Confusion after hearing test

[Fulltimemuso]

Hi folks, just wondered if I can get some opinions please?

I was thinking my tinnitus which is a mild high pitched ringing mostly in my right ear, was caused by noise damage/hearing loss.

I've had a couple of decades of being a working musician in bands, but the last 10 years or so have been performing solo shows in care homes. The volume is not THAT loud but it carries a lot of high frequency sound, and I feel my ears have reacted to this over time. Especially as after a loud gig recently it seemed to get worse. I've been stressing about it ever since.

However, I've had a formal hearing test and got an audiogram, the tester has assured my my hearing is well within the normal range. This also ties up with other tests I've had and some online tests. Online I was able to test the upper range of my hearing and could hear up to 14,400hz in each ear, which I understand is ok (I'm 50 years old).

So why the tinnitus?

1) Could it be that I DO have hearing loss in the very upper frequency range and this is causing it.

2) Or could it be a Temporary Threshold Shift, as I'm always working doing gigs and never have a break. I've used very basic hearing protection the last 6 months (simple rubber silicone plugs), but maybe it wasn't enough??

Any ideas anyone? Thankyou

[Cat-Mother]

hi. As far as know Tinnitus is not caused by hearing loss, but over time can cause it. Loud noises as in Music, building sites, long term wearing of earbuds can cause it. Again I am not a professional but these are things I have read

I have, probably, moderate tinnitus and a recent hearing test my hearing is normal.

My left ear is worse and currently have an ear infection so it’s screaming at me 24/7. At night I use the Relief App to help drown it out. I’m hoping this will work better once the ear infection has gone.

[Fulltimemuso in reply to Cat-Mother]

Thanks for the extra info and I hope your ear clears up a bit soon. Best wishes

[Chris2304 in reply to Cat-Mother]

After reading this I have downloaded the relief app and wow!!! I have learned so much from it and it has made me feel so much better about my Tinnitus. This is the best I have felt in the 6 months I have been suffering. My tinnitus seemed to start about 6 months ago at work and with it my brain started wondering off, a like black outs. I have been out of work since and suffering quite badly with it and my anxiety. I've had a hearing test and found to have hearing loss in the high pitch zone and have recently been fitted with 2 hearing aids. My tinntus is a high pitch whistle mainly in my right ear and sometimes in my left. I am now looking forward to my journey with tinitus and the relief app, so much info in the app.

I would definitely recommend to anyone suffering to take a look at the relief app.

[Cat-Mother in reply to Chris2304]

Glad you found it useful too. My drown out, or turn down the volume at the moment of my T is the Fire & Rain (has Thunderin it also) Who knew you could find that relaxing! Have you been to Tinnitus UK website. That’s good too.

[Chris2304 in reply to Cat-Mother]

Yes I had a listen to that one, I've actually made my own which is working for me at the min. The info in the app is awesome too, really enjoying reading that.

Yes I've had a quick look at Tinnitus UK but not had a proper look yet. Will have to find some time to have a good look.

[doglover1973 in reply to Cat-Mother]

I'm sorry .. I must disagree. Tinnitus can be a result of hearing loss but it doesn't cause hearing loss. You can of course have T without hearing loss . Many people do. I was under the impression for a decade that my T was making me deaf. I was taken aback to discover it was the other way round. I was going deaf. That's why I heard my T so loudly. In other words T is a symptom, not a cause.

[Cat-Mother in reply to doglover1973]

Yes I agree. What I said was badly worded but what you said is what I meant.

[Happyrosie]

“why the tinnitus?” you say. Well, there’s often no cause. I’ve had mine since my late teens and the nearest I had got to loud noise was attending classical music concerts in the Albert Hall.

If you haven’t done so already, you can visit the website of Tinnitus UK. I’ve just had a quick look because I seem to remember a special leaflet of theirs for musicians but I haven’t been able to find it - quite likely I’ve imagined one

After the holidays, why not give them a ring

[RKAUF in reply to Happyrosie]

I also got tinnitus when I was a teenager, possibly due to noise exposure.

I’d second the advice about contacting Tinnitus UK. They run a regular musicians support group.

Also this table compares models of noise cancelling headphones. If you untick the ‘recent’ filter (and other filters) it will show you those best at cancelling out sounds at different frequency ranges (which is very useful for musicians whose tinnitus is aggravated at a specific frequency range) rtings.com/headphones/tools...

All the best,

Richard

[Fulltimemuso in reply to RKAUF]

Hi thanks for this, I really like the link to the headphones. Very useful!

I'm really hoping someday a special set of this just for singers will be created ustiliing the noise cancelling feature to combat the 'occlusion' effect that plagues musicians earplugs and IEM monitoring systems.

As thing stand I'm just going to be using 'musicians' noise blocking earplugs with filters for now.

Appreciate all the info though

[Fulltimemuso in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi thanks for this, I've already had a chat with Tinnitus Uk and seen the website. I think that's how I found my way here

Appreciate the extra info though, it's all helping me build a picture of how it works and I feel I'm gradually becoming a 'expert' on the topic! All the best to you too.

[Tal-r789T]

Hi, so I can only relate my experience and maybe that may help; I have hearing loss in both ears at the top end of the range. I noticed during the first lockdown that I was getting more ringing and that it was gradually getting louder. In 2022 I noticed it getting a lot worse. I had a hearing test as I couldn't hear my wife when she spoke to me. Now I have hearing aids and T. The T is a constant ring, both ears. Hearing loss is both ears.

In hindsight, I probably made some bad choices when I was younger with my hearing and could have done more to protect it. That being said my hearing has never been great - friends constantly used to remark and I had difficulty in social settings to hear conversations clearly.

So what came first? Hearing loss or T? For me I suspect the T is a symptom of the gradual hearing loss as it got progressively worse and then I noticed not being able to hear people. I suspect the T is probably affecting my ability to hear other sounds now. This will probably sound weird but I think that the T now blocks the perception of other sounds in the same frequency range.

I'm 48 now, so have had the progressive worsening since about the age of 45.

I recently attended a gig and although I turned my hearing aids right down I don't believe I noticed any spiking in my T. Ironically something else has done that, and I suspect general stress does that now!

[doglover1973]

You have wonderful hearing for your age. Treasure it. Take good care of your ears.

[Fulltimemuso in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks, yes doing my best!