Tinnitus Quartet December 28, 2013
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Culture.trackback
Here’s an interesting piece by US composer Brent Michael Davids entitled the Tinnitus Quartet where he attempts, and I’d think succeeds, in getting across to an audience the reality of his tinnitus, which apparently registers as a constant high A. It’s there throughout the piece.
For those of us who have less intrusive forms of the condition – I have a very low hiss in my right ear that’s really only audible when in quiet rooms or late at night – it’s deeply sobering.
Here’s more on the issue aimed particularly at those who make music. I’ve mentioned tests you can do to check your hearing, but it’s worth noting that while tinnitus is often a symptom of damaged hearing deafness is a separate condition. What’s good is that it’s possible to maintain a good level of hearing and avoid tinnitus relatively easily, and ensure that even where it does appear that it is contained. But it’s also sobering to realise that once it appears that’s it, it essentially never goes away.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
I`ve had it so long now I would miss it if it went, the quietness would shatter me.
Seriously tho, it can be all too much at times, mine rises and falls for different reasons, it does wear you out, physically and mentally.
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Yeah, I think know what you mean about rising and falling. Certain things, and not just noise trigger it. I don’t go to gigs now without ear plugs. And even the cinema is too loud really. It can keep me awake at night, not the sounds as such but listening out for them.
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I’ve had it since I was a child. I can’t remember not having it. In fact, I didn’t realise I had it for several years.
It is rather irritating.
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I hope it’s not too intrusive. That sounds a bit like eyesight in regard to not realising you had it. I hadn’t a clue I was short sighted until I was at least five or six. I wonder does that still happen now with kids.
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It’s been a fixture of my life for about the last ten years, in my case it appears to fall inside the range of human speech as I frequently have to listen to people carefully so as not to lose what they’re saying to it. Having said that you get so used to it that, to echo Tawdy, it would probably be something of a shock for it to stop.
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And add to that age related hearing loss which I would certainly think is an issue for me, with frequencies going. Bars are the worst but tv can present problems.
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It’s slightly disconcerting as someone in their twenties to even be thinking about the combined effect of tinnitus and age related hearing loss…
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Not age related then in your case. A friend in his late 20s has serious tinnitus from earphones
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It was definitely loud music in my case that did it. I was convinced initially when it started that there was something wrong with the speakers on the radio in my bedroom but then I started to notice it more generally and realised it was my own problem rather than something to do with the radio. Feck that’s very banal…
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I had one bad gig and perhaps overuse of earphones across five years. It’s the banality that makes it so pernicious
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Well I was that used to having tinnitus I actually thought that everybody was hearing what I heard!
That being said, I do find that music helps to lessen the effect, I wear two hearing aids now and I am ( still ) learning to play the guitar, never had so much fun in years!
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That’s very true music does help and is recommended
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‘For lefties who can’t hear each other very well anymore’
(fellow sufferer btw)
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