Tinnitus

[FearandLoathing]

I have tinnitus. I'm reasonably sure I do. That scares me. It's not a ringing, it's a high-pitched whistle. I haven't listened to my discman for almost three days in an attempt to determine whether it's really tinnitus or whether I just overdid it with the discman. I'm pretty sure it's really tinnitus.

I've never gone a day without listening to my discman since I got my first one when I was ten. I have five now. The last four broke in different ways. Panasonic was the worst, so now I'm back to Sony. Sony's shit too.

I don't like tinnitus. It's disturbing. I used to find it difficult to sleep because I was thinking about Israel and Palistine and India and Pakistan and Bosnia and shit like that (I'm a real humanitarian). I care about the tinnitus much more than I cared about those other things. Now I think about my tinnitus.
Unfortunately, it's my fault I have it. I wish I had something else to blame it on.

[zorra_chiflada]

how old are you?
do you have trouble hearing high frequency or low frequency sounds?
do you usually play your discman loudly?
have you ever had an ear infection, or do you suffer from hayfever?

[FearandLoathing]

how old are you?
do you have trouble hearing high frequency or low frequency sounds?
do you usually play your discman loudly?
have you ever had an ear infection, or do you suffer from hayfever?

I'm fourteen. I don't know if I have trouble hearing high/low frequency sounds, I just know I hear this whine all the time. I usually play my discman loudly. I've never had an ear infection, and I don't suffer from hayfever.

[zorra_chiflada]

hmm, you better get it checked out then.

[b-grrrlie]

I started getting tinnitus after seeing Backyard Babies in a very very small club.
Luckily it isn't continuous and quite often I can get rid of it just like hick-ups; holding my breath for a very long time.
I tested my hearing at the Museum of Natural History a few weeks ago (yeah they had these amazing machines and stuff that you coul try your senses on) and my hearing was better than I expected. There was just a few very high pitch noices that I didn't hear. The amount of rock'n'roll that has passed throught my ears during all these years (and standing next to loudspeakers at gigs) I'm surprised I'm not deaf yet.

[voltanapricot]

Are you on anti-biotics or anything? Some can make it worse as well as the ear infection in itself. For some reason taking things like asprin can cause a mild case of tinnitus.

If you've already had ear problems in the past you're more susceptible to it. Stess is another cause so relax and deal with it the best you can and hopefully you should be alright. :)

[Qdrop]

I have tinnitus.
I've never gone a day without listening to my discman since I got my first one when I was ten.
I'm fourteen.

jesus....
you are FUCKED.

hearing damage never heals....you never get it back.
and no matter what precautions you take from here on out (which i would think you would now)...the downward spiral will continue as the years roll on...

considering you are only 14 and have this kind of damage....you are in for some life-altering changes in the next 20 years.


did you, at any point in the last 4 years, think to yourself "wow, this is really loud, maybe i'm hurting my ears....hmm...."???!!

http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.htm

http://www.headwize.com/articles/hearing_art.htm

[marsdaddy]

Ha! Tatum/Sprewell had that years ago. He uses a hearing aid now.

[FearandLoathing]

jesus....
you are FUCKED.

hearing damage never heals....you never get it back.
and no matter what precautions you take from here on out (which i would think you would now)...the downward spiral will continue as the years roll on...

considering you are only 14 and have this kind of damage....you are in for some life-altering changes in the next 20 years.


did you, at any point in the last 4 years, think to yourself "wow, this is really loud, maybe i'm hurting my ears....hmm...."???!!

http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.htm

http://www.headwize.com/articles/hearing_art.htm

I know all that. It's not like I continually listened to my discman at its highest volume for those four years. For the last year I've rarely listened to it at a volume over half way. In fact, I'm confused as to why I have it when so many others' are exposed to sounds so much more extreme and constant than the ones I subjected myself to.

Besides, you can never recover hearing, as you said. So there's no point my smashing my head against the wall 'cause I caused it now. That would be completely pointless.

[laurie_hammy]

Ya 14, I doubt ya would have Tinnitus, just go to the Doctor already and find out !

[FearandLoathing]

Ya 14, I doubt ya would have Tinnitus, just go to the Doctor already and find out !

I'd doubt it too, if it wasn't for the incessant whistle in my ears.

[mikizee]

i have studied the workings of the inner ear heavily as part of a diploma i did, and found out that those little earphones that come with walkmans ipods etc are THE WORST things for your ears. with normal speakers that u listen to the sound is all around you and your ears pick up just what goes past them. with earphones all of the sound and energy is thrust directly into your ear and straight onto your eardrum. puts a lot of load and stress into your ear. i never ever use them. theyre bad, mmmmkay??? if u do use them dont put them too loud!!!! go get yourself checked out. and use earplugs when u goto a concert!! ive had tinnitus for a few years now due to the industries ive worked in, and it sucks. if only i could turn back time........

[laurie_hammy]

i have studied the workings of the inner ear heavily as part of a diploma i did, and found out that those little earphones that come with walkmans ipods etc are THE WORST things for your ears. with normal speakers that u listen to the sound is all around you and your ears pick up just what goes past them. with earphones all of the sound and energy is thrust directly into your ear and straight onto your eardrum. puts a lot of load and stress into your ear. i never ever use them. theyre bad, mmmmkay??? if u do use them dont put them too loud!!!! go get yourself checked out. and use earplugs when u goto a concert!! ive had tinnitus for a few years now due to the industries ive worked in, and it sucks. if only i could turn back time........

Those headphones are so uncomfy for me. I cant stand em. Well I CAN stand ON them but yeah :o

[Drederick Tatum]

Ha! Tatum/Sprewell had that years ago. He uses a hearing aid now.

I gotta thank Echewta for pointing me in the right direction, my OSB3000 has changed my life.

seriously though, anyone who doesn't wear some sort of ear protection at shows is out of their mind.