Anyone else in my shoes? Ears going.........

I turned 49 in February. I have been a carpenter since I was 18, and have always listened to pretty loud music as well. About 5 years ago really started to pay attention to my hearing. I have had tinnitus for a while too with more hearing loss in my right ear than my left. I have become as OCD about my ears as I have about my gear. Earplugs when I work and run any machinery.
I can actually get my ringing to lessen a great deal with a 20 minute hot bath, ears below the water line, and concetrating on quieting the noise, calming my breathing, and trying to create a feeling of complete relaxation.

I have read that tinnitus is a result of your brain compensating for the frequencies that you have lost the ability to hear, hence the high frequency ringing. I figure if my brain is compensating for the loss subconciously, and the tones are actually generated from within, with enough concentration, maybe I can shut them down. It may sound crazy but real or imagined (does it matter?) I can quiet it down for periods of time, even though it doesn't seem to be getting any quieter as a whole I don't think it has gotten any louder either.

The addition of an equalizer (no groans please) to my main audio system has not only helped me more finely set what I'm hearing but also enables me to adjust out some of the more harmful sounds that I find impact my hearing most. Redbook CD's are definately more of a problem then vinyl or SACD. Radio varies with station.

For support of my personal finding read on ... .

This system is deliberately very naturally sounding. I don't find the equalizer to negatively impact that. Plus I can always push-button it out.

I'm 56. Lost 40% of hearing in my right ear as a child. Lost notably more over the past 5 years for some reason. I have been around loud music for many years although my years with a band are now mostly limited to church service. I have learned to compensate for the loss since I pay for days with the ringing in my right ear if I'm not careful.

I usually like to listen to my music loud. I like to feel it and jam along most times. I believe I have quite a good sounding set up (my musician friends seem to agree and they are to say the least, CRITICS). It sounds very good at low levels BUT I like it loud more often.

I have read that tinnitus is a result of your brain compensating for the frequencies that you have lost the ability to hear, hence the high frequency ringing. I figure if my brain is compensating for the loss subconciously, and the tones are actually generated from within, with enough concentration, maybe I can shut them down. It may sound crazy but real or imagined (does it matter?) I can quiet it down for periods of time, even though it doesn't seem to be getting any quieter as a whole I don't think it has gotten any louder either.

I have gotten about as used to my Tinnitus as I ever will. It doesn’t really bother me (it can literally drive some people nuts – my poor brother-in-law is near the brink with his Tinnitus). What’s really disconcerting – maybe you can relate to this, is when you find yourself in a very quiet moment, or a very quiet and serene place, but you aren’t able to truly appreciate the moment because of the damn ringing in your ears. I used to go on annual fishing trips to the Canadian wilderness, where I would set aside my fishing poles for a whole day of hiking. I saw some fantastically beautiful geography and I would feel the peaceful tranquility of my environment, but I could never fully appreciate the whole experience because I couldn’t “hear” the complete quietness. The ringing is so loud in a truly (truly) quite place like that- it becomes almost deafening. Anyone with Tinnitus can probably relate…yada…yada. Anyway, Music and noise prevail over the Tinnitus and there’s no shortage of noise in my world.

I recently saw something about tinnitus on pbs, which said there is some evidence that tinnitus is activated by the brain when long term exposure to a noisy environment is replaced by a quiet one. As a previous post said, the brain responds by producing ringing. The researcher in the program seemed to suggest that when the ringing starts it may be dimished by creating or returning to some noise, such as turning on the tv or radio or engaging in conversation. If the theory is correct, then going to a quiet place such as a lake in the wilderness could activate tinnitus.

I notice my tinnitus is most noticeable in the morning and late at night. It does seem to disappear when I'm active. Perhaps I'll take my ipod with me to the lake.

My tinnitus is most evident when it is quietest. At my desk in my office it is as loud as my PC fans or the sound of air blowing from the central air conditioner. At night it can be quite raucous. It is completely unnoticeable when I am listening to my stereo, a good movie on my home theater system or am out and active in public. I can understand it being a response to noisy environments. Tinnitus is very similar to the ringing I experienced as a teenager after attending a rock concert or after some time at a private outdoor gun range without ear protection. I take much better care of my ears than I used to… I want them to last, now more than ever.