Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Mon, Jan 28 2013, 4:25PM
There must be other music lovers who suffer from this plague. How do you cope? One method I find effective is to follow the music with the score: the concentration involved takes my mind off the hissing. However, mainly for reasons of space, it is not possible to have scores for every piece in one's record library.
Mon, Jan 28 2013, 6:30PM
#2
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
I use especially classical music to help with my tinnititus, I try not to sit in silence at any time as it can become annoying.
Thu, Feb 21 2013, 11:09PM
#3
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
I take it you have tried a hearing aid in the ear that has the problem.
Sun, Feb 24 2013, 3:30PM
#4
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Yes, I have hearing-aids for both ears. They were effective for a while until the tinnitus got worse.
Sun, Feb 24 2013, 4:33PM
#5
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Hearing aids are effective by applifying the sounds that the ear is no longer hearing. Tinnitus is often the brain applying 'white noise' to replace the frequencies it knows it is missing. If the hearing aids were initially effective it may simply be that you hearing has got worse and you are missing a greater range of sounds. Your old hearing aid is effectively only boosting the ranges it was initally set for. A trip back to the hospital to have a new hearing aid may greatly improve your tinnitus. Most people on this site will tell you, I used to be a doctor.
Wed, Feb 27 2013, 1:25PM
#6
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Thank you very much! I have made an appointment. It is nice to come across a doctor who doesn't just dismiss one with, "You'll just have to learn to live with it!" - without any advice on how to do so.
Mon, Mar 4 2013, 1:19PM
#7
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Do let me know how you get on Adrian, always pleased to be of help.
Wed, Mar 6 2013, 1:14PM
#8
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
@ Schiller Kant.
Thank you for your interest. The hearing aid specialist increased the volume at a frequency roughly corresponding to the tinnitus. It is difficult to say whether this improved the masking effect since as soon as one starts listening to one's tinnitus...
He also said, to my slightly shocked surprise, that the aids would have to be replaced soon - after only five years - as they are showing signs of wear. Oh well, another £2,000 to fork out. (I chose "Widex", mentioned in 'Gramophone' about ten years ago, as they specialize in hearing aids for music listening. The result is certainly far superior to another make I tried.
Thu, Mar 14 2013, 4:32PM
#9
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
Thanks for all the advice. I have moderately progressive hearing loss in one ear and signs of incipient tinnitus. Will take all of your commentd into consideration if it becomes more than just incipient.
george
Fri, Mar 15 2013, 4:02PM
#10
RE: Tinnitus and Listening to Music
The Tinnitus Clinic in Harley Street offers a new treatment, developed in Germany, called Acoustic CR (= coordinated reset) Neuromodulation. They claim a 70% success rate - and it is a cure, not an adaptation like TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy). Full details on their site but it is very expensive: £4,000 for a special device plus the cost of monthly consultations over a period of 9 months. I live in France so it is quite beyond my pocket.
As a fellow sufferer I buy the best equipment available and then just pretend that I am listening to a cheap cassette recorder before dolby was invented. I refuse to clean my room and don't talk to anyone around me, I just grunt occassionally. It's like going back in time, I swear I feel younger.