This Almost Ended My Career! - Tinnitus and Musicians

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[@simonwhalley1743]

Tinnitus is miserable. I ended up having after years playing in bands and then moving to on to DJing. I’m the same as you - so hypersensitive to some noises now. Even really quiet noises can make me jump and set off more ringing. I hate hearing people chewing food now as well. I’ve learned to not stress about these days. Focusing on it makes it much worse. I’ve realised that the brain habituates to it after a while, so if it spikes I know it will subside after a while. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@johntebeau4493]

I've had it for 27 years. Learning guitar and bought a ROCKMAN X-100 by Scultz(sp) which come with headset.- just an unbelievable wall of sound and one evening got to loving those high notes and the next day It started along with diagnosed high frequency hearing loss. Then similar path to yours. Still play some and carry earplugs,especially to movies,etc. The hearing loss is just as miserable. Take heed everyone. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice.

[@rudym999]

Thank you for touching on this Jeff. My wife Stella, who was a great jazz oriented singer, suffers from tinnitus and hyper-acousis (a killing combination) which ended her singing career (and my role as her guitar player). It is good to talk about this subject because folks that do not have this condition just do not understand it at all.

[@cognoscenticycles4351]

Thanks for sharing your story. It's important that musicians speak publicly about this. It's bothered me for quite some time that famous musicians like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson and a long list of other players have been rather tight lipped about their struggles with tinnitus. They should be rather vocal about exposing oneself to loud concerts and playing music with no hearing protection. I got severely debilitating tinnitus about 11 years ago. It was so bad that I had to be hospitalised because I just couldn't sleep. I was hearing as many as 6 different sounds in my head simultaneously. I also suffered from extreme hyperacusis, which eventually ceased. My tinnitus came about from a bad ear infection and not from playing guitar since 1969. I still play guitar but I was forced to put the Strat under the bed and I am only playing acoustic guitar these days. I have done endless research on tinnitus and I am currently writing a book on the subject in hopes of helping others who suffer from this terrible affliction. I have had some success in my tinnitus journey. Some days I experience complete silence and other days I still wrestle with the dragon, but things are improving. I am confident that I will one day find the silence that I lost 11 years ago. Best of luck in your search for a quiet head. .

[@lamontprospect9974]

Thank you for sharing and for your honesty. I'm 65 and I started playing electric guitar 2 years ago. So I wouldn't bother the neighbors I bought a Fender mustang micro headphone amplifier. I thought I was keeping the volume at a safe level, but I don't know what else could have caused my tinnitus.

[@cognoscenticycles4351]

@@lamontprospect9974 It was Pete Townsend, guitarist from the Who, who claims he got his tinnitus from headphones in the studio. He said the headphones were cranked so that was dangerous. The problem with headphones in particular is the fact that the sound is travelling such a short distance that the ear doesn't have the time to react to any volume changes and frequency changes. There's also nowhere for the sound to go because your ear is completely covered. I would cease using headphones for guitar practise unless you keep it at whisper volumes. Just my two cents!

[@JasonNoto]

​@@cognoscenticycles4351there are open ear headphones too as an option that rest on the ears and over the ears but not in the ears and not covering the ears, so surrounding sounds can be heard and the Soundwave is less directly on the eardrum, however low enough volumes / low enough decibels is still best to not be loud

[@JasonNoto]

​​@@cognoscenticycles4351there are open ear headphones too that don't cover the ear nor in the ear that provides more surrounding sounds, however low enough volumes and decibels are still best

[@joeylodes]

Thank you for posting this Jeff. Catastrophic tinnitus , hyperacusis , and vertigo ended my playing and my career. I’ve been now deemed disabled by the Social Security Administration since 2021. Like you I was always protecting my ears. Never did a gig or rehearsal without protection … but in my case my ears were destroyed from the inside out … by the antibiotic Gentamicin. One I.V. In my arm …. and it’s completely altered my life ever since. I have high hopes for Dr. Susan Shore’s device being submitted to the FDA by the company Auricle , as it may be the first definitive treatment of Tinnitus. It Improved patients sounds in their head by an average of 65% in a double blind / placebo controlled study and so far those improvements appear to be permanent. Take care , Jeff and thank you again for posting this. The more people know it just takes one slip up to permanently damage your hearing , the less tinnitus will affect and alter people lives. Peace ✌️

[@JeffMcErlain]

Joey , I’m really sorry to hear this happened. The ototoxicity of antibiotics aren’t something we think about, or are told. Man, you have my deepest sympathies about this. I can only imagine what a nightmare it is. I am also looking forward to the treatment you’re talking about as it seems to be the only one with some efficacy. Hopefully some point they will take care of this and I hope you were first in line. All the best man.

[@joeylodes]

@@JeffMcErlain Thank you 🙏 brother. I always say to myself … could be worse. So we need to all be thankful for what we have. Keep up the great 👍 playing

[@peterflihan3]

Thanks for shining a light on this difficult condition, Jeff. My trigger was a 2017 root canal operation. The first week and the audiologist telling me that it was probably permanent threw me into an incredible depression for quite some time. But, as you say, denial of it and focusing on it only leads back to that dark place. For me, a gentle rolling surf can mask it pretty well. However, that is not a daily option. The best therapy I find is matching it with gentle and soothing music; which is one of the reasons that I am taking serious lessons for the first time in 40 years. If there is going to be a sound in our heads anyway, let's make it a joyful and creative one. Be well.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks for sharing. Man a root canal. So many things can cause it. An MRI can do it too. Best of luck and enjoy the good sounds.

[@kennyblankenship913]

My onset of tinnitus happened in the early ‘80’s when I was stationed on board an aircraft carrier as a radar technician. The radar rooms I worked in were in the island of the ship with key blast happening almost daily when cruising. Also, our berthing area (where we slept) was at one point next to the catapults and later just beneath flight deck, so loud noise pretty much always. It comes and goes and I guess I’ve learned how to deal with it.

[@davidroe1547]

I’ve had it for 15 yrs….. too many years standing right next to the snare drum and a heavy handed drummer…. The only comfort I can offer is that the longer you live with it the more you don’t notice it. I’m still amazed watching Dan & Mick on TPS playing at 105 db without protection in a small room. Thanks for being so open and honest…

[@trbr1799]

Totally agree on the TPS comment! Scratch my head regularly and am a bit jealous! 😆

[@JeffMcErlain]

They have invited when I’m in England, no way could I be in that room at that volume without major ear protection. 😳

[@sammyrothrock6981]

They must have tough ears!

[@markspencer1203]

Thank you for this I’ve had it all my life

[@fepatton]

I’m a drummer who has (yes really) always taken care of my hearing. I’ve had tinnitus for at least 20 years, and I can identify a couple of specific instances that brought it on and made it worse, none music related. (I’m sure drumming set me up for failure, though.) I play primarily on an electronic drum kit now, using in-ears at low volume. I also limit the amount of playing I do. Stress reduction classes and exercises can help a lot.

[@MrPopestar]

Hey Jeff, sorry to hear about that. Tinnitus is a funny old thing (well its not) - I've had it for years as well on and off, however as I've got older I've come to realise its really a mental issue rather than a physical for me. The mind body connection should not be over looked. Like you, I get it when tired, stressed and lack of sleep mostly. I find not focusing or thinking about it - but mostly not stressing about it works the best in making it disappear. Getting physically really tired works wonders for me - lots and lots of exercise outside so I'm physically bone tired (not mental) and cut the caffeine down. I sleep like a baby and a few days of hard labour out in the garden and a couple of great nights sleep sorts me out. Anything (like meditation) that releases the stress/anxiety helps, along when I get into bed, to take a minute or 2 of 'letting the stresses/worries of the day' slip away and move on helps.

[@JasonLoughlinMusic]

Glad you’re sharing this. I know we’ve talked about it a million times but it really has change me my decision making around what gigs I say yes to and how often. The depression that can come from it isn’t talked about enough. It can be a tricky thing to navigate for sure.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks man. Yeah some of those gigs just ain’t worth it.

[@CateB66]

I’m 57 with the hearing of a 16yr old. My tinnitus was brought on by a doctor incorrectly prescribing me a diabetic medication 4 times the correct dose. Having gotten over being violently sick for 9 straight days, I realised I had the piercing ringing in my right ear, the exact same pitch you played at the start of the clip. I’m already ‘living’ with cptsd, I live alone with no family. Without wanting to be a defeatist, I honestly don’t know if I want to live with it. It’s unbearable

[@J.Carter69]

Thanks for sharing this Jeff. I also have similar symptoms but I'm only aware of it when I sit in silence ( which is rare). We must take care of what we have......some things are irreplacable.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Jason!!

[@adyuriar]

Great PSA.

[@1thommyberlin]

Jaysus Jeff, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. Oddly I don't have it - and I played loud. Two and three half stacks loud. I never wore protection while playing, but always do when I go out. Also my left ear is my sensitive one so always play with my right ear to the drummer. I'm 65, and played out about as much as I was able to without being signed, and these days I no longer rehearse or perform with 100 w Marshalls and 4 x 12 cabs. I used the Marshall 40 watt combos. See I need that 'the amp is about to blow up' sound, and the way to get it without killing people's ears is to go low wattage. anyway, we've all had our demons, mine is numb hands, and being a morning person (Ha ha ha, God), and being in love with loud rock music. Hope all's rockin' sweetly for you Jeff - another excellent video!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Consider yourself lucky!!!!

[@davidyelland908]

Very well done Jeff, a very detailed and accurate description. I have had tinnitus for 33 years. Caused in exactly the same way….cymbals. Just like you it was that sudden event. Everything else you say mirrors my experience perfectly. My doctor told me the same in that my hearing was otherwise fine. However, he said I was pretty much stuck with it. All gigging stopped. I played acoustic guitar and unplugged electrics only. Better news now. After 3 years I suddenly realised that the tinnitus noise had largely disappeared contrary to what the doctor had told me. Just like you, any loud noise will bring it back so I have to be careful. I managed to return to gigging via an acoustic duo. Safely behind the PA and no on stage amps. With the advent of modellers, I can now at least gig with a backing track and minimal monitor volume. The UA Ox has been a revelation at home and I can finally use my amps at home (although I rarely use a guitar speaker). As far as bands go….best avoided unless the drummer can control themself. The biggest annoyance now is people going on about the virtue of gigging with real amps and the failings of modellers (Tom Bukovac excepted) As if I didn’t know! It is not like I have much choice.

[@GazMoz78]

I really enjoyed this Jeff. I've been gigging since I was about 20, I'm coming up 45, my tinnitus showed up in my mid 20's and has been with me ever since. Snare drums and cymbals are the worst thing. Playing pub gigs on really confined stages meant I could never escape them. I found the part where you mentioned that loud noises trigger yours to worsen really interesting; I have that exact same condition. A glass bottle smashing or being too close to the road when a police siren goes by. It's awful. Oh, watching this video caused my Tinnitus to become really apparent to me 😂 not your fault

[@JeffMcErlain]

Getting that clip of what my tinnitus sounds like made it worse for a while …

[@GazMoz78]

@@JeffMcErlain it's mad because yours is very similar to mine but my ring/whistle is at a slightly lower frequency

[@GitShiddy]

So true about the "one mistake". For me that was when I was jamming with a friend at SPL I dare not touch now, but we were teens so of course. He turned up the presence on his JCM900 hit a weird harmonic note on a strum & immediately blew my ear out. I put the guitar I was playing down instantly and let my ears rest (and bleed). We didn't play the rest of the night. Ever since I've had intermittent high frequency ringing, that is up until a few years ago where now it's constant, it's quiet, but it's always there. Meaning I can no longer enjoy silence.

[@JeffMcErlain]

So many similar stories. That one time …

[@agriff4795]

My tinnitus started back in the mid 1990's, a drummer sat in with the band I was in. He was on my left (I was the bassist) and he bashed the ride cymbal so hard (we were playing "Freebird") that for the first time ever in my life my left ear HURT for a week. I showed up for the next gig wearing shooters earplugs as they allow you to hear like normal, but only reduce the volume of loud noises. The guitarist starts giving me a hard time about wearing earplugs, as his former bassist wore them, and in his opinion, was the reason he wasn't a very good player. My left ear has been ringing ever since that night 26 years ago. I don't have to wear plugs anymore as I'm now retired from gigging (I'm 62) but I can still play at a "good loud" volume without pain or further damage to my ears. Most of my old friends on the Atlanta music scene are suffering from tinnitus also, some suffer worse than others, I understand your problem, and yes, you aren't alone in this! Rock on, Jeff!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Similar stories!

[@lamontprospect9974]

Thank you for making this video. I'm 65 and I've had this for about a year and a half. It started when I was playing electric guitar for the first time. I started at 62. But what really caused the damage was I bought a micro headphone amplifier. It's got Bluetooth so I can listen to KZbin backing tracks and solo along. I thought I was being careful with the noise level but somehow it got away from me and I've had tonight as ever since. 24/7. I haven't gone to see a doctor cuz I figured there's no cure for it.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ugh. Sorry man I know it well. Hang in there.

[@benperry490]

Thanks Jeff Great video I ve had tinnitus for about 20 years now my Dr seems to think it was caused by a strong antibiotic I received for a bad skin infection from a cat bite...anyweay it got so bad I was nervous and anxious all the time couldnt concentrate at work eventually lost that job becuase I was so freaked out by the noise. Id wake up every morning for months and hope that it would be gone but no such luck. I m much better at ignoring it now although if I make the mistake of taking a short nap it really comes back with a vengeance afetr I wake up. it really helps to know that other people have this and they carry on with their lives although id give anything to have a day without the ringing

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oh man. Right, naps. That happens to me too. Noise reducing headphones are a real trigger for me. The habituation is key if possible.

[@TracyLanebike]

This is not discussed enough in modern society. Thanks, Jeff.

[@bradfordlaneromans2994]

Aww. Jeff. We LOVE you & your sensitive Ears. Best of Luck with this ongoing condition. I read new info on this topic almost weekly. Get tied in to latest research & breakthroughs. ✌️&❤️

[@JeffMcErlain]

Keep me informed my friend!!

[@sgholt]

I unfortunately did not use ear protection back in the day...I have frequency loss in one ear. Not to mention the 3rd row at Nazarath back in the late 70s, made my ears muffled for about a week....I started to play guitar myself, and that didn't help my ears either...get a Decibel Meter and some good ear plugs...thanks Jeff

[@JeffMcErlain]

😩

[@TomHolland-r6k]

Tinnitus is horrendous lifelong rock guitarist and carpenter I got the double whammy constant ringing always

[@battmanvonrichtoven]

This is so helpful and informative thank you.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Glad it was helpful!

[@guitarbymichael]

Thanks for sharing, Jeff. I’ve had it full blown about four years now. At first it would come and go, but one day it never went away. I believe it hit me while setting up for a gig before I thought I “needed” to put on the earplugs. Agree that all you can do for now is not allow it to torment you. Maybe a cure will come along at some point.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oh man. That stinks Michael. I put the plugs in before sound check now. I have to or I’m toast. Oh for a cure…

[@davidtomkins4242]

i feel fortunate that I read a guitar world column by Steve Morse when I was about 17 in which he talked about this very issue. Then reading about Paul Gilbert's issues with hearing loss - scary in many ways. He'd be a great person to have a conversation with about this topic. I have friends in their 20s that love a cranked amp with no protection. They won't listen (yet)

[@JeffMcErlain]

We all felt invincible at that age!

[@jessefillmore]

Thanks for sharing , Jeff . When I'm at home I have to run a fan on or my tinnitus will drive me crazy . First time I really did so damage was when I was 17 I went to my 1st concert without earplugs . It was Supergrass & Foo Fighters and my ears rang for 3 days after . When I turned 18 , I started working construction . Concrete finisher . So the finish machines , cut saws , overall jobsite . In the late 90's construction companies weren't big on ear protection as they were eye protection . Now any major site is overseen by O.S.H.A. So eye protection , gloves , ear plugs,dust mask & ect are required . Crazy as it may seem but the last Greg Koch show I went to was so loud , it hurt .WAY TOO LOUD . It wasn't Greg or the bands fault , it was the house venue's sound engineer . He was drunk and young and deaf LOL . My ears rang for 3 days . Never again !!! I will make it a priority to have ear plugs . People at work act like I'm overreacting when I refuse to cut-saw without hearing protection or dust mask . Instead of letting go to my work truck and grab my ear muffs , they grab the saw and start cutting concrete usual smoking a cigarette LOL . They don't ever call me any names cause I don't take no shit off people . I always tell them , they'll regret that one day . They laugh while concrete dust is all over their face , with a lit cigarette .

[@JeffMcErlain]

Wow. Yeah F that! I don’t mess with it anymore either.

[@John-nl4vu]

Hello Jeff, great show by the way. I too have suffered this for the past 40 years. I exposed myself to a loud Cummins V16 diesel engine at work, for about 30 seconds when I was 25, and I now wear hearing aids when once I had excellent hearing. Something you didn't mention is that the part of your brain no longer stimulated will atrophy, much like a muscle does from lack of use. For that preservation reason, I encourage others to use hearing aids; and also, the brain is plastic in that it will adapt to changes, which is why I now informally study guitar, from people such as yourself, which forces the brain to form new neurons and synapse connections because it's all new to me. Thank you for sharing. I never knew I shared this handicap with so many great people such as yourself. Keep up the good work!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks John for the insight. That’s a terrible story and I’m sorry to hear that. Great thoughts on the brain elasticity.

[@wmot206]

Thanks for spotlighting the topic, Jeff, and emphasizing it only takes one instance to do real damage. Fortuatelty ear pro has gotten a lot better over the years. Gone are the days of the sound-muffling foam ones.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank god !

[@ianrobbins]

I have tinnitus, too. Also a high pitched noise that never stops. Which can get very loud, sometimes. And all of this rings (ha ha) true. Thanks for this! Sometimes I wonder if listening too closely to things, music included, over my life has somehow enhanced this. With me... I have difficulty hearing frequencies at the same frequency as my tinnitus tone, which is extremely high in pitch. Calming down my anxiety over tinnitus does really help. Acceptance. Also, I gave up playing the trumpet. Acoustic guitar, nice and quiet, helps me now. The other stressors mentioned are all implicated. Have you ever noticed that when someone starts talking about eye floaters, that at that point you become aware of your own floaters? Assuming you have them, of course. Tinnitus is sort of like that, for me. When I began watching this video my tinnitus got much louder. I've read that tinnitus is created centrally in the brain, eg not in the ear apparatus. So a cure is not likely. But the mind can help make it go away, slightly, via meditation or mental control. Not easy to do, though, or to describe how to do it. And I've never experienced it while dreaming. It's like migraines in that regard.

[@oldskoolz8509]

I’ve suffered from tinnitus for a long time now. It really sucks. Some days it’s unbearable. Mine came from concerts, Navy, and working in factories.

[@AndiPicker]

I went to see Blackberry Smoke on Saturday, went with a friend who attends a LOT of gigs, and happened to meet a musician (well, drummer) friend and his wife at the venue. Support band stepped on stage, self, drummer and Mrs drummer instantly drag out earplugs, my mate went through the whole show naked. I popped out one plug for a moment and honestly I can't believe that I used to go to gigs and play without protection. I've played with the loud drummer/poor sound thing and end up with my drummer side ear plugged and my other side ear with the plug half in/out - I have pictures of me with my with my head down right in front of my (not very loud) cab trying to hear what I'm playing. Yellow foam plugs that give about 30dB attenuation are dirt cheap if you buy them from DIY stores instead of music stores, and if you buy a bucketfull you can keep a few in every pocket and bag - and they go through the washing machine just fine if you leave them in your jeans.

[@ThePandaProcrastinates]

Glad it worked out! Hearing loss is something we take for granted and don't think about until you are not young anymore... John Mayer had an issue as well playing with Dead and Co. He started wearing headphones on stage as a monitor to protect his hearing.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yup. It can happen fast.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a good weekend

[@robert_starling]

Thank you Jeff, I've been suffering from tinnitus since 2008 and remember the exact night it happened. The hyperacusis came a bit later but was at times so bad that a metal fork on a china plate was like a gunshot. It was so bad that I had to use paper plates and plastic forks. Ultimately it ended up being something called menieres in my left ear which over the course of ten years destroyed the hearing in my left ear. Huey Lewis had to quit the music business due to meniere's in both ears. Thankfully my right ear is still in great shape, but like you I have earplugs stashed everywhere. The hyperacusis sensitivity pretty much went away with the left ear hearing loss, but the tinnitus is ever present but at least varies. Some foods peak my ringing it seems. Thanks for talking about it and sharing your story. ~Robert

[@roo5000]

Great video Jeff. I’ve been dealing with hearing damage and tinnitus for 5 or 6 years now. I was recently told that I’ll probably need hearing aids in the next 5 years. Every time I get a spike I’m terrified it stays that way and every time I even go to watch a gig, I’m apprehensive. Hopefully your message will encourage others to look after their hearing, but when I was younger I was warned often…….but did I listen?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ugh. I’m sorry. Wish there were some cure for this.

[@A.JayWeber]

Also talking about the depression really helped me. (cried a little lol 🥲) If you ever make a second video on this topic more details on your metal talk would be wonderful.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Hey. I’m sorry you’re going through this. It gets better, or your coping with it gets better. Don’t suffer alone with this, you are not the only one who has this so get some help. It can really bring you down and take over your life. So, please find some help to learn how to deal with it and ways to help alleviate it.

[@billrieske6347]

According to an article I read, Jeff Beck would walk around with earplugs playing music during his waking hours to cope with his tinnitus. Sometimes at night, I just listen to mine. Other times, I just try and concentrate on something else.

[@docjeffry]

Got my mug! Nice graphic.

[@stewartroberts5205]

Jeff, my gig that ruined my ears was playing next to a guy that played a telecaster with all the bass off. He couldn’t hear and played loud through a peavey 100 water. Anyway I still remember when he hit that high note that felt like an ice pick in my ears. It’s funny that when you played your tinnitus sound I couldn’t hear anything.

[@bluztime5271]

Thanks for sharing. I’m 63 years old now and have been living with tinnitus for at least 20 years. It’s not always easy to live with. Especially sleeping.

[@JeffMcErlain]

The noise apps or a fan are really helpful to me with it.

[@CateB66]

My bedroom TV is on every night playing KZbin clips from Treble Health. They have so many ‘T masking’ varieties however the one I find most beneficial at night for my T is called Tinnitus Shimmer. Most of them are 10 hour clips, many of which have black screen so as not to illuminate the bedroom. I hope you find the one that helps with your sleep. All the best

[@Robemmet49]

I was thinking of recommending Transcendental Meditation to help relieve anxiety, and then you mentioned using it yourself. I use it for patients who have severe lung disease and it helps about half of them to relax without using too many medications. The most effective technique is the controlled breathing and exhalations. I'm glad you have tried it and it works for you. I have learned a lot from you Jeff, first from your Truefire videoa, and now from your site. Keep up the good work!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks so much Rob and keep up the good work with the patients. Thanks for being here!

[@glh1956]

Hi Jeff interesting post - I have it it’s up n down at times - really got me down when it first happened but now I manage better- I use ear plugs for guitar when practicing & rain sounds at night to help sleep seems to work for me as well as walks in the countryside etc

[@richsanchez622]

I’ve had tinnitus for decades. Thanks AC/DC…. I actually was walking in front of a concert speaker (AC/DC was playing through speaker) when it got significantly louder as I walked by. I knew something was wrong right away. I’m just used to it now. Every now and then it goes away for a few seconds. I love when that happens. I’m sorry it effects you so badly. I have trouble hearing chords correctly and it gets louder sometimes. No one around here gets it. Drinking less caffeine helps I having hearing aids that haven’t helped at all. Thanks

[@colinhardy6396]

I might be in a similar place. I have tinnitus but my hearing is okay ish for a 55 year old guy apparently. I manage it every day and sometimes it gets me down especially if I put myself in a stupid situation and it gets worse. I’ve learnt to live with it what more can you do and there’s plenty of people with bigger problems than me. For all the young guns watching this don’t think your invisible. Loud gigs watching or playing wear ear protection. Whatever works for you.

[@blackie75]

I've had it since playing in bands at 14 as well but mine is a low frequency buzz, something like a car running a couple of doors down from your house, or right by it if it's bad. Thankfully it's eased in my 40s, but I'm quite careful now and I sleep with rain sounds every night to counter it.

[@jazzzfer]

Thanks for this. I had the same exact experience. Dumb drummer. Going on a year now and I haven’t really played my amps since

[@A.JayWeber]

I've had black n white thinking struggles. (its something I'm working on) each day my mind will start saying. "I will not play music with this. When its CURED ill come back or I just never come back " punish the universe sort of bull dog anger. I'm wanting to quit music school because I get crippling disgust hearing people be happy in music with perfect ears. I remember I didn't want to do objectively dumb zoom school anyways. IRL or nothing. My studio -even one day a week - feels like punishment mocking me. I don't want to be this way, and I know there are worse problems, but its what I'm dealing with with Tinnitus.

[@Bmercer321]

Man this is dead on to my experience but I ended up having colitis almost 15 years ago. I’m 42 now I recently got piggy to home recording and now I have caused it to spike extremely I bought some ear plugs that cut a certain decibel for musicians, but it actually makes my ringing worse on top of that my kids especially my baby girl they scream all day long. Every time they scream my ears screeches I feel like it’s a never ending battle last thing I want to do is give up on music

[@JeffMcErlain]

It’s a beast and I wish you the best of luck with it. Hang in there!

[@trbr1799]

Dammed near exact situation with me. Thank you for sharing this. It's really important to hear a similar situation from a musician like yourself. Appreciate this, Jeff. You're still rocking. That's encouraging. About how loud are you playing in your videos, dB wise? I find mine gets triggered when my amps are too high.

[@JeffMcErlain]

I’m not sure but it’s low volume at home. Very often I play an amp sim like the Fractal into studio monitors. Like Tv volume.

[@trbr1799]

@@JeffMcErlain many thanks for the response! Would you mind commenting on how well the two rocks do for low volume for you? I've heard they are actually pretty good, albeit expensive. As absurd as it sounds, I love a Twin Reverb I have at low volume. Very lush and full but not that loud, surprisingly. Again, thanks for your video. For those also dealing with tinnitus, knowing you can carry on playing is super reassuring!

[@JeffMcErlain]

@@trbr1799 like all tube amps they need some volume. I feel the two rocks are no different but they are very “lively” at lower volumes. A pleasure to play.

[@trbr1799]

@@JeffMcErlain thank you! I'll try out our some time. 😁

[@serapiopereziii3741]

When I first got tinnitus I got very panicky and started researching it. I found two(2) things that have helped stop it or at least reduce the level. Cordyceps mushroom and Vitamin B-12(Cyancobalamin). They are both rather inexpensive, but more importantly, they work for me.

[@CraigRMerriman]

Hang in there my friend. I've had tinnitus for over 30 years. Lower pitch than what you played. All day, every day.

[@phildohogne1970]

Or, injuries in general. I changed the size of my neck because of something you said on this broadcast.

[@gordonroylambert]

Yes I have it an its a curse…I do use mindfulness meditation to try to put it in background. But a point you make re irritability is important. I find I do get agitated more frequently and on reflection I do think it’s the tinnitus vs just being a 67 yr old grumpily old man. I have learned so much from your lessons Jeff and thanks.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!! It is a curse.

[@jimamsden]

I have the same tinnitus, possibly also caused by a loud drummer and standing right next to the crash cymbal when I was in college. It's manageable. I use professional molded IEMs when performing now and turn them up just enough to fill in a little high end to the bleed. That works well for me, I never have increased ringing after gigs.

[@JeffMcErlain]

I’m never in a situation to use in-ears on my gigs but earplugs all the time.

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Same kinda story. But my killer was a 5 minute DIY job with a drill. To calm my stress and depression, I listen to music but that has become impossible due to the distracking ringing. Do you do any studio work? If so, could you do a video of tinnitus advice working in a studio or maybe when you gig?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Sorry to hear you are dealing with it as well. For all the work I do I just keep the volume at safe levels. On tours or gigs I just use earplugs the whole time. Instead of music try an app on your phone to mask the sound. I like this one a lot. apps.apple.com/us/app/resound-tinnitus-relief/id928432517

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

@@JeffMcErlain Thank you for your kind words and advice. I am lucky enough to be a sound designer so have build my own collection of sounds to distract me from it's constant ringing. Great for helping get to sleep, but not so for distressing during the day. Great to see that you so positive about this condition. I hope that you words here confort more people like us. We are not alone

[@johnnyd63]

After being Page in a Zeppelin tribute for 6 years, I also have tinnitus. Newbies pay heed! Protect your hearing.Having a constant ringing in my right ear for 12 years absolute sucks.

[@THEItchybruddah]

Can you post a link to the “violet noise” app? I feel ye Maestro. Dealt with for years. Recently had a scare, ironically due to foam expanding earplugs, with wax on my left side. Thought my ear was dying. Treatment for “beach or pool” fixed it but, as you can imagine, my paranoia is real yo!

[@JeffMcErlain]

apps.apple.com/us/app/resound-tinnitus-relief/id928432517 This the one I like. Hope it helps!!

[@THEItchybruddah]

@@JeffMcErlain THANK you so much!!

[@MAP448]

I have problems hearing low sounds but highs are more profound. I also have developed tinnitus & it makes my ears ring. Sometimes I think it's not going to stop. I have been very lucky that it has not been crippling but like you it feels really hard to manage. I wear earplugs now on a daily basis.

[@JeffMcErlain]

It’s all about managing the situation as you know. But it sucks.

[@MAP448]

@@JeffMcErlain Thank you for opening up about some of your struggles on your path to tone town. Do you also struggle with carpal tunnel & tennis elbow?

[@jmscnny]

For me it was a throat infection that shifted to my ears after five or six days. I lost about 50% of the hearing in my left ear and have been listening to cicadas ever since. It sucks chunks, mate. I have been following all the latest research for the last 8 years, and have not lost hope in one of those just around the corner treatments hitting paydirt. There is a lot of promising work being done on the subject. I found that wearing a hearing aid helps a bit. Not a cure but it reduces the apparent volume. I use the Nuheara ear buds and they can also act as pretty effective sound attenuators when required. There are quite a few high end brands bringing over the counter bud style hearing aids to the market at the moment, the US FDA just gave the nod to these products. Might be worth checking out.

[@powdermnky007]

Thank you for this, I'd love to hear your advice on tendonitis and shoulder / arm pain.

[@matthewcasey892]

I stopped playing with my band due to tinnitus, too loud. I now take jazz lessons. Jazz drummers are different players. Not to make this about drummers. I get it, rock music has hard hitting drums. But now I have tinnitus my choice is to not play that style of music and I am ok with that. I am trying to navigate this as best as I can.

[@FC-cz6zd]

Just turned 60. Attended plenty of arena rock shows in the 70s & 80s, the last one being AC/DC in the latter 80s. Had to leave due to it being excruciatingly loud. Between aging and attending those shows, I wonder if that is why the ringing in my ears has noticeably increased the last year.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Could be! I’d also examine daily things like headphone. I wish I’d mentioned this headphones with noise cancellation make it way worse for me. Someone else mentioned this. Took me a long time to discover that one.

[@FC-cz6zd]

@@JeffMcErlain thankfully I rarely wear headphones but the current generation seems to not be w/o them, be it in or over the ear. Sure glad you've been able to "adapt"👍💪

[@gasparepellecchia]

This problem is cerebral problem, like a sign, like a groove on the surface of the acustic nerve

[@JeffMcErlain]

You are correct.

[@MrPeeBeeDeeBee]

It seems that, if your hearing is good and healthy and if you listen deeply and intensely as a musician or an audiophile, you will hear the electrical background sound of your brain as form of high khz tinnitus. Also if you get to be in a very quiet space you may even hear the sound of blood pushing though your ears. It sounds like the ocean for a long way away. There is no such thing for us as silence. We all have a signal to noise ratio. Unfortunately tinnitus will raise the SNR to the point where you start listening to it. Learning and practicing the skill of not listening to it is the key.

[@OriginalBinaryArtist]

I have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it is the volume of a fire alarm. The result is that I have to really focus on my playing or it can sound out of key. As a result I only play for myself because sometimes music sounds out of key.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oh man that’s rough.

[@davidsummerville351]

High blood pressure can trigger it as well.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yup.

[@587583922]

My experience is that literally the first club I went to left my ears ringing for 3 days. I was TERRIFIED. I've been a competitive shooter, and a musician for my whole life. The shooting never caused damage because I was extremely careful. That club night....I thought I was done. Eventually, it did stop, and I went to an audiologist. I didn't actually do permanent damage (somehow), and my ears are still really great for my age. But...I'm the same way. I literally always have earplugs with me, and I default to plugs-in at every concert or club, most restaurants, and very often driving on the highway (deaf people can drive, if you think it's irresponsible, you can chauffer me for free). At this point....I only play guitar with IEMs except for very quietly at home (under 80dB), regardless of what rig I'm playing through. It's now at the point that I can't get a real amp in the room to sound as good as my Fractal through my IEMs, certainly not at a comfortable level, and ABSOLUTELY not with earplugs. Thanks to how I reacted to being so scared from that one night...I hear a bit of white noise when I'm tired, sick, or particularly stressed. But, there's no ringing. I can still hear up to around 18k. And the only real damage is below 60Hz in my left ear from an infection when I was in high school. I've been really lucky, which I attribute to being really careful. And I intend to continue.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Great post. Yeah being vigilant is everything.

[@phildohogne1970]

Yes, ear plugs and meditation were the solution.

[@jeffcookdotau]

My ears have been ringing for 22½ years. If I concentrate on it, I can pick out maybe half a dozen distinct high and medium pitched tones. Occasionally there's also tapping that sounds like a glass bead bouncing slowly - sometimes two but out of sync with one another. My hearing has become increasingly sensitive such that dinner plates colliding while washing up will cause incredible discomfort. I even have industrial earmuffs close at hand so that I can quickly put them on if the dogs decide that barking might be a good idea. I lament that I will never experience peaceful silence ever again because of a day in 2000 when I didn't take precaution and relied on the mistaken belief that "it will get better in a day or so".

[@JeffMcErlain]

All of this. 🙏🏻

[@ZofoZofo]

I’m 56 and have permanent hearing loss. I don’t know what caused it. It could be genetic plus listening to loud music. My loss is in the high frequencies. My wife says it is mainly her voice😂 but I wear amazing hearing aids ( terrible name ) and I continue life and play my guitar everyday day. My hearing is slowly getting worse as I get older but there is some amazing technology out there for hearing loss.

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

It''s really scary to read the comments here. I hope research will soon discover a drug for tinnitus 🙏

[@aaronp6426]

I too have that God forsaken issue. I've also tried everything to try to tame the beast. Some docs just shrug it off and say it's the price you pay for being a musician. Maybe like you Jeff if I had been so careful I may not have it now. But as they say hindsight..... There are a couple docs on the YT here that have come up with a little help for me with sounds or manipulations. I don't know if you've tried any of these guys but it may be help to you when it gets really bad like it does. motivationaldoc is one of them and the other is Doctor Cliff , Aud. Give em a shot if you haven't maybe they'll help you a little when it gets bad.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks for this Aaron! I’ve checked out a few and I’ll definitely check those names out. Thank you.

[@gtz999]

When you talk about triggers: for me the biggest trigger is noise cancelling headphones.

[@JeffMcErlain]

OMG YES!!! Took me forever to figure that out. The worst.

[@adylp7818]

That’s exactly the same for me

[@monday6524]

Jeff, could you share what type of ear protection you have found helpful? I haven’t experience this to the degree you discussed and would like to try to prevent further damage. Thank you

[@JeffMcErlain]

Musician’s plugs. I’d suggest trying a few versions to see which ones fit best. I like the Alpine plugs available on Amazon. The pro plugs are great too but you need to get fitter for them.

[@RustGL]

For a lot of great musicians and composers it was a real Tragedy. Take e.g. Beethoven. What can help professionally. I can provide you Noise-Free pickups Singles, P90 or Humbuckers for a Test/ Review. No buzz better and cleaner sound and lower the volume.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks man! I think I’m ok with pickups. I appreciate that!

[@mab2112]

Jeff, thanks for sharing your experience. Super helpful. Could you please recommend the ear plugs that have worked best for you? Thanks!

[@JeffMcErlain]

The ones I like other than my custom molded ones are these. Alpine MusicSafe Pro High Fidelity Music Earplugs for Noise Reduction - 3 Interchangeable Premium Filter Sets - Professional Musician Hearing Protection - Hypoallergenic Reusable Soft Black Plugs a.co/d/5lzCfSy

[@bretschwartz]

Jeff, can you recommend a set of ear plugs that you have found to work best when you go see live music? I've tried two different brands but they filtered out so much it just ruins the show for me. I then try to loosen them to allow more sound through, then they fall out. it's maddening. What works for you?

[@JeffMcErlain]

These seem to be my favorite ones below the custom fit ones. Alpine MusicSafe Pro High Fidelity Music Earplugs for Noise Reduction - 3 Interchangeable Premium Filter Sets - Professional Musician Hearing Protection - Hypoallergenic Reusable Soft Black Plugs a.co/d/gvETwu5

[@GAldonas1]

Wow! That’s amazing and not in a good way! 😮

[@stephenfeldman8104]

Too loud. Too many musicians play WAY too loud. For me, anyway. Years ago I saw Jack Bruce play at BB King's in NYC. I arrived early to sit up by the stage. Ouch. Midway through his performance, Jack saw me suffering from the noise with my fingers in my ears. He handed me a set of ear plugs (a souvenir I no longer have). Andy Timmons passed around a bowl of ear plugs to the audience before starting a performance at Iridium. I messaged him on Facebook and suggested maybe turning down the dbs a few notches in the future. He did. (But for how how long?) I saw Greg Koch perform at The Mint in Los Angeles and sat through most of the set with my fingers in my ears. The volume at these shows is not only painful but becomes so distorted that it buries the nuances of the performances. So much for cork-sniffing tone snobs. If you -- OK, me -- have to play the role of sound engineer by damping out the shrillness that accompanies obscene volume levels, then the show ceases to be a *musical* experience.

[@TheBhannah]

Talk to your daughter !

[@sijoy6572]

Love your output & fantastic educational & instructional videos. Why do adults need spoon feeding & feel a need to ‘share’ feelings & problems on social media or what ever platform , by the time we have to put plastic lids on a coffee cup & told about flashing images on tv shows ,really? People need to visit a war memorial or a children’s hospital & perhaps be a little more grateful for the blessings some people have & enjoy the gift of life & indeed music 🌤️

[@JeffMcErlain]

I appreciate your response. I’m not sure I follow the logic. Me discussing something that effects many musicians is relevant to my channel. It’s an occupational hazard. It was people discussing it that helped me through it and deal with it. On KZbin. My real life problem with tinnitus is a daily struggle. Is it the same as some of the terrible things going on in the world. No. But it is a real thing. The great thing is like anything, you don’t have to watch the video if you don’t want to. I make the videos I want to. I am extremely grateful every day for being able to play music but ignoring life’s problems no matter how trivial you may see them isn’t a healthy approach either. Tackling them and keeping them in perspective is important.

[@sijoy6572]

@@JeffMcErlain no,sorry Jeff,i understand & appreciate your video totally & it’s great to flag up issues that affect & have effected your life,i probably unnecessarily pointed out that before people get too self absorbed,we are lucky in general & even luckier to have fantastic musicians that take the time like yourself young Jeff⭐️ I own most of your TrueFire catalogue,but I will buy an extra one as an apology for my unnecessary outburst 😁😁💭

[@JeffMcErlain]

@@sijoy6572 thanks for this. I honestly didn’t see it in a negative light! I do know what you mean about the self absorbed part of our culture, and largely agree. Comfort can do that. I appreciate you for being here and the support!!🙌🏻

[@anthonystuart0708]

Your ears must be very sensitive I also have tinnitus I managed it as best as I can 👍

[@joelabbott]

Marching band blew out my ears. Should have worn earplugs.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Wow. Never thought about that. Makes perfect sense.

[@gusrpg6669]

this is no life

[@centerfoldstands2750]

Thanks for sharing. I’m going on ten years with tinnitus and like you protected my ears faithfully. Unfortunately, a viral infection took away most of my hearing in one ear five years ago. I didn’t get to a doctor quick enough to get steroids and the hearing loss is permanent. I now have hearing aids which has made an enormous improvement in the level of perception of the tinnitus because of the auditory stimulation of the hearing aids. For those with tinnitus and hearing loss which both usually go together DONT WAIT. Get fitted with hearing aids, the emotional burden and impacts of both conditions can be changed and improved immediately.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Man, that’s terrible. No one tells you about that stuff. I hadn’t heard about the viral thing until my Dr put me in the steroids then my family members I mentioned. Sorry to hear that.

[@johntebeau4493]

I agree, the hearing aids help and have white noise options as well. Downside is with them in, I can hear some annoying higher frequency sounds. 😂…..

[@50Something]

Jeff, I have been experimenting with an earthing/grounding bed sheet for over a week and it has significantly reduced chronic pain and anxiety. I just had a look and people treat tinnitus this way as well, with good results. I used to get an annoying throbbing in my ear by just one sip of beer so I quit for a long time. And finally ensure that you have a no alcohol policy for your drummers, it makes them hit the skins/cymbals like a sasquatch 😂

[@JeffMcErlain]

I’ll check them out!!

[@CateB66]

Can you tell me more about this bedsheet please and what country you’re in? I’m Australian so hoping it’s something available here also. Thx

[@tombeatty4792]

Thanks for this, Jeff. I am a fellow sufferer. And I'm not even a very good guitar player. How unfair is that! I can relate to the suffering and the depression. Tinnitus gives me almost a feeling of claustrophobia. It's literally in your head and it feels like you can't escape it. Another name you can add to the musician list is Dave Grohl. He has talked openly (KZbin) about his struggles and that he has, essentially, been reading people's lips for many years due to his hearing loss. People should also be aware that certain medications can make tinnitus worse. Likewise, withdrawing from certain drugs can worsen symptoms. Thank you again. It's an important topic.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yes! The claustrophobic feeling! Terrible. That’s right about Grohl, I forgot. Vaccines can cause it too or exacerbate it. I found that out the hard way.

[@chrisg5271]

Yeah very much what you say Geoff fortunately for me it’s not too bad, but my cause is from many years of noisy flight decks no so much loud music, although that does happen sometimes. I absolutely agree it’s worse when your thinking about it and other times completely forget it’s there !

[@mborel]

Thanks for the video, Jeff. I've had mild tinnitus for a long time, but it's been manageable for me. I remember Al Di Meola saying he had planned to retire from music because his tinnitus was so bad, but he was able to find some special ear plugs that let him still play acoustic guitar, so he was able to perform again.

[@JeffMcErlain]

The technology has improved greatly since the foam earplugs.

[@peckermusic]

Thanks Jeff. It was the combination of small stage, a particularly powerful drummer and my right ear in close proximity to the crash cymbal for me. Had tinnitus for 8 years now and feels like it has followed the same pattern (spikes and then falls back). Good to hear other people describing their experience

[@davidtomkins4242]

If someone gives you grief for wearing earplugs (can't hear the toaaaaan, man.....) ask them this - If they went into a music shop to buy an amp and the amp had a constant high-pitch ringing that you couldn't dial out, would they buy the amp....?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Well put.

[@stratman9449]

i am with you here Jeff.....my first "encounter" with too loud and painful music was a Rory Gallagher (of all people) concert in the late 80s......thats when i quit loud concerts.......and 2ndly....don't forget (re your issue with said "drummer")....one NEVER EVER tells another brit or other "anglosaxon" what to do....EVER..!!! thats from a "german" married to a english woman for near 50 years....YEP........fact.....now where are my earplugs...??!! CATH...!!!

[@CensureAsylum]

What I'm hearing is a much higher pictch and softer. It's constant but gets louder when I smoke tobacco.I am sure it's in my head not my ears.

[@magicmoo]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm a 41 years old mixing engineer and artist who's always tried to be careful by wearing custom made plugs most of the time outside of the studio. Unfortunately, I wasn't as careful in the studio and simply worked and enjoyed myself for too long during a few days three weeks ago... Been experiencing a constant highpitched ring ever since and just figured out myself that I have asymmetrical hearing loss around 12-14Khz (way more on the right side). I lost what seems to be huge part of stereo depth, which is making me really sad and, well, the tinnitus itself has proven to be absolute hell at night, as I'm a light sleeper. I'm still not able to sleep without medication and I'm even scared to try it now, because of how depressing things get otherwise... the sense of dread this sound feels like and how it just skyrockets when lying down can really get overwhelming and the fact that this thing can basically wake me up 30 minutes after finally managing to fall asleep is just soul-crushing. I still have a bit of hope it will go away, but if not, it's been reassuring to see so many accounts of people managing to live with this. I know there will probably be many more hardships to come, but I'm grateful that there are so many ressources online talking about this. Doing a little bit better every night now thanks to these and hopefully it will get bearable soon.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ah man. Hang in there. It’s a beast, since it is so new, there is a good chance that it will calm down. I’m sure you researched all these things like spikes that happen, etc. Y do end up getting used to it as well, for the most part. All I can say is try to get some help and talk to people about it because you are definitely not alone. Be sure to check any medication that someone gives you like NSIDs or antibiotics for side effects as tinnitus is often one of them. Usually not permanent but once you have it it can easily be exacerbated. All the best and hang in there.

[@magicmoo]

​@@JeffMcErlain Thank you for your answer Jeff. Much appreciated ! Yes, you're right. I've been talking about it as much as possible to the people around me. What surprised me the most is the amount of people that suffer from this affliction in "silence". Even from the one I knew they had it, I couldn't seem to understand just how debilitating it was at time until I got it...

[@edwardrice146]

I have bad bouts of it from time to time....I spent many years working on fighter jets and always wore double ear protection. I always a low level but when it spikes it really sucks.

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

I've been dealing with tinnitus for decades. One thing I've learned that "helps" in some cases is keeping loose traps (shoulders) and neck muscles. I had read somewhere that tinnitus can be triggered by tension in the neck and shoulders. I then noticed that the ringing was worse when I slept wrong and had a stiff neck. So, a daily shoulder and neck massage can help. Or just stretching these muscles might help reduce the intensity of the ringing. Also, (and this is a weird one), you know how you can put your index finger in your inner cheek, then fling the finger across the inner cheek until it quickly exits the mouth and makes a popping sound? It's silly, and I don't know how else to describe it, but do something similar with your ear canal. Push your fingertip into your ear canal until it most of the air is displaced. Hold it there for 5-10 seconds or so, wiggle it, then swipe your fingertip out like the cheek example. That also helps temporarily decrease the intensity of the ringing for me. If anyone else has tinnitus, tries these things, and these suggestions work for you, let me know. I'd love to hear that I helped someone with their tinnitus.