Normally i would not post this but something is seriously starting to annoy me. Over the past few weeks, or even months I've had moments when I suddenly get this weird shrill peep in my head. The problem is that it ain't in the background, it's totally overpowering everything else. And it seems this is both happening more often and gets increasingly louder to the point of being pretty uncomfortable. I have no idea what it could be, haven't been exposed to loud sounds much at all, use low volume on my headphones and generally haven't been in a situation that could have caused this. To make it weirder, it seems to happen completely randomly: when I'm having a quiet conversation, when walking a busy road or when I'm tottally alone, it doesn't seem to have much of an influence.
Anyone who has had this and can tell me how to get rid of it? Would be much appreciated.
Hmm, thanks.
Tinnitus is not itself a disease but an unwelcome symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes, including ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, and injury from loud noises. Tinnitus is also a side-effect of some oral medications.
I doubt it's wax, I'm pretty anal about that. I don't use presrcibed drugs either and I definitely do not have foreign objects in my ear. It does make me wonder what kind of objects people usually have in their ear though. No idea about ear infections but I wouldn't know how that would be the case. I looked at the full list of possible causes, with a list that long I'm glad it didn't include 'breathing'. :D
LOTS of electric guitarists have tinnitus due to noise injury. Not much you can do, really, once you've got it. It's best prevented.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Not trying to make lite of the matter by any means but I often tell friends that "I spend half my time answering the phone and it isn't ringing" I do suffer from Tinnitus which in my case is an almost constant ringing in my ears, There are other forms which were described on the link provided. In my case alcohol or even aspirin seems to increase the perceived noise level. My problem I think stems from not protecting my ears from loud noises when I was younger. In any event my first suggestion would be to go to a doctor to see if there is any physical reason for the noise, if not I am sure an ear specialist would be contacted. I do not know how easy this is to accomplish in a different country. Good luck Arjen.
Robbie
Richochet: yeah, that's what I thought first. But I've been only playing for three years, practice at conversation level, have only been to three or so loud concerts and always insist on playing quietly at rehearsals. It just doesn't make sense to me to attribute it to noise exposure.
Robbie: Sorry to hear that. Do you happen to know if noise induces tinnitus always results in a more or less permanent sound? That's what my uneducated guess is, and if so that wouldn't be it for me. It's appears very fast and can fade away after a few seconds or a minute. Alchohol doesn't make a difference with me by the way.
Seeing a doctor or specialist is pretty easy in Holland and all expenses are automatically taken care of. So technically that would be an excellent idea but I'd still rather not do that, if possible. If nothing comes up and this continues I think I'll do just that.
Seeing a doctor is the best bet. I found this, by the way, which in part says it can be continuous or intermittent:
Why not go see a doctor, if it doesn't cost anything? It can't take too much time out of your day to find out exactly what is wrong, if anything, and how it might be cured. It seems like the best idea for someone, like a musician, who values their hearing.
Arjen. it is possible to develop tintinitus from other sources than our beloved guitars and amps. driving with the window down, head out the train window, train depots, foods, alcohol, large crowds and hard indoor surfaces, all create decibel levels that can cause harm.
one's threshold can be quite different than anothers.
hows your blood pressure? high blood pressure may not cause ear damage but it can create sounds of all kinds.
being in Holland you have the advantage of proper care that often is too expensive for us on this side of the ocean.
do it before your problem could become chronic.
hope it could merely be the rice tafel. (spelling?)
I have high pitched frequencies all the time now. mettalic sounds are painful. dishes settling in the dryer rack also hurt.
my problem arose from the factory work I did when I was younger . most times it doesnt bother me or hamper my guitar playing. loud crowds in rooms keep me from catching a complete conversation someitmes.
when I go camping I really notice it because it is so quiet out in the woods.
I can diminsh the noise by deep breathing; it lowers my blood pressure.
that's why I mentioned that.
Tinnitus sucks. I know exactly when it happened...
Hopefully, you'll find a simple cause for the voices in your head...
