Hello everyone. I’m not even a jazz enthusiast, but I found this community while looking for information on tinnitus. Please, stop turning the volume all the way up and avoid standing at the very front of concerts. It does nothing but damage your hearing. Many of you have been lucky enough to attend shows without protection and come out fine. My experience was different. At my very first concert—where I wasn’t even in the front row—I developed permanent tinnitus despite wearing ear protection. It is devastating. Since it started, I’ve lost weight, my job, my ability to focus, and the comfort of silence. I can’t sleep anymore. I used to think the occasional ringing after a night out was no big deal as long as it went away, but that ringing actually indicates permanent damage. I wish I had understood that sooner. I was never someone who sought out loud environments; I only went to a club a handful of times and one single concert. That was all it took to trap me in this cycle of tinnitus and hyperacusis. I’m writing this to spread the word. Noise can destroy your quality of life. Don’t use earbuds at high volumes, always use hearing protection, and understand that even then, it might not be enough. When sounds hit 110 or 130 dB, standard plugs can’t stop the damage. As a former med student, it’s frustrating how little people know about this. Everyone understands hearing loss, but nobody cares about tinnitus until they are stuck with it for life. It’s heartbreaking to see my friends continue to go to loud events without any protection even after seeing what happened to me. It’s pure recklessness. You only have one set of ears. Take care of them. Even if you feel young and invincible, or especially if you love music, protect your ability to live a normal life. Silence isn’t guaranteed. Stay safe.
I used to keep a container of foam plugs in my car for loud shows, and eventually upgraded to a better reusable set. I haven’t needed them as much lately though. I’ve noticed that smaller jazz venues don’t usually reach those extreme volumes, particularly if you stay toward the back. My watch hasn’t given me any noise warnings at jazz clubs like it does at rock shows. Fortunately, my tinnitus is very mild, and I’m determined to keep it that way.
My music college actually requires a hearing safety course before we can graduate. To put it simply, our ears were designed for the volume of human speech. Nature is generally very quiet and nuanced. Our ears just aren’t built to handle the massive amounts of acoustic energy we throw at them today. There are specific exposure limits for different decibel levels that everyone should know. Regarding instruments, drums, violins, and bagpipes are some of the biggest risks. Interestingly, the violin is the instrument most frequently linked to hearing issues. However, the bulk of hearing damage globally actually occurs in industrial and trade jobs. Stay safe out there.
Reading this thread just made me notice my own ringing again, thanks for the reminder.
Tinnitus is the worst. I wanted to mention some hopeful news: there is real progress being made in treatments. There’s a new category of devices designed to train the brain to ignore the phantom sounds. One method involves mild tongue stimulation to help recalibrate how the brain processes sensory data. I’m not a medical professional, just someone who follows the research, but it’s very promising. Hopefully, these treatments become more common and affordable soon.
I always make sure to wear plugs when I’m playing the trumpet. Are you suggesting that even that might not be sufficient?
I appreciate you sharing this perspective. Tinnitus is a massive hurdle, and not just for those in music; it’s a huge issue for veterans as well. I’ve found that educating myself on the latest clinical research has helped me cope. I definitely recommend looking into the American Tinnitus Association (ata.org) for their resources. Also, for daily protection, I’ve been using EarProMax lately and they’re quite comfortable. There are established management techniques like TRT and CBT that can help, so don’t lose hope.
I can’t support this message enough. I didn’t go to rock concerts, but I spent years in jazz and classical groups playing saxophone. One day, I just noticed a ringing while I was in bed, and it never left. I haven’t known true silence in years. Modern hearing protection has come a long way from the foam plugs that ruin the sound quality; you can get great high-fidelity reusables for around $30. If you are a professional musician, I strongly urge you to see an audiologist for custom-molded plugs. They might cost $150, but if you’re serious about music, you can’t afford not to have them. The alternative is permanent damage that happens without warning. If you talk to older musicians, the vast majority will tell you they wish they had been more careful. Protection should be considered an essential piece of gear, just like your instrument itself.
You will eventually habituate to the sound; your brain is capable of tuning it out over time. Things like mindfulness and biofeedback can really help manage the associated stress. There is also new research showing success with certain treatments. You’re going to be alright!