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Tinnitus worries...

I have had on and off periodic ringing in the ears for 30 years, (lots of live music) and back in March I decided to invest in a new home audio system, speakers, amp preamp CD player and cables costing about 7k, I have almost constant low level tinnitus now, my doctor says it's a cumulative thing and there is little that can be done. I hardly listen to music beyond normal talking decibels, and am very careful about any other loud DB exposure. Odd how the tinnitus became constant the minute I got my new system set up.  I guess this is more of a warning than anything else, so be careful! 
racer45
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
844 posts
 
Also be sure not to use pain killers such as Aspirin or Advil, or use it very little. Reduce caffeine. Then wear ear protection doing vacuuming, using lawn mowers or leaf blowers, going to movies, or anything else where the noise level is high. Relaxation techniques such as slow deep breathing before listening can be helpful too.
racer45 OP
4 posts
 
Check, check and check on painkillers, (thankfully I don't need them) and no caffeine, I use quality earmuffs, (shooting style) while doing any yard work or using noisy machine tools, I am wondering if alchohol intake has any negative side effects as I do enjoy the evening cocktail or beer/wine. I actually got most of my new (used) audio gear off Audiogon for superb savings, if new I would have about 11k in my system. It's kinda heartbreaking that I can't fully enjoy it to its full potential. I do plan on seeing a hearing specialist to understand if there is anything in my daily activities that is causing a problem. I do daily morning road bicycle rides, and I even wear ear plugs as the wind noise is surprisingly loud. 
gdnrbob
4,441 posts
 
Racer45, sorry to hear you are so sensitive to even wind sound. With that information, I really think you should see a hearing specialist, Now.
My tinnitus is a pita, but nothing that makes me notice it during the day.
Thankfully, medical science has been addressing the ills of advanced age for a while, so now us young'uns benefit from their discoveries.
vindanpar
58 posts
 

I am beyond baffled as to why people go to places where there is deafeningly loud music whether it is a rock concert, a disco or a bar.

From when I was a teenager I found it not only painful but I'll be very very kind and say incomprehensible.

Maybe someone can explain this to me.

Even at a young age I knew there was something very wrong with this and not only was I hurting my eardrums but it was pretty clear it would have long term consequences.

I know people my age who have hearing loss(really beyond annoying when they keep asking me to repeat myself or ask me what was said in a movie) and tinnitus because of this and I'd like to know if it was worth it.

I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like to have a constant ringing in the ears and when it was so easily avoidable. 

Why would you want to compromise such a precious gift?


stevecham
3,340 posts
 
For the very small amount of ringing that I sometimes detect, likely the result of playing in rock bands and attending concerts long ago (6 dB dip shelf from about 4500 to 5500 Hz), I have found that listening to very low levels of music, either on the system or via headphones, has improved the ringing (meaning reduced it) considerably. Perhaps it is the brain’s desire to hear detail at low levels that partially compensates so as to improve perceived signal to noise. Anyway, give it a try, it might help.
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