Let's talk about TINNITUS

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00:00 One Billion Young People
01:10 My Own Hearing Loss
01:50 Awareness and prevention
02:11 Decibels
03:25 Lessen the risk
03:54 Pre-order my debut album!
04:10 The Studies
07:04 Tinnitus 🥁

[@MarySpender]

💔 Get your signed copy of *Super. Sexy. Heartbreak.* here: bit.ly/supersexyheartbreak Share your story below!

[@TroyNaumu808]

Thank you Mary Spender 😊

[@Rick_Cleland]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻

[@pipkingdom]

Never recovered from wearing headphones on film sets for 12 hours a day. Ring ring!!!

[@jimi272]

According to another recent study, the study you mentioned is largely false… according to it, all these previous studies didn’t different music from loud noise. I can send you the link to it if you want, might be good to correct the video as in my opinion, as I think all aspect of this controversial topic should be considered!!! Best, Jonathan

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@jimi272 Well, that's just one of the problems with pooled analysis. Epidemiologicla research is difficult, and if you had even a passing familiarity with it, you'd know that, and understand that the study in question was never intended as definitive reasearch. Laypeople gonna layperson, I guess.

[@auralsonicwaves7170]

I have developed tinnitus after many years playing in bands, attending loud music venues and concerts, and occasionally cranking up the loudspeakers at home. There is no place on earth that is quiet to me anymore as there is this constant high pitched ringing in my head. Mary is absolutely truthful in everything she says in her video and we must make sure that the younger generations know how to protect their hearing.

[@AlDunbar]

I've had tinnitus since about age 30. I'm lucky, though, because it's not extreme and usually sounds like birds chirping. I go long periods without noticing or thinking about it. What bothers me the most is not being able to experience real quietness like I used to. I can't even imagine what it could be like. My hearing is poor enough that I eventually got hearing aids, and they are great. I have heard that they can help tinnitus sufferers. Hard to say in my case, they seem to sometimes replace the bird chirps with a soft white noise that is easier to ignore. Not sure what caused my tinnitus, I was in a band for a few years in high school, but have no idea of the decibels we generated.

[@johnkruton9708]

I got hearing aides at age 50. I’m not at all bothered by that fact. I know I influenced a few co workers my age to get them too. I’d have to say I loved loud music as a teen and was a budding audiophile in my 20’s. I got a manufacturing job where 120db is normal. Earplugs were worn and when needed earmuffs included. Problem is you have a hard time communicating with a coworker when its most critical (riveting aircraft skins is a 2 person job) so you’d remove half an ear muff to hear better. Just as another person is blasting away with a rivet gun. Hearing loss took 20 years to manifest itself and now I have to use noise cancelling ear muffs to help in a “white noise” air handler environment. Frequency of your hearing loss is the key. Mine is mid frequency where most voices exist. So i found like Dave Grohl said, I’ve been reading lips for years. I have to but context is important. Hearing aides have fixed my prior tinnitus but I’d rather have my hearing back. I’m still learning guitar, piano and drums and I hope my hearing stays stable enough to enjoy those hobbies into retirement.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Hey, we flew airplanes without headsets, and fired shotguns. And cranked up the Vox to 11. Yeah, I wish the sounds would go away. My audiologist humored me and we nailed down the frequencies! If I knew back then, what I know now ...

[@treetopjones737]

For the common simple NOT CONSTANT "ringing ear", white noise calms the ear to stop it. Cup two hands together so sound bounces into your ear and make SHHHHHH shower sound with your mouth, time needed will vary. This is not guaranteed for a more serious ear issue.

[@itsElanDARE]

Yup. I'm a musician myself and I always pride myself in taking care of my hearing. I played ONE gig where I had forgotten my ear protectors, and that did it. I got tinnitus ever since. You do need to be careful EVERY time. You never know what situation could affect you for the rest of your life...

[@springertube]

As a kid through teens, I used to go shooting in the woods with my father and we never wore protection (yes, am that old when folks didn't do that. Now, like smoking, you wonder - was 'no-protection' ever a thing, really?). As a lefty, I think that explains my predominantly left-side tinnitus, but like most with a number of other at least moderately bad indiscretions over time, I think attendance at a particularly rockin' concert fifteen years ago sealed the deal - 2nd row at an arena, sitting to the side in front of a major stack of Marshalls and speaker towers. That was really bad. I was really kicking myself for no protection as I should've known better by then.

[@MrRezRising]

I'm a drummer. Protected my hearing for decades. ONE street drummer wailed on a Roc Bloc and BAM! Utter pain in both ears....and I had a new friend that never shuts up, and yeah, I'm listening to it right now. That was Sept 27th, 2017. I wish I could get my hands on that guy for just two minutes.

[@Paweljansienkiewicz]

The same here, I didnt have plugs for 15 minutes during music video recording... It was 6 months ago and still have it. It changed my life.

[@jonathanwingmusic]

Same here, I grew up playing drums and when I was a teenager one of my bandmates' mom was actually an audiologist - so she insisted we always wear ear plugs during practice. From there on out it become a habit I took pride in, whether I was performing or simply going to a concert - always wore protection. Then earlier this year I ended up at a last-minute friend's concert without protection, where I was standing fairly close to the mains, and since then the ringing is just kinda always there. 😿

[@davidg5898]

I've been wearing earplugs (rated at 32 dB sound reduction) at concerts since my early 20s. It actually makes the music better -- I can hear it completely clearly while still feeling the vibrations in my body. My tinnitus hasn't gotten any worse, that I can tell, since I started wearing them.

[@trevorlambert4226]

Yes, because pretty much every concert is objectively way too loud. It's a weird cultural thing, where they think you have to be assaulted by the sound. Maybe they're worried if you can hear anything else you might not be paying attention.

[@Void-Realm]

Which ones do you use? Do you have any recommendations or things I should look out for? I'm using those cheap ones that you get free at venues, but I probably need ones that are small enough for my ear canal. The standard ones are too big to fit. I already have some intermittent tinnitus. Had grommets as a kid and I struggle to hear if multiple sounds are happening. So I really need to protect myself from a further decline.

[@Merlincat007]

@Christina I'm not the OP but I like the cheap high-fidelity earplugs with the triple flanges and a flat filter on the end. I've got them from Eargasm and many other brands seem to be the same product

[@davidg5898]

@@Void-Realm It depends on where you're using them. For the absurd volume of concerts, I use Mack's foam earplugs and they sound clear. But at mid-loud levels they sound a little muffled. Also, they may feel uncomfortable after some time if you have thinner ear canals. For mid-loud situations (like band practice), Eargasm is the way to go and they have different sizes. They're specifically designed for clarity of sound and attenuate by 21-23dB vs the 32dB of Mack's.

[@bazzbazz8839]

@@Void-Realm I struggle with the disposable ear plugs (I ride a motorcycle). I find the custom fit silicone ones are great, easy to fit and carry. Most hearing specialists do them, worth the money for the piece of mind that they fit properly. They are in the region of £60 to £150 a pair.

[@DouweBuruma]

I have tinnitus for about 6 years now, I was a sound engineer in a live band, at one night after a gig the ringing didn’t stop, I was in panic, I suffered from depression for months, now I’ve learned to live with it. Thank you Mary for making this video.

[@cheerbeerification]

I think it's important to note that the decibel scale is logarithmic. Every 10dB is a doubling of sound energy. So 90dB is twice as loud as 80dB. 100dB is 4 times louder than 80dB. 110dB is 8 times louder than 80dB. I've had so many people tell me "it's only 20dB louder, that's not much.". They simply don't understand the reality.

[@Mexxx65]

Underrated comment

[@chriswest1996]

You're right, but you're wrong. It's logarithmic, but it isn't doubling, it's 10x for each 10dB, so 110dB is 1,000 times louder than 80dB

[@alecepting1371]

@@chriswest1996 3 dB is twice.

[@electricurinal]

@@alecepting1371 3dB increase requires double the power to a speaker able to produce it. If a speaker puts out 100dB with 20 watts, it will need 40 watts to put out 103dB... and 80 watts to put out 106dB, etc. So you are correct in terms of power requirement. But the OP is correct also in terms of perceived loudness to the human ear.

[@Rustinho]

Also worth bearing in mind that distance from the sound source dramatically reduces the energy of the sound wave. Double the distance from the sound source and you effectively lose 6dB.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Thanks for this. One result of hearing loss you didn't mention is an increasing sense of isolation, which can lead to depression. After a while, you get tired of constantly asking "What?" - and you can tell people become more annoyed each time you do - so you stop asking. You only catch parts of conversations, so you often stop bothering to stay engaged at all. You retreat, alone, into your own silent bubble (silent except for the tinnitus). I was not a musician, attended few loud concerts as a youth, did not live in an especially loud environment, but have always preferred listening to music with over-the-ear headphones. Now, at 68, with tinnitus, I face the dilemma of not being able to hear very well, so I turn the volume up in my headphones, which surely is damaging my hearing more, which means I'll need to turn it up even louder in the future. Advice from older people to younger people too often falls, ironically, on deaf ears, but I urge all young people to take hearing protection seriously, or you will regret it.

[@MrChopsticktech]

I have to wear over-the-ear headphones. Ear-bud type are uncomfortable in my left ear and fall out of my right ear because the ear canal is too big. Ear plugs are fine because they expand.

[@RobertJones-rd5wl]

Have you tried bone conduction headphones? Shokz is the most popular brand. The sound quality is not as good as normal headphones but it definitely saves your hearing! To make it sound slightly better, they can be used together with earplugs.

[@JacoWium]

I completely identify with everything you wrote here. In our youth, we all feel indestructible and it is almost 'natural' to disregard the inconvenient words of advice from the oh-so-boring elders. But yes, today I understand that they really did know more than me... We always find these things out too late, alas.

[@johnsmith-ky5qg]

I am slightly older, have had tinnitus since my mid 50s. You describe perfectly the tragedy of aquiring the wisdom you need 30/40 years after you needed it. As a teen I would never have started smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and eating all the worst foods for health. Oh well, maybe our future AI overlords WILL know better :)

[@johnkemas7344]

I have a brother who is developing and has severe hearing loss and he is now in this boat. He denies he has hearing loss and tells his grown adult kids he just is not paying attention to them , or anyone else for that matter. He only knows you are trying to talk to him and you spin him around look him in the eye and say something to him. Then he gets mad and says he can hear you ok!!

[@growinginportland]

I’ve had tinnitus since 1997 when I turn 28 years old. Wish I would’ve been told about using earplugs when I was a DJ when I was younger. No one talked about it. These videos are so important preach on Mary appreciate you.

[@Zundfolge]

You and I are the same age and it was probably about the same time that I noticed my tinnitus. The biggest advice I have for young musicians (and car guys ... and shooters ... and fabricators ... and wood workers) is to always wear your ear pro.

[@OliverBatchelor]

I've had tinnitus since a similar age, getting louder more recently, but I don't recall ever participating in any activity that would damage my hearing.

[@Zundfolge]

@@OliverBatchelor Note that its not always loud noise that causes it (I'm pretty sure it is for me though). Tinnitus can also be caused by (or exacerbated by) other medical issues (particularly cardio-vascular), or just good old fashioned aging.

[@growinginportland]

@@Zundfolge Yes. Wear Ear Plugs. I never did. Thought I was indestructible. I now have a permanent ring tone in my left ear, where I placed the headphones while spinning records. As a result I can no longer use headphones as any loud sound close to my ears causes pain.

[@growinginportland]

@@OliverBatchelor It can be any combination of loud sounds that can cause it over time. I used to be in a support group for Tinnitus. I had to consult a mother and daughter once who went to a Motley Crew concert together to celebrate only to both come home with Tinnitus. One concert ruined their hearing.

[@CraigJanssenDesigner]

Really good video Mary. I’m a pro sound engineer with tinnitus and can attest to the fact that it’s a really big deal in music and sound engineering circles. You addressed all the main causes and solutions very accurately. For those who get tinnitus it can be incredibly anxiety laden, potentially leading to depression. It physically depletes you as it affects sleep which exacerbates the issues. A couple thoughts for anyone getting tinnitus. Firstly know that you are not alone, and that there is help available in a variety of paths. Start with a medical exam to rule out (or address) an illness such as Meunier’s disease. Second get a hearing test with a professional audiologist. Those audiologists who specialize in tinnitus are preferred as they will run a wide frequency test and identify the level/loudness of your tinnitus with matching tones. It’s very common that your tinnitus frequency will match a dip in your hearing response. Mine is at 12.5khz with a lower harmonic. Third get some counseling, preferable CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). A simplistic view of this is that you learn to reframe the problem and decide that the tinnitus does not matter. It’s very effective. Forth, start with tinnitus retraining therapy. This sounds fancy, but in essence it means running relatively low level steady state noise (pink noise or waves, etc) for multiple hours a day. I used Aftershox bone conduction headphones with low level noise for about 6 months. Fifth, get with your doctor to get advice on medication that will stabilize you if you are having anxiety attacks, help you to sleep and reduce depression if you are experiencing that. Keep in mind that tinnitus is literally in your mind unless it’s a medical illness of the ear or generated by ototoxic drugs. The working theory is that your brain goes into protect mode and turns up your hearing at the frequency of hearing loss. Your body can react as if you are under threat and go into panic mode. But it’s not real and once you learn that, it settles down. Sixth, you probably know several people who suffer from tinnitus, some who might have had it for years. Taking to them helps as most will say “yeah I have ringing in my ears all the time, but it’s no big deal, you get used to it and grow to accept it”. Seriously, you will get used to it and it won’t rule your life. Finally, for goodness sake DO NOT watch the flaky videos that promise total recovery if you will just tap on the back or your head, or take high doses of B12 and any of the other snake oil offerings that run around You Tube. Again, Mary thanks for putting out such an important and well rehearsed video.

[@PMCN53]

Very well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@jayall00]

Wonderful explanation. I had tinnitus so bad I felt like I was gonna pass out if I focused on the noise. However there's two things that quite literally cured me of it. A year later, and it's completely gone. I can't even remember the pitch of the sound. Firstly, I knew the noise was all in my mind, because of the type of work I used to do (worked in a loud kitchen, lots of noise and stress combined) and the high-pitched whine suddenly stuck in my head one night rather than dissipate the way it always did. This got me worked up for weeks, as the noise only got worse. I tried to drown it out with radio, TV, etc. and this only got me through the night. You can train yourself not to think about it and this helps but it's always there, and it'll come back and bite you if you don't tackle the source of it. So here's how I got rid of it completely. One of the KEY things that brought it on and what I believe causes it is CAFFEINE. It was over-stimulating my senses and I knew it, even if I had one sip of coffee before work. People underestimate how much of an addictive drug caffeine is, and how it changes your perception and the way you concentrate on things (esp. NOISE!!!). When I cut it out COMPLETELY, cold turkey, I started to focus on other things, and the noise became something in the back of my head that I had to actually think about in order to start hearing it again. 1-2 weeks of no caffeine whatsoever, and I actually started to forget that I had tinnitus. That deep ringing noise emanating from the middle of my head had subsided, and was eventually gone. I only ever have decaf coffee now, and even then I try to limit that. The other thing that seriously helped is this incredible thing called Lavender. No, not chamomile. Chamomile is a sedative that makes you sleepy, it does not help whatsoever. Lavender on the other hand calms and relaxes both your senses and your nerves; the exact opposite of what a stimulant like caffeine does. When I couldn't take the noise, I would steep a teaspoon and a half of lavender buds. As soon as I drank, the noise fizzled away and was almost unnoticeable. It also counteracts the anxious/jittering effects of caffeine, so if you really need that morning cup, try adding pure lavender to it. Hope this helps anyone dealing with tinnitus or anxiety. I'm also curious why nobody mentions either of these things (caffeine & lavender). I'd say anyone with tinnitus needs to be prescribed lavender and told to cut out all caffeine *completely,* without hesitation. but I'm no doctor =)

[@wonderwoman4875]

⁠I always thought lavender helped me too. I’m going through a setback and lavender pills help me get through a bad bout of tinnitus.

[@carlostonebanks]

Craig, may I repost your comment on the Facebook Tinnitus Sufferers page? I am a musician/producer, and I think that your advice would be very helpful. It's scary how many people are not only depressed, but turning to snake oil and conspiracy theories for comfort.

[@CraigJanssenDesigner]

Hi Carlos, happy to have you repost it.

[@jeanmarcpisapia]

I've been a lead singer in a very loud Canadian pop band for 40 years now and I've literally plugged my ears onstage for the last 20. I mean plugged! I hear the music on stage way better than before and although I do have a bit of tinnitus (bearable) I haven't lost any of my hearing abilities and I'm 65 years old. Cheers!

[@wraith_1171]

Wow, you just took me back to being a kid in Ottawa. I believe I liked The Box's "Closer Together" the best but I'd have to go back and listen. Really liked your band, thanks!

[@brianwhittington5086]

Wasn't hearing damage the reason Brian Johnson of AC DC fame, was forced to take a long break in 2016 ?

[@robertthurman9866]

@@brianwhittington5086 Yes, but a very new and different treatment method got him up and running again. Not so sure about the rest of the band though. A lot of mileage on those guys.

[@brianwhittington5086]

@robertthurman9866 Yes, they've lived the rock n roll lifestyle to excess. The way Angus runs around, he must wear out a pair of shoes each month 😁

[@jeanmarcpisapia]

@@theissancowbell That's the point I tried to make for so many years as a lead singer that I finally gave up...

[@brockm4047]

Thank you for producing this video. I am 43 years old, a metal fan, and have always used common sense with my sound levels. My hearing is great. I avoid hearing fatigue and because of my diligence my ears are doing great. Take this serious and rock on. 🤘

[@XanderYTV]

Tinnitus sucks. I've got it permanently already at the ripe age of 24. Some days it causes me extreme anxiety. Mine is not extremely loud but still noticeable at many times throughout my daily life. I've had to adapt my habits to help distract from it and lessen the anxiety when I do notice it. It's part of life for many of us. And I wish there was a cure. All we can do is hope for a better day and keep going. Don't let the buzz, whoosh, or ringing get you down. Good luck everybody.

[@deandee8082]

I've got weird thing going on with my ears, its bizarre, like whooshing and so forth, I did something to my ear one day and woke up ringing so loud, extremely loud, I've had ringing from earwax so I went on a crusade to remove the wax and that helped sum, but now and again it rings so loud I think it's something from somewhere, I've listened to loud music, played loud guitars, worked construction and experienced helmet noise to the point my ears rings when I am done riding over 50 years now.. that day woke up my ears ringing super loud I remembered doing something to my ear but not exactly what, today it's just a fog, don't get old those things happen.. I thought tinnitus was from an infection like mold something I dont think its that it goes away for weeks, I believe I have a few things going on, exactly what I dunno, someo noise some wax, more wax that anything else, I do remember sticking my finger in that same ear and pushing a bunch of wax down there, prolly still there, doc looked said it all looks good? hale I dunno, crank up the tunes or the guitar and it goes away... lol also I get odd nasal stuff all the time since I moved, allergies I believe high desert pollen, bt it can be so dry it gives me headaches to dripping the next day.. so odd

[@ryeen94]

I've had mine for the past 2.5 years now (got it from an ear infection). The anxiety is crippling sometimes, but I just keep going on! We got this.

[@johnathanwilkerson518]

HeyI felt the same way, I’m years into it, I felt the same way for the first couple years, now it’s more than manageable, I try to see it as two separate problems, anxiety and tinnitus, they are separate, focusing on my physical and mental health has helped immensely, good luck! ❤️❤️❤️

[@hristiyanavalkova6665]

I’m 26 years old bassist and a singer with tinnitus. I really wish I knew more when I was younger. Thank you for spreading awareness and for making this video! 🙏

[@innerstream]

This relates to start talking about vestibular health …..hearing loss risks, loss of balance, vertigo, headaches, depression and anxiety that go with it. Veterans also experience this due to call of duty risks….construction workers, etc.

[@michaeljvdh]

I have tinnitus, I have had it for 12 years, my level is at the level where people have requested euthanasia, I nearly lost my mind. I am 70% Deaf in one ear and 40% in the other !!! I read lips more than I use my hearing !!! YET, I still play my guitar, and enjoy what I can hear ... I am miles ahead of what your mentioning, and I am doing fine. Don't lose your passion because of a disability, you will get used to what you can hear, and still find audio quiet enjoyable. I had to retrain my psych, to fall in love with life again !! it's been really hard. Most people will also forget within minutes of you telling them your struggle ! ... just take a deep breath, and know one day God will give it all back to you, be it here or in the next life. Thank you for raising awareness here Mary. Take care people.

[@davidp2888]

I've had tinnitus for decades. As a teen in the late 70's/early 80's I listened to music at obscene levels, both with and without headphones. It's too late for me to say "I wish I'd made better decisions" because my hearing is already compromised. Thank you for keeping this important topic in the forefront, Mary.

[@kenzuercher7497]

I am a 70 year old guitarist and have had issues with hearing for quite awhile.Just before my 70th birthday I went to an audiologist and found that I had fairly severe hearing loss. I did have to stop teaching in a public school due to being unable to understand the kids. I do sound periodically and found that if I set the sound up to peak at 90 dB (outside)20 feet in front of the band that it sounds much better and is noticeably lower volume than other people set it. Also no one complains that it isn't loud enough.. My hearing aids have made me able to participate in conversations I would have given up on and participate in life much better. Mary's serious treatment of the subject is a needed wake up to all of us in a noisy carrier. Thank you much!

[@faltarego]

When I was in high school, I woke up one morning with a feeling that my right ear was blocked. It wasn't. The hearing had simply diminished on that side, and there was a constant ringing in that ear. I went to my doctor, then to specialists, and there was nothing to be done. I'm now in my sixties, and the tinnitus has never gone away. I don't always notice it, and I can still hear out of my right ear (though in a diminished capacity), but it's always there. I'm aware of it right now, because I just watched a video about it 🙂, and I notice it when my surroundings are very quiet, but fortunately it doesn't seem to have negatively impacted my ability to experience the world. But to this day, I still don't know what caused it. It literally just appeared overnight. Puzzling and frustrating. Thank you for this video, and thanks to anyone who read this entire lengthy comment. Cheers!

[@astro6393]

Same with me. I was drifting to sleep and heard a ringing noise get louder and louder.. I jolted awake and ever since my tinnitus hasn't gone away.

[@smhill818]

I've had chronic tinnitus for three or four years now, and although things got pretty dark when I had to accept that it was probably never going to stop, now it almost never bothers me at all. I can go for weeks without even noticing it, and when I do notice it, I don't care, and it quickly escapes my notice again. One part of my turnaround was learning the details of my hearing loss and the ways I can keep it from getting worse, which helped me to stop freaking out about that. (I'm very glad to see Mary spreading the word about this!) But I think the biggest thing was learning about habituation-sweet, sweet habituation. It turns out that worrying about your tinnitus is exactly what makes it worse, and if you can stop ruminating on it, your mind will learn to tune it out just like it tunes out the feeling of your clothes on your body or seeing your nose out of the corner of your eye. This is easier said than done when you're deep in the anxiety, but like Mary mentioned, there are tools that can help. My favorite resource on this was Dr. Bruce Hubbard, who has a website called CBT for Tinnitus. For me, just reading his story and watching his webinars helped so much that I didn't end up needing his services. For others still struggling, please know that temporary setbacks are just a part of the process, and you can habituate no matter how bad it seems (chances are it's largely psychosomatic). Good luck! ❤

[@pauljanoff7941]

Dr. Hubbard treated me and I have completely habituated.

[@gerardmartinez9372]

As a musician, tinnitus has increased and become an issue the past five years. Previously it had come and gone but it feels more like it's here (hear) to stay. I'm 65 and have decreased my professional playing and focused more on tutoring my youngest son's enthusiasm for learning to play guitar. I'm aware of many of the studies out there and am concerned. Thank you for using your platform to promote awareness of this critical issues and its compounding affects and effects. 🙏❤

[@innerstream]

Wow this is the first time I’ve seen a musician talk about this….finally. Thank you. I have had tinnitus for years and it’s sad. The noise never goes away. There is no such thing as silence any more……ear buds and ear phones are horrible …they let no other sound in…..they should have a warning on the package. 😕..it’s not just hearing damage or loss….tinnitus is a life sentence …..the only thing one can do is get use to it ……there is no treatment…..thank you for this PSA Mary ❤️

[@samuelponder]

I've consistently had a mild ringing in my ears since I was 20. I'm lucky in that most of the time I can tune it out (except in really quiet moments), but it's always there, and now I try to be more conscious of how much audio stimulus I'm taking in. Thanks for the video! :)

[@davebabbitt2432]

The great trumpeter Wynton Marsalis said years ago that “music today is too loud. It’s almost violent”. He was spot-on. As a musician who had once lost 70% of his hearing, I was one of the fortunate ones who suffered from a conductive hearing loss vs a neurological one and my hearing was largely corrected via surgery ( stapedectomy) so I now know what I was missing. Having recently experiencing Wynton and the Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra, I can assure everyone that he practices what he preaches. His encore number was just a quartet and the gentlest, sweetest trumpet I’ve ever heard. His final note begged for silence in order to experience it. Keep preaching Mary. You are always insightful, self-reflecting, and willing to share the wisdom you have accumulated.

[@larryplympton9727]

As someone who has tinnitus, a heart felt thank you very much for this video. I was a jet mechanic in the USAF and a listener to very loud rock and heavy metal in my late to to early 20's and now I'm paying the price so to speak. Sometimes it's a mild buzz, sometimes it's not there at all, and sometimes it's so loud it makes it difficult to hear conversations TV shows, or videos. The changes in tone and the multiple tones can cover up some sounds and once in a great while sound almost like a siren. It can be a bit maddening. I really appreciate you helping to raise awareness so that hopefully it will help others to avoid it.

[@sevenjets]

Thank you so much for this video, you helped me to avoid a decision that I would have regretted. I was planning to get an amp for my new headphones that are "just not loud enough" but I have changed my mind now and decided to be happy with a lower volume that is, tbh, perfectly fine. Thank you again for bringing this up!

[@theoccidilian4896]

The quality of the amp matters hugely, because amps inherently add distortion. Good ones cost a fortune, but may be worth it.

[@rockerbuck967]

I used to play in bands with no ear protection. We'd talk about how cool it was that our ears would be ringing hours after a gig. "Yeah man, it's rock-n-roll!" In the middle of the night, I got wakened up by my right ear screaming with this constant high pitched tone that I thought I would drive me insane. Welcome to tinnitus. It'll never go away, so if you have it - make friends with it....that's what I did. Otherwise, people have gone insane from it. And I use ear protection when I'm around anything that could damage my hearing further. If you're a musician, and you don't have it yet - use ear plugs NOW. They make one specifically designed for musicians, and they're not expensive. Hearing loss is very expensive.

[@Nick_CF]

exactly...make friends with it because it aint going anywhere. I use it as an excuse now to ignore people talking somtimes lol

[@rockerbuck967]

I'll have to try that one LOL. I've tried listening to it and try to and find the note that it's closest to, then play scales or chords and sometimes that drowns it out better. Honestly, after this long, I don't notice it much unless I allow it to.

[@rockerbuck967]

That's right!! I have a pair that look like little rubber Christmas trees, and they do a much better job. By the time I learned about the plugs for musicians, I had stopped playing in bands for other reasons.

[@nightspicer]

@@fibonacho it's weird that you say that, cause (at least according to the manufacturer) the least they attenuate, in the low hz, is nearly 30db. Maybe it's matter of a different brand, because the one I looked at is a pretty big and seems rather trusted.

[@KealohaHarrison]

Thank you for making this video. I’ve had tinnitus since I was about 3 years old, and I’m extremely sensitive to loud noises both due to chronic ear infections when I was a baby and being on the autism spectrum. As a result I almost always have ear protection in and the volume on my phone never goes above the exact middle point. Doctors have said it’s overly-precautionary, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially as a fellow musician.

[@johnkemas7344]

No such thing as being overly cautious with you hearing and health in general.!!

[@phildohogne1970]

I went to see Mephistopheles down at the cross road and asked if he could fix the ringing in my ears. He said, "we only do blues guitar stuff here". The moral is, don't go hear Hendrix live like I did w/o ear protection. In fact, you should always carry (don't skimp on quality) ear protection with you.

[@monomyrrh]

Thank you Mary for bringing this awareness. I’ve had tinnitus for about 25 years, I’m only 39 years old… so almost 2/3rds of my life. Like most people, I used to listen to loud music, loud concerts, playing guitar, and worked in a factory with heavy machinery to get enough money to go to university. I went to a hearing specialist about 10 years ago and was diagnosed with hearing loss and mild and constant tinnitus. I was told that my hearing will only get worse as the damage has already been done and my hearing was at a level of a 65 year old (I was 30 at the time). Pretty unfortunate, but what’s done is done. People need to realise that they need to do everything to protect their hearing, as if you damage it, you won’t get it back.

[@Squadela]

Thank you for speaking out about this, I'm 17 with tinnitus and have been suffering for almost 6 months 😓 we need to bring more awareness!

[@Musician-Lee]

Wow Mary this is so real for me. As a result of a viral infection 10 yrs ago I suffered 85% loss in my left ear and 40% loss in my right ear. I tell people it was standing in front of a Marshall stack in a band, but in truth it doesn’t matter. I’m a musician and hearing loss sucks. It affects so many aspects of music from tuning instruments, identifying harmonies and hearing your band mates. I’m very lucky having some amazing hearing aids but they cost thousands and are not available on the British NHS. I’m so glad you pointed out the dangers of high level noise from personal listening devices.

[@moila9201]

Do you have Ménière’s disease?

[@XOChristianaNicole]

I’ve begun learning to tune my guitar my feel, because I wear a hearing aid in my right ear - which, is the ear I like to use/hone in on, as weird as that sound), and it can be difficult to pick up certain frequencies. Mine wasn’t due to a viral infection, though, due to being prescribed oxycodone long-term, as well as kidney disease/heavy metal toxicity from excessive exposure to barium contrast, from CT scans. Thankfully, because of my low income prior to getting ill, the social system has been kind to me, here in America, regarding what’s been covered medically. However, I still had to shell out over $2,500 for one hearing aid - that I’m afraid to wear, in case I lose it. Though, I find it hilarious I contracted heavy metal toxicity as a disease, which, damaged my hearing - all while being an autistically obsessive heavy metal music fan and aspiring musician. Oh, the IRONy. 😂 At least none of the people whom said they believe the hearing loss was from my attendance to many a rock and metal show, all without hearing protection, were proved wrong. Lol.

[@JunkBondTrader]

For the record, I find the viral infection story to be more gnarly 🤘 I picture trekking through the Amazon

[@y2old2sing]

Thank you for bringing this up. Only one second can change your live forever. I am reminded of this every single day. Tinnitus from a blast trauma (bang close to the ear) on New Year's Eve 30 years ago. All (music) details around 5 kHz are lost forever. And all silence is gone forever. Replaced by tinnitus. Sucks? Yep it really is. Trust me, it is better to wear earplugs if there is even the slightest chance of a bang or loud noise. The silly laughter of "those friends" lasts only seconds. A tinnitus will probably stay forever. I have learned to live with it, but some never could get used to it.

[@govindrn1266]

I'm 18. Got diagnosed with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss a couple of weeks back. Tinnitus comes with the package. It was pretty scary for the first week, hearing a constant ringing in my ears and it caused anxiety bad enough to further deteriorate my health. It takes some getting used to, but you eventually get to a point you only hear the ringing when try and pay attention to it. While that's relief, I still am scared about loss more of my hearing. I don't even expose myself to loud sounds or play music at a high volume. Would be cool if someone comes up with a cure. Thanks for making this video.

[@davidjohncox7333]

Wow, Mary! You are an excellent speaker! I’ve had constant tinnitus in both ears for about 15 yrs. now. I’ve been in numerous bands, trios, duos in my 69 years and had to stand in front of many an amplifier (not to mention floor monitors). It was way past being too late, but I eventually started wearing custom earplugs which blocked the harmful decibels and I could still hear our music. The accumulated damage was exacerbated by attending concerts and bar bands as a spectator. The tinnitus tends to lessen during the day when ambient noise picks up (traffic, wind, restaurants,etc.) It is accentuated at night and early morning when things get quiet. Great presentation! Thanks!❤

[@Edge9404]

I am an ENT researcher and the amount of people that refuse to wear earplugs in clubs and concerts is staggering. You can't grow your own hair cells back. Yes we are doing research on organoids but we are many many years away from implanting people with artificial hair cells. Protect your ears people.

[@andr00NZ]

Looking forward to viewing your video, Mary. I have a degree of deafness from industrial noise, and the love of having my music loud. I am over 70 now and wearing hearing aids. I live with tinnitus. I have just became aware of is that serious hearing loss contributes to dementia. I hope I haven't left it too late to prevent being affected by it.

[@joelglaser5657]

Thank you Mary, for this and all your wonderfully informative videos. Hearing loss is a subject we all need to be aware of. Especially those of us involved in music.

[@paul9532]

Great video, an important topic. Love the lighting in your studio. I’m watching this in my living room at night and would like to ask you to choose a less bright version of the title screens or maybe invert them. 😊 I can still see the titles when I blink after watching it 😊

[@markhernden9472]

I remember as a kid seeing loud bands in school gyms and small rooms and how my ears would ring for hours afterwards. I feel bad for anyone who has to endure this as part of life. The movie "The Sound of Metal" illustrates the outcome of exposure to loud music very well.

[@tomperkins6389]

Wish I could click the like button a thousand times. Excellent information, Mary.

[@guydouglas6094]

Excellent video on a relatable topic! I'm a guitar player of more than 40 years and I have had tinnitus from early 20's. I also have a hearing loss ( both ears from child-birth ) that has progressively gotten worse over time. I am now 62. Besides the indirect isolation and anxiety I have with the 'hearing world', hearing loss in general sucks big time - socially, work, sports etc. I enjoy your passion for music and your fun, instructive videos. Keep up the good work and your music dreams.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

I see that with my father who is your age and his hearing loss gets worse and worse but the problem is he doesn't admit it...

[@guydouglas6094]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Pride gets in the way as does admitting being venerable. Tell him from me " It is okay, there is help with hearing loss but most importantly, reconnect back with your family and friends - you won't regret it ". Good luck.

[@uvp5000]

Thank you for posting this. Too many people who don't experience immediate consequences (ahem, like me), continue with self-destructive behavior until consequences do manifest. Hearing loss and Dementia are not consequences anyone should disregard. Once you've lost your hearing, it's gone. Dementia does not have an effective treatment. Please, protect your hearing.

[@noyd4172]

As social creatures who rely on verbal language, one of the most important parts of our body is our ears. In particular, high ambient noise levels are insidious as many people don't realize how bad it is, because its seen as a matter of course in a normal environment, not as a special event like a concert. Thank you for bringing this issue more awareness, especially since you are someone who is publicly recognized as an experienced live musician.

[@jeffcarpenter5147]

Thank You for bringing this to more peoples attention !

[@umbertoyltp]

As of today you have one reason more to listen to Mary! ❤

[@jeffgerndt2813]

Thanks for the info. You are a caring person. I've been playing live for many years, but extremely lucky with no symptoms. I wish I would have had this information long ago. ❤

[@jonnyrugg]

Thank you for talking about this Mary, I've been frustrated about the level of live music for a long time and no one seems to be bothered!

[@coldlakealta4043]

We no longer attend concerts in large venues such as those here in Toronto as we are concerned, even with good ear plugs, that we will come away with our hearing permanently. As Mary says, there's no getting it back. Sitting for a long period of time with the amps and crowd on 10 is simply self-injurious.

[@tomruut2440]

I love the sound of Mary’s voice.

[@deckert618]

Protect your hearing, kids! I'm 54, and my hearing loss and tinnitus is absolutely maddening for both myself and my wife. It's absolutely depressing knowing that I'm going to have to live the rest of my life with this screaming in my head.

[@johnyannelli2480]

This was the most informative and beneficial video I have seen in a very long time. Thank you Mary, that took work and focus and it is very much appreciated. You are 1000% correct.

[@ConwayBob]

Thank you for taking on this painful topic. At age 75, I've been suffering from tinnitus and hearing loss for over 40 years. About 6 months ago, my younger daughter bought me a good pair of hearing aids, and the restoration of hearing generally, especially the upper octaves of my hearing range, has enriched my life beyond measure. I can hear the ticking of distant clocks and the singing of birds that had escaped my notice before. I also can hear the popping of synovial bubbles in my knee joints when I stand up. Whew! Especially welcomed is the restored clarity and full timbre of people's voices and of acoustic musical instruments that had been lost to me for decades. Hearing aids are not a perfect remedy for hearing loss, but I am so grateful for what these do. For those folks who are fortunate to have perfect or near-perfect hearing right now, I hope your video motivates them to protect what they have. I hope it also motivates people who already are suffering from partial hearing loss to protect what they have.

[@jonahdaniell9894]

What kind of hearing aids, if you don't mind me asking? Looking for some for my father..

[@mobilfone2234]

lucky us where insurance pays for them.....

[@djolestefanovic]

Hey Bob, very happy to hear you're better, and even happier your children care for you. Congrats to you as a father, and to them as a great people.

[@PMCN53]

I agree, i thought my HiFi was broken & the top end was gone… but after i get my hearing aids, the top end was back. I can hear so much better , but a room of people talking is impossible to join a conversation, sadly😮

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@PMCN53 It's been about ten years since I had my hearing tested, but I can't focus on anything when a room full of talking is going on. I get overstimulated. Another situation is when shopping in stores that sell electronics. There are always at least two idiots blasting stereos too loud.

[@SternDrive]

I've been driving long haul truck for 48 years. When I started we had Cab Over Trucks which meant we sat right on top of a very loud Cummins Diesel with a screaming Turbo Charger. This went on all day and all night, whether driving, or in the sleep bunk. When I started, I purchased expensive hearing protection. But alas I'm 73 now, and I do have hearing loss, and Tinnitus. I'm so used to the tinnitus, I don't even hear it anymore. One day I thought, oh it's gone away! Um no. I listened carefully, and yup, it's still there in its glorious ringing. My wife says I should get hearing aids, but I'm reluctant to have a hunk of plastic jammed in my ears for the rest of my life. I'm getting pretty good at reading lips!

[@HalfDuck]

The attitude of 'haha wimps are using hearing protection at this concert, they can't handle the noise' is crazy. People talk about their ears ringing like crazy the next day as if its a badge of honour Your analogy of 'smoking for the ears' is something I've thought for years. For a guitar player, smoking would probably cause less harm to their career than never protecting their ears.

[@dj_tmc]

Thank you for posting this. My Grandfather made hearing aids for a living, so I've been aware of these issues for most of my life. I've found that certain earplugs reduce the volume more evenly than others. Thanks again!

[@kvnngkronos]

Thank you for raising awareness about hearing loss. I have always been sensitive to loud sounds. I used to be less aware of the negative consequences of being exposed to loud sounds, and it took just one event (sitting too close to the speakers at a very loud concert) to cause me tinnitus. Fortunately, it is not something that annoys me, but I sometimes struggle a little to distinguish speech in a noisy and busy environment. So, investigate a little about the risks and take care of your hearing

[@randycordle6538]

Mary, an excellent presentation and thank you for raising awareness of the issue. I have both tinnitus AND a hyperacusis, loosely defined as an extreme sensitivity to certain types of sound. I first noticed it when performing simple tasks like putting away dishes would trigger extreme sharp pain in the ears. Hyperacusis has only recently gained recognition as an auditory condition, but when I spoke to people about common tinnitus issues I was surprised to learn how many suffered from this "companion" problem. There are things that are known to sometimes have an effect on tinnitus, but in dealing with this for many years I've learned that practicing the things that help the sufferer to accept the condition and work to "tune it out". I'd suggest that anyone suffering from tinnitus try a blocker, which takes the form of a low level, pleasant sound best used with headphones. It doesn't cure, but the relief it offers is like taking a deep breath of fresh air. Thanks again for your channel and addressing this, as you have a lot of followers who might otherwise simply not pay close enough attention to protecting their hearing.

[@a12i9]

I've always been the lame person who is super sensitive when it comes to noise. I kind of make it a challenge to find out how quiet I can listen to something while still having the whole experience. This way you'll always dial it down until it's too quiet and then you go one up and stay there. Maybe you have to get used to this first and slowly work your way down the dB's but it might help if you want to be become more aware.

[@SethPerler]

THANK YOU for sharing this, I work with kids and talk about this a lot with them bc it's NOT REVERSIBLE. I have tinnitus in both ears, about 6 identifiable high pitches in each ear, 24/7, it's loud, it NEVER stops, and it gets louder with time for me unfortunately. I played my guitars semi-loud daily for about 20 years (not even that loud, maybe 3 on a tube amp) and I started having very quiet tinnitus and it just got worse. Now I carry ear plugs everywhere in case I need them, bc I do not want it getting worse. I would not wish tinnitus on anyone, it's really hard to convey how annoying it is to someone who doesn't have it, and again, it doesn't go away, the damage is done. love your work btw Mary

[@vwgti1985]

Thanks for shearing this important matter, I myself suffer from tinnitus for years, I love music and try to listen at an adequate volume most of the time. I’m 66 now and I hope to keep enjoying music till I die. Music is my life.

[@rocket_appliances]

had a mild tiniitus as long as i can remember. i don't know exactly what caused it, but i remember laying in bed at night and hearing a ringing and just thought it was normal. i also did the no earplugs at loud concerts and mowing and shooting guns, but i learned pretty quickly to wear hearing protection and i don't think it's gotten much worse. i try to be vigilant with friends at concerts and bandmates about ear protection. i'm glad there's more awareness and more preventative measures in place with smartphone monitoring. thanks for making this video

[@jjtcrt1]

Thank You Thank You Thank You! I have been suffering from severe tinnitus since 2006. My life is much worse of for it, especially when the Dr. give you that look that says, "Sorry, nothing I can do, but there was something you could have done...to late now." If even one person sees my comments and does a double take the next time they enter a high noise situation and takes the neccesary precautions, I'll be happy. Please take this seriously! It will change yoyur life.

[@anhedonianepiphany5588]

I’ve been warning of this inevitable outcome for over 30 years. Those who are in their youth simply don’t want to know about potential hearing damage that likely won’t become an issue for them in the short term. It’s pleasing to discover others in the music industry speaking seriously of this subject.

[@TSGEnt]

BTW, congrats on the She Rocks Awards. Brava. Just saw your performance ont he live stream. Awesome.

[@RobertWGreaves]

As an audio engineer I always took good care of my ears. I started recording in the late 60’s. My audiologist tells me that even though I am 71, I still have the hearing of a healthy 30 year old. When I was in my 50’s, my college students were taken aback when I could clearly hear their 17 kHz ring tones from their phones. As a lead guitarist, I often refused to sing with the band I played with because I cannot sing in tune when wearing ear plugs, and I will not take them out when playing with a live band. Even though I love music, the guitar, rock ‘n’ roll, cut my teeth on The Beatles, I believed in the science. Many musicians think that the sound of a loud guitar is actually far more engaging. But the truth is a small amp with a small speaker can create some very engaging sounds, you just can’t hear them with human ears, but a microphone can. And when tossed into the mix some “BIG” sounds have come from small amps. I think of the song “Lies“ by the Knickerbockers. The Lead guitar was recorded on a 5 W amp and I think it sounds great. I have dB meters in my iPads and a handheld dB meter in my recording studio. I wear ear protection when mowing the lawn and working with power tools. The only band I sang with was Reprise 60’s because for an unusual reason I was able to convince them to maintain a low stage volume. I monitored my amp or guitar processor from a hotspot monitor. There were times when the bass player could only hear my guitar leaking back to the stage from the FOH mains. The band learned to trust each other to play in time & in tune and let the FOH worry about the overall mix. Now retired I am still enjoying the music I have appreciated over the years including the music from my youth.

[@Mr3DBob]

Your soft but clear voice is a relief from the peepers that I hear all the time.

[@lcoleman1961]

In addition to hearing loss, the associated cognitive decline is worrisome. Protect your hearing.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

People never appreciate what they have until it's gone :(

[@conifergreen2]

I am 70 and suffer every day with very loud tinnitus.its horrible

[@johnwalterbrabant7567]

I'm also 70 and I notice that my Tinnitus is getting worse. It's quite frustrating.

[@Udayfrrrr]

Hold my beer i am only 17:⁠-⁠) suffering from this

[@conifergreen2]

@@Udayfrrrr sorry to hear that. You can get used to it.

[@Udayfrrrr]

@@conifergreen2 ya i'm kinda trying

[@jamesley4969]

I was in a touring band in the 80’s (along with being in the Navy in the late 70’s). Played bass through a 450 watt amp. My guitarist used a 100 watt Marshall amp. We were loud. I’m 66 now and have had the ringing in my ears since then. I have learned to live with it.

[@cmmooney564]

I’ll be 60 later this year and I’ve always considered looking after my hearing to be a professional responsibility, however I frequently come across people who are unable to hear treble tones. It’s extremely frustrating when I’m recording them because they’re forever complaining that I’m not setting the treble high enough for them. Of course I’m not able to avoid using headphones at work but I never use them at home or out and about, I’d far sooner stay away from loud stuff. The only issue I encounter is concerts, if it’s too loud I use ear plugs but I despise them because they eliminate directional hearing and I need that because I’m visually impaired…which is of course another reason to protect my lugholes.

[@MrChopsticktech]

Interesting. I think the highest frequencies are the first ones you lose.

[@cmmooney564]

Precisely, people think there’s no treble when, in fact, they simply can’t hear them. Interestingly, some sound engineers actually lose the low tones too.

[@anthonyward8587]

Hi Mary. I am 61 years old and have been playing guitar, and; listening to loud music (live Bands/gigs) all my life. I have Tinnitus. Seems to come on mostly when it is quiet at night. I get low humming sounds in both ears and; sometimes during the day, high-pitched noise. It's so frustrating. Just playing my acoustic most of the time nowadays at home. Thanks for making people aware of this thru your channel and for all your brilliant content. Cheers from Australia.

[@JohnEaganMedia]

Personally, I have a case of tinnitus going that is noteworthy to me in a couple of aspects. One is that it is pretty bad, as far as I am concerned (but that itself raises the question of: how do you rate it?). Another is that I cannot really nail down exactly when I realized it. That is an insidious little fact about this problem. It creeps up on you slowly. (That is a broad statement, I do also understand that for some people some really dramatic event could bring it on more suddenly.) I am a musician, but in my case I have always suspected that my problem could possibly be more due to some years working in assorted industrial/shop environments. In those kinds of settings, noise levels can sometimes get extremely severe, while people commonly disregard it, and often carry an idiotic attitude that worrying about this, and even using ear protection, is some kind of sign of weakness and general delicacy. You know, a TOUGH GUY can stand a little noise. Things like, say, using, or being around someone using an angle grinder on some piece of metal being worked. In some cases, like when I was building industrial machinery, if you are doing something of this sort on some large machine frame, it's not only the noise from the area of aggressive high intensity friction happening, the resonance of the thing you're attacking with the tool gets the whole thing ringing loudly. In music world, aside from the possible problems from the musician's point of view, live music in general, over time, has just simply gotten way too damned loud, and I say that as a guy who has always liked a lot of things that are great cranked up and powerful. Even relatively "quiet" music gets pumped up to crazy levels now. I was thinking about this a while back when I went to hear King Crimson (at an outdoor venue, by the way), and when they played "Islands", which is a very gentle piece of music, I was sitting there thinking that even that was shockingly loud. It made no sense. Not long ago I went to a Black Label Society show, with an opener whose name I forgot (sorry, guys, whoever you were). This was at the Detroit Fillmore, a sort of mid-sized theater venue. Not really into those guys, but it was a freebie ticket. I had a hunch it would be crazy loud, and took a simple approach, cotton balls wadded up and inserted (which I think is better than earplugs, there is attenuation but I think it keeps the overall spectrum reasonably balanced, not totally muting high end and mids). Even then I was struck by thinking it was unbelievably loud. After the show ended I pulled those out, and was shocked to realize that the recorded music kicked on at the end of the show was insanely loud (although, especially given that it was Sinatra singing "New York, New York", I think it was a bit of a deliberate ploy to drive the metalheads out of the venue quickly). I have been convinced for many years now that front of house mix engineers are probably more often than not suffering from toasted hearing, which just aggravates things further. Trying to determine how much of a contributing factor that might be difficult, when you consider that there is, no doubt about it, a kind of arms race phenomenon in live show levels, as nobody wants to have their show regarded as "too quiet", weak and wimpy ("that's not rock and roll, man!")... even when the music actually happening is not really meant to be big and loud. (We could also get into a side note tangent of how many live show FOH mixes consist of "gigantic kick drum... and some other stuff, too", but that's a separate item.) This is a serious problem. And in closing, for anybody out there in the world who might read a note like this and say something like "if it's too loud, you're too old!", I'm sorry to tell you, but you are a moron.

[@guitarlessonsnow3431]

You’re totally right about the kick drum being too loud in most rock band mixes. If the thump doesn’t hit you in the chest, then it’s too quiet, apparently…

[@philswoboda5149]

Mary? Thank you for this posting. I am a retired audiologist who practiced for nearly 40 yrs. I specialized in the fitting of hearing aids in seniors. I’m impressed that you pronounce tinnitus the correct (old Latin) way. I agree with you whole heartedly about these issues and their importance to all of us. Earplugs are mandatory for any sort of power tool work. So industrial style plugs will significantly reduce the loudness of most of the spectrum of sounds that we hear, but they are designed to severely reduce mid-high frequency sound. They protect your hearing very well when placed in your ears correctly. The downside is that they make music sound sort of “dead”. The effect of really reducing almost all the higher frequencies ( think harmonics or overtones). Take that with a grain of salt. Protecting your hearing should be more important than concert sound quality. But, as we learned more over time researchers and inventors came up with products that can improve sound quality while still helping with protection. They are loosely described as “ musicians ear plugs”. There are now multiple makers of these but one of the first was Etymotic Research out of Chicago area. These can be an off the shelf item or be fitted specifically to an individuals ears. The second type is very similar to the way in-ear-monitors are made to fit. Custom fit devices will always be more expensive, but for giging musicians often will help protect the hearing more. One brand of otc type plug is the ER-20 or now Etty plug. They come in a larger and smaller size so it helps if you can get someone to help you know which size is better for you. No 2 ear canal’s are the same size. Many Audiology practices today sell the otc version as well as will help you with the custom fit versions. Additionally, for all you musicians, the is an audiologist: Marshall Chasin out of Canada who has a working practice specializing in musicians hearing problems and protection. He has done extensive research on these issues and has a significant amount of information available on his websites. Check him out and learn more about protecting yourselves. I have protected myself from the middle of the 1980’s both for noise and music. I do have Tinnitus and hearing loss (more from aging and bad genetics which caused hearing loss in almost everyone in my mothers family as well as my older brother and myself. I hope this info will help and encourage anyone with Tinnitus and/or hearing loss to seek help. Once more, Mary, thank you for this posting.

[@bertilolsson5203]

Such an important topic! Another thing which is even worse than tinnitus is diplacusis. It's related to hearing loss, but makes you hear different pitch in your different ears. I experienced it temporally after having played guitar a bit too loud. The guitar sounded out of tune but when tuning it was in tune. I soon realised that everything sounded dissonant to me. Had a big dose of anxiety after reading up on this disorder, but luckily for me it went away after a good nights sleep. Protect your hearing!

[@Delzona]

Another great and informative video! I’ve been suffering with tinnitus since the mid-80s because of working around jet engines while I was in the Air Force. Now because of doing that for 26 years I have to wear hearing aids just so I can hear people talking, music and listening to life! Mary is spot with the information about hearing loss and dementia. I’m seeing it with my Mom! Thankfully I’ve gotten her wear her hearing aids now and they have slowed the dementia. One other place that’s very are movie theaters. I recently used my decibel app in the theater and was regularly hitting 100db!

[@P00P0O]

I've always been careful with my ears, so it was really annoying when I got tinnitus as a side effect to the Covid shot a couple years ago, started within 2 weeks. It's a loud shrieking that never stops, kind of like a Cicada on a hot summer night.. Over time it's become more bearable.

[@randyduncan795]

Mad respect for publishing this. Many people use in-ears a super loud levels and the battery life of portable devices keeps getting better. Going to sleep with 100+dB earbuds powered by devices that will play all night will cause permanent damage quickly. I use plugs when using power tools and cutting the grass. Yet I have over 10KW in a 5.6 system in a 14x17 room. Hard not to listen to those guitars at 100dB. I save my ears for music but always protect them from noise.

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Thank You, Mary!

[@charlestea3642]

This is so true. I am an old Las Vegas drummer/singer & my monitor was on the left side. We would play so loud, it would make me dizzy, & have ringing for days. Significant hearing loss in my left ear. This was back in the old days. Take care of your hearing. Great video, thanks.

[@ADuchessInside]

Thank you so much for this. I worry so much about my teenage nephews who have earbuds in their ears pretty much all the time. I have tinnitus myself, just from living life - playing the piano, going to concerts, etc. It's so important to protect your hearing. I'm glad you are paying attention to your own hearing as a musician.

[@kepler186f4]

I'm glad I watched this, it was very informative and I think I'll give my doctor a call. Thank you.

[@rubytoots6786]

This is very informative and useful as well presented clearly. Thank you!

[@blakehugh]

Hi Mary. Thank you for the public service announcement. I've tried to protect my hearing since being a teen. Even so, I've had tinnitus since I was about 19/20. So, for 44 years. I can still hear birds chirp and the whisper of the wind through leaves, but the constant whistle is an everpresent companion. I use high quality hearing protection when I am near loud things like my motorcycle or a concert in an effort to keep things from getting any worse. Kids, and adults, listen to Mary. Protect your hearing. Keep the levels safe.

[@jono_young_music]

Can’t thank you enough for this aspect of awareness🤘🫂❤️ I have a condition called Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome- SCDS. I’m now registered disabled from its effects. All the same symptoms as menieres, but way more trippy and with holes forming in the floor of the skull eroding into my middle ear…both sides….Yay 🙌 The absolute worst symptom is the pulsatile tinnitus and Hyperacusis. I mostly watch moths move now, im losing the speech range of my hearing by the week now….it’s well gnarly 😮‍💨 But I have music therapy and as a musician myself, I fully understand the anxiety of losing that altogether one day. We all take our senses for granted until we start losing them🫂❤️ Thank you for raising awareness and I wish you the best with your single ✌️➕❤️

[@Shoeyolk]

I've got tinnitus on my left ear since I was 15. Mine gives a radio static like noise blaring through a torn amp with a blown speaker. However, it only activates when I'm in a very loud environment. Thankfully, I became aware of this condition well before it became worse and now, I do my utmost best to protect my hearing. Paul Gilbert's struggle with tinnitus was a huge eye opener for me. Thanks for sharing this, Mary. All the best for the release of your debut album. 🎸🎧

[@johncaravello7513]

Thank you so very much. I have suffered hearing loss in both my ears as a result of being an Electrician's Mate aboard ship. I again have been exposed to loud engine noises from working on the railway as a Locomotive Engineer. I wear hearing aids and they help immensely but it's hot the same as having your own hearing. It's still difficult to have conversations in crowded restaurants or pubs or any large social gathering. Your words need to be heard by those who don't think it can happen to them. As you said, once it's lost you're not getting it back. I'm a banjoist and guitarist, not professionally and have found that even with hearing aids it has become increasingly difficult to both tune my instruments as well as hear the notes and chords I play. Again, thank you Mary for stressing this to as large an audience as you can amass. Musicians can lead the way.

[@bikeguy247]

I have hope that efforts such as yours will educate people to the importance of preparing themselves to save their hearing. I’ve profound hearing loss and Tinnitus For over a decade, gave up listening to music because certain high notes would ring off key. Yes, I was a young Chicago suburban musician (Black Friday Panic singer/guitarist) in the 60’s and 70’s. I take solis in that humans are so adaptable, our brains do work to bypass the damaged nerve pathways and we can recover certain db levels over time through training. Thank you, Mary. Take care of yourself and great news on the move to LA, keep educating us!

[@rolansmith9951]

Yea I got that from the tools aswell great stuff 😊really loving your positivity these days 😮

[@johnathanwilkerson518]

I’ve had tinnitus since 2018, it has been and always will be very loud, now I see it as a literal siren screaming when I need to get my health and mental health on track and pay more attention to taking care of my ears and myself, it’s still there and unchanged but i see it as matter of fact and try to rarely think about it, it’s like a tattoo for my ears lol. It gets more prominent when I’m stressed so I try to see the good and make sure during those times that I’m caring for myself. I took years off from making a living with music when it started but have since been back to making a living teaching and gigging, it’s definitely possible though I’m much more cautious, I definitely wish I would have been more careful when I was younger but life marches on, thanks for shedding light on this, you’re the best Mary!!

[@Void-Realm]

Thanks for making this video. My dad has severe tinnitus, and I've never heard of tinnitus retraining therapy. I'm sure my father hasn't either. I'll have to see if he can get help.

[@alasdairmunro1953]

Credit to you for raising this subject Mary. I have impaired hearing from working in noisy environments ( woodworking industry, telecoms call centre, Fire & Rescue). Despite a hearing aid, I find it impossible to communicate in very noisy environments. Seven years ago, I started learning to play the guitar. The hearing loss makes ear training vastly more difficult. I can’t urge the young folks to look after their ears and eyes, you only get one set and they’re precious. Treat them with care.

[@katzensprung7449]

Very good and important video, thank you very much, Mary!

[@cliffjackson6816]

Great of you to post this information. At age 67, somehow I've miraculously managed to retain 100% (last tested 4 years ago) of my hearing, with no tinnitus, even as I have been shooting competitively (always hearing-protected) and playing in rock bands since high school. I was always blessed to be playing with finesse drummers in my bands instead of bangers, and, by luck, was never too close to the drummer, always preferring to be furthest stage left or right. My wife and I never go anywhere without good (-31db or better rated) ear plugs, just in case, but since both of us are musicians, we rarely go out to see a band. She, unfortunately, as a lead singer for over 50 years, spent too many sets closely in front of a drummer and now has non-stop tinnitus. You have undoubtedly helped more than a few today with this segment! 👏👏

[@peteranders461]

I recently discovered your channel. Cheers from Miami. Now a subscriber. In my late 50s, loud Tinnitus for over 30 years (due to playing music for many years + listening loud with headphones, …). I check my hearing every year and it’s perfect, Tinnitus did not change anything. I don’t pay attention to it but when you talked about it in the video, I paid attention and I could hear the humming noise at the same time I was listening to you.

[@peteranders461]

High pitched tone to be precise

[@tomoffer4764]

Wow. Amazing public service. Just terrific. Thanks.

[@richardjdbone]

I've always tended toward a quiet life and music that satisfies at a moderate volume... and would only recommend it! Alright, I haven't often contemplated the aural health aspect but, my goodness, I do cherish the clarity of my hearing. Sound is much like most elements of life: quality trumps quantity.

[@mindsongsmusique2859]

Thanks Mary ... Your video was very well done. I've been a sufferer of tinnitus for six years ,,, non-stop. I've had lots of tests done and know that the frequency of the constant screaming in my right ear is 19,000 Hz. I've tried all sorts of things to help ... but nothing really helps all that much ... except standing in the shower and driving with the windows down. I am also a musician and I know the exact instant when the tinnitus started .. some loud (and uninitentional) feedback from the lead guitarist did it and I was standing too close to the PA speaker. I immediately quit the band. Oh the price we pay for wanting to be in a band and performing! Thanks again! Nancy Joie Wilkie

[@grabarz83brodaty97]

Hi Mary! you gave me a lot to think about. Greetings from Poland

[@DavidFlow]

The exact information I needed at this precise moment. thank you very much.

[@cjhenry41]

I went to a talk by Paul Stanley one time and he hammered the issue of making sure you wear your earplugs, since he only hears on one ear. That was his main advice for players. I 100 percent took that to heart, and high end earplugs 20db all the time. It's especially nasty with headphones because full closed back compounds the sound pressure. By 20 years old I was already starting to have some loss from for both playing and rock shows. The good earplugs don't block any tone, and you can get the volume up until you can feel it and not get hearing damage.

[@SebastianS72]

Thank you Mary, I'm living with Tinnitus for about 30 years meanwhile. I don't visit concerts frequently, but if I do, I have ear plugs with me. For those of you who have problems to follow a normal conversation anyway, go visit a audiologist. I got hearing aids a year ago and they have a tinnitus mode which is the only thing within decades which helped in my case.