TINNITUS SUCKS:

How to Avoid Ringing Ears and Protect Your Hearing

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28/03/21

Usman Yousaf from unsplash

Think back to the last gig you went to. It probably began with a few drinks at the bar, followed by idly watching the support acts before charging to the barrier to get as close to your music heroes as the venue security will allow. After all the singing, clapping and unintelligible screaming, the band bode their farewells, the lights went up and you wandered out into the night. Once you got to the quiet of your home, you may have noticed an internal ringing or buzzing noise, seemingly coming from inside your head. That was tinnitus and it was your ears telling you that they didn’t appreciate the noise you just subjected them to. No need to panic though, it is a common occurrence after being around loud noise for an extended period of time and it probably wore off after a few hours. Unfortunately for some people, that ringing noise doesn’t go away and for 1 in 8 people in the UK, it is something they have to learn to live with. Luckily only a small majority of those with the condition will have their quality of life affected (1).

This blog aims to answer some common questions about tinnitus using my personal experiences, knowledge and a bit of research. Tinnitus comes in many forms and there are various physical and mental triggers, so for the sake of time, we will only be focussing on noise-induced tinnitus today.

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What is tinnitus?

In my late teens and early 20s, I played bass in a couple of very loud punk bands. Though I generally consider those years to be some of the best in my life, (so far) they came at a cost. I only started using hearing protection about a year into my first band and that short time with no protection may have caused irreversible damage.

I developed permanent tinnitus and hyperacusis (severe sensitivity to noise) after a gig in 2018 where I stupidly forgot to put my ear defenders in, however, it is unlikely that this one occasion was the sole trigger. Temporary noise-induced tinnitus is an indicator that your ears are at risk of being damaged. Think of it as an early warning alarm from your body telling you to keep away from loud noise. The temporary nature of this form of tinnitus may leave you unaware, as I was, of the damage afflicted (2) and can be a sign of permanent tinnitus and other auditory problems, such as hyperacusis, and hearing loss in the future (2,3). Tinnitus, for me, is a ringing in both ears but it's difficult to describe beyond that. If you've seen Saving Private Ryan, specifically the opening scene, the ringing noise heard by Captain Miller after a mortar explodes behind him is almost exactly what I hear, however, everyone experiences it differently. Other sounds I've heard of from other people with tinnitus include; buzzing, whooshing and hissing. Unfortunately, but quite interestingly, the dad of a close friend developed tinnitus after getting earwax removed as his eardrum was damaged in the process. I wasn't aware that this could give you tinnitus, but the more you know...

How can you prevent tinnitus in the first place?

Nobody wants to quit going to gigs, however, wearing earplugs is the safest way to enjoy live music with less risk of developing hearing problems. Of course, everybody’s ears are unique and will tolerate sound differently so earplugs are not always 100% preventative, however, without them hearing damage developing over time is almost certainly guaranteed.

Now I’m not an expert, but as someone who experiences tinnitus daily, I can confirm that earplugs are essential if you plan on frequently going to gigs/clubs when restrictions are lifted. Ears come in all shapes and sizes so there are a variety of defenders to choose from. I’ll leave some links at the bottom of the blog.

Whenever I used to harass my old bandmates into getting earplugs, I heard the same old excuses; “they’re uncomfortable” or “I can’t hear anything with them in”. Granted it feels different to having nothing in your ears but it’s the best way to get as much out of your music playing/ listening days. For the best results, I would recommend ACS Custom earplugs (not sponsored). They cost a bit more than the average earplug but they're one of the best out there because each pair is custom moulded to your ears and have changeable filters so you can choose how much sound you want to cut out for different environments.

Should you be worried about it?

Yes… and no. I’m not writing this blog to scare you, but if you frequently go to gigs, clubs and listen to lots of loud music on headphones, you’re putting yourself at a much higher risk of developing hearing problems. Frequent exposure to noise levels above 90Db will increase the risk of hearing damage (sound levels are often measured using decibels or Db). For reference, the average Db at a gig is about 115 so be mindful of how often you’re subjecting your ears to this level of noise. Here are some screenshots from a handy app I use to measure sound levels if I'm ever concerned.

If you have started experiencing any tinnitus or loss of hearing recently, go and see your doctor for a hearing test. If you have any questions or concerns, dm me on Instagram @willturnerbass and I'll be happy to try and answer them for you or at least point you towards someone who can.

Stay safe and positive out there and plug your ears!

Will.

Earplugs:

ACS Pro (custom fit) - For serious musicians or those who regularly attend gigs.

ACS PACATO (universal fit) - Great if you occasionally go to clubs/ gigs.

Alpine (universal fit) - I bought these as Xmas presents for my first band <3

Flare Audio (universal fit) - I've heard great things about Flare Audio, but never use them. Let me know what you think if you get them!

References:

1 - British Tinnitus Association (2019). 'What is tinnitus?' tinnitus.org (online) Accessed: 21/03/21.

2 - Weisz N, Hartmann T, Dohrmann K, Schlee W, Norena A (2006) 'High-frequency tinnitus without hearing loss does not mean absence of deafferentation.' Hear Res 222: 108–114.

3 - Kujawa SG, Liberman MC (2006) 'Acceleration of age-related hearing loss by early noise exposure: evidence of a misspent youth.' J Neurosci 26: 2115–2123.