circle Jerks, Bad Brains, and MDC. Then I worked in Rock n' Roll for several years. All the damage adds up. Save your hearing NOW!
As of today you have one reason more to listen to Mary! ❤
This is so important. Thank you.
Looking forward to viewing your video, Mary. I have a degree of deafness from industrial noise, and the love of having my music loud. I am over 70 now and wearing hearing aids. I live with tinnitus. I have just became aware of is that serious hearing loss contributes to dementia. I hope I haven't left it too late to prevent being affected by it.
In addition to hearing loss, the associated cognitive decline is worrisome. Protect your hearing.
People never appreciate what they have until it's gone :(
Personally, I have a case of tinnitus going that is noteworthy to me in a couple of aspects. One is that it is pretty bad, as far as I am concerned (but that itself raises the question of: how do you rate it?). Another is that I cannot really nail down exactly when I realized it. That is an insidious little fact about this problem. It creeps up on you slowly. (That is a broad statement, I do also understand that for some people some really dramatic event could bring it on more suddenly.)
I am a musician, but in my case I have always suspected that my problem could possibly be more due to some years working in assorted industrial/shop environments. In those kinds of settings, noise levels can sometimes get extremely severe, while people commonly disregard it, and often carry an idiotic attitude that worrying about this, and even using ear protection, is some kind of sign of weakness and general delicacy. You know, a TOUGH GUY can stand a little noise. Things like, say, using, or being around someone using an angle grinder on some piece of metal being worked. In some cases, like when I was building industrial machinery, if you are doing something of this sort on some large machine frame, it's not only the noise from the area of aggressive high intensity friction happening, the resonance of the thing you're attacking with the tool gets the whole thing ringing loudly.
In music world, aside from the possible problems from the musician's point of view, live music in general, over time, has just simply gotten way too damned loud, and I say that as a guy who has always liked a lot of things that are great cranked up and powerful. Even relatively "quiet" music gets pumped up to crazy levels now. I was thinking about this a while back when I went to hear King Crimson (at an outdoor venue, by the way), and when they played "Islands", which is a very gentle piece of music, I was sitting there thinking that even that was shockingly loud. It made no sense.
Not long ago I went to a Black Label Society show, with an opener whose name I forgot (sorry, guys, whoever you were). This was at the Detroit Fillmore, a sort of mid-sized theater venue. Not really into those guys, but it was a freebie ticket. I had a hunch it would be crazy loud, and took a simple approach, cotton balls wadded up and inserted (which I think is better than earplugs, there is attenuation but I think it keeps the overall spectrum reasonably balanced, not totally muting high end and mids). Even then I was struck by thinking it was unbelievably loud. After the show ended I pulled those out, and was shocked to realize that the recorded music kicked on at the end of the show was insanely loud (although, especially given that it was Sinatra singing "New York, New York", I think it was a bit of a deliberate ploy to drive the metalheads out of the venue quickly).
I have been convinced for many years now that front of house mix engineers are probably more often than not suffering from toasted hearing, which just aggravates things further. Trying to determine how much of a contributing factor that might be difficult, when you consider that there is, no doubt about it, a kind of arms race phenomenon in live show levels, as nobody wants to have their show regarded as "too quiet", weak and wimpy ("that's not rock and roll, man!")... even when the music actually happening is not really meant to be big and loud. (We could also get into a side note tangent of how many live show FOH mixes consist of "gigantic kick drum... and some other stuff, too", but that's a separate item.)
This is a serious problem.
And in closing, for anybody out there in the world who might read a note like this and say something like "if it's too loud, you're too old!", I'm sorry to tell you, but you are a moron.
You’re totally right about the kick drum being too loud in most rock band mixes. If the thump doesn’t hit you in the chest, then it’s too quiet, apparently…
Great video, an important topic. Love the lighting in your studio. I’m watching this in my living room at night and would like to ask you to choose a less bright version of the title screens or maybe invert them. 😊 I can still see the titles when I blink after watching it 😊
I’ve been warning of this inevitable outcome for over 30 years. Those who are in their youth simply don’t want to know about potential hearing damage that likely won’t become an issue for them in the short term. It’s pleasing to discover others in the music industry speaking seriously of this subject.
I’ll be 60 later this year and I’ve always considered looking after my hearing to be a professional responsibility, however I frequently come across people who are unable to hear treble tones. It’s extremely frustrating when I’m recording them because they’re forever complaining that I’m not setting the treble high enough for them. Of course I’m not able to avoid using headphones at work but I never use them at home or out and about, I’d far sooner stay away from loud stuff. The only issue I encounter is concerts, if it’s too loud I use ear plugs but I despise them because they eliminate directional hearing and I need that because I’m visually impaired…which is of course another reason to protect my lugholes.
Interesting. I think the highest frequencies are the first ones you lose.
Precisely, people think there’s no treble when, in fact, they simply can’t hear them. Interestingly, some sound engineers actually lose the low tones too.
Hello Mary. Many thanks for posting this. The issue of noise induced hearing loss and the music industry is longstanding, and in recent years there’s been a notable case that reached the High Court and Court of Appeal. In the context of leisure/music sound and use of modern devices, for many years I’ve taught that in-ear devices (buds etc.) are in effect placing the sound source in the worst possible place - the auditory canal. What you can rarely ever do is convince children, teenagers or adults to accept is that if sound (‘noise’) isn’t causing a sensation of pain, it can still cause damages that is cumulative and irreparable at levels that are well below pain thresholds. The post-gig buzzing and ringing in the ears - temporary threshold shift - is a non-brainer that sound exposure is way too high.
For reference, in the UK the working environment is governed by regulations that prescribe sound exposure over a standardised 8 hour day and in some cases a 40 hour working week. Aside from over-riding absolute peak-level maxima, concern starts to arise when the exposure (as an energy average, LAeq,T) achieves 85 dB which as described here is the same as 85 dB(A). This can equates to a constant level of 85 dB(A) or a time varying level that produces the same acoustic energy for the exposure period. The energy principle of this means exposure can be 88 dB(A) over 4 hours, 91 dB(A) over 2 hours, 94 dB(A) over 1 hour, 97 dB(A) over 30 minutes and so on. To give this a little more context, bands typically strive for a level of around 100 to 105 dB(A) at the Front of House mixing desk at c.40m from the stage.
As for tinnitus, this does indeed present in many forms, not all noise-exposure related and can be hugely debilitating, as can NIHL. Protecting hearing is needed at the earliest possible stage form all forms of sound exposure.
Thanks for the info. You are a caring person. I've been playing live for many years, but extremely lucky with no symptoms. I wish I would have had this information long ago. ❤
Such an important topic! Another thing which is even worse than tinnitus is diplacusis. It's related to hearing loss, but makes you hear different pitch in your different ears. I experienced it temporally after having played guitar a bit too loud. The guitar sounded out of tune but when tuning it was in tune. I soon realised that everything sounded dissonant to me. Had a big dose of anxiety after reading up on this disorder, but luckily for me it went away after a good nights sleep. Protect your hearing!
Another great presentation, Mary, and I particularly appreciate the fact that you steered clear of mentioning the variety of unproven "cures" for tinnitus, as spread through grapevines and social media platforms. As a tinnitus sufferer I check a few boxes of probable causes, some of which are my own fault (loud rock shows, cranking up the volume of my Walkman & Diskman back in the day) and some of which are circumstantial (chemotherapy, several sessions under anesthesia & genetics). There is no cure but as you rightly mentioned, there are ways to ease the discomfort which should start with a visit to an audiologist who can conduct the necessary tests. I'll just mention a bit of inherent irony: once the damage is permanent, it doesn't improve matters by staying in quiet areas - a low level of continual background noise such as ocean waves helps to keep the level of ringing down. Not everyone is the same though so it's always best to have frequent visits to an audiologist.
Thank You for bringing this to more peoples attention !
I've always been careful with my ears, so it was really annoying when I got tinnitus as a side effect to the Covid shot a couple years ago, started within 2 weeks. It's a loud shrieking that never stops, kind of like a Cicada on a hot summer night.. Over time it's become more bearable.
This is an excellent and informative video. Well done! I'm a bassist, and I've been trying different earplugs to help mitigate volume levels. I've tried the Pacato and Eargasm earplugs, but I'm currently using Loops, primarily for the comfort. Earplug design has come a long way since I started playing years ago. Cheers!
Great video. Thanks for mentioning the importance of periodic audiometric exams. Early detection of standard threshold shifts can alert of hearing loss across various frequency ranges. As a retired federal health inspector here in the US, I saw way too many cases of preventable occupational hearing loss.
I've got tinnitus on my left ear since I was 15. Mine gives a radio static like noise blaring through a torn amp with a blown speaker. However, it only activates when I'm in a very loud environment. Thankfully, I became aware of this condition well before it became worse and now, I do my utmost best to protect my hearing. Paul Gilbert's struggle with tinnitus was a huge eye opener for me. Thanks for sharing this, Mary. All the best for the release of your debut album. 🎸🎧
Thanks for this! I live with every day, the onset was sudden, and let me tell you it's life changing. I really sucks, one of the works things to deal with ever!
Thank you very much for bringing this important topic to light. I've been aware of it but even so I probably still play music too loud in headphones and car.
Last concert I went to I wore ear plugs and I dont get why it is the normal to play so blaringly loud. It doesnt enhance the experience if one day you lose hearing for it.
Thank you for this video Mary.
I had my first experience of tinnitus over 10 years ago when I was in high school and playing in a lot of bands while not wearing hearing protection and got really scared. After that I've always made sure to protect my hearing and now I'm in uni training to become a speech pathologist I'm trying to raise awareness among my colleagues about hearing loss and noise exposure. Thank you so much for this video, Mary.
Please take good care of your hearing, people ❤
Very good and important video, thank you very much, Mary!
Thank you for bringing this up.
Only one second can change your live forever. I am reminded of this every single day. Tinnitus from a blast trauma (bang close to the ear) on New Year's Eve 30 years ago. All (music) details around 5 kHz are lost forever. And all silence is gone forever. Replaced by tinnitus. Sucks? Yep it really is.
Trust me, it is better to wear earplugs if there is even the slightest chance of a bang or loud noise. The silly laughter of "those friends" lasts only seconds. A tinnitus will probably stay forever. I have learned to live with it, but some never could get used to it.
Thank you for talking about this. This has been a real issue for me for years
Very important subject Mary. I am pleased that you have shone a light on it. As a retired audiologist I have seen how hearing loss and tinnitus affects people. It is important to add that hearing aids will not bring back hearing that is lost. They make the best of what hearing is left. As you said, once it's gone, it's gone. Hearing loss and other conditions like tinnitus are not fun and hearing music and sound is a tremendous gift so please everyone do not take your hearing for granted.
Massively important subject Mary. Thanks for sharing. As a photographer I will now always wear professional ear plugs at gigs after being exposed to extremely high volumes - I'm often directly in front of a band's backline at head height - and now totally limit gig going. I don't use/wear headphones of any kind these days and worry particularly for the younger generation - I have three daughters who are constantly listening on phones/earbuds - about long-term hearing loss. Will share this video with them !!
Thanks for making this video. Some people don’t realise how much everyday things can damage your ears. I was one of them and now suffer from severely, extreme tinnitus and pretty bad hearing loss. I also now wear hearing aids. The tinnitus literally drives me crazy and my mental health suffers.
Wow, Mary! You are an excellent speaker!
I’ve had constant tinnitus in both ears for about 15 yrs. now. I’ve been in numerous bands, trios, duos in my 69 years and had to stand in front of many an amplifier (not to mention floor monitors). It was way past being too late, but I eventually started wearing custom earplugs which blocked the harmful decibels and I could still hear our music. The accumulated damage was exacerbated by attending concerts and bar bands as a spectator.
The tinnitus tends to lessen during the day when ambient noise picks up (traffic, wind, restaurants,etc.) It is accentuated at night and early morning when things get quiet.
Great presentation! Thanks!❤
Thank you so much Mary for sharing this critical information!
I’m 68yo and in my youth & 30’s i listened to loud music and as a Bass player in bands i was exposed to unacceptable loud sound. I have been using hearing aids since i was in my mid 50’s. They help but i can’t hold a conversation in a room full of people, I generally leave, and as you sited from your research ( well done) It is socially isolating. Tinnitus is a constant issue as well!!
I now use ear plugs at church, as the music is 90-100db & some parents put earmuffs on their children!!
Hearing is a vital sense, i now try to preserve.
Your episode is fantastic on this health topic. I’m a retired Nursing Clinical educator & i appreciate your well researched presentation 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻( Softly)😊
This is so true. I am an old Las Vegas drummer/singer & my monitor was on the left side. We would play so loud, it would make me dizzy, & have ringing for days. Significant hearing loss in my left ear. This was back in the old days. Take care of your hearing. Great video, thanks.
Thanks for bringing attention to this Mary.
I've been a tech for 40+ years and my tinnitus started became constant about 12 years ago. Now it is my reliable but annoying 8khz companion. Many of the musicians I worked with over the years have it as well.
I don't really notice it when I 'm busy I don't really notice it but when it gets quiet, like when it's time to go to bed, it's hard to ignore. I typically put on some music or YT videos at a level just above the tinnitus to give my mind something else to focus on.
I always have some form of hearing protection with me. I'll use passive for short duration stuff but for things like air travel I always have my noise cancelling headphones with me. What is great about the NC headphones is that I can run the program volume at less than half the level I used to have to run my old passive ear buds. I am currently researching a pair of noise cancelling ear buds to use when the over the ear cans are impractical or illegal (like when driving).
It's easy to protect my hearing. I just sit here and listen to Mary's softly spoken videos and it heals my ears to the core! 😛
Thank you so much for this video! I got tinnitus in my mid teens (am almost 40 now) from playing the flute in orchestra (we were places just in front of the trumpet section) from age 10 or so (remember the band leaders said something like "oh, this kind of music can't cause any damage).
THANK YOU for making this video.
I couldn't believe how loud Taylor Swift's Eras concert was recently, thousands of young people having their ears blasted for over three hours.
I also have tinnitus and found this youtube channel helpful:
This relates to start talking about vestibular health …..hearing loss risks, loss of balance, vertigo, headaches, depression and anxiety that go with it. Veterans also experience this due to call of duty risks….construction workers, etc.