"Feelin' in Tune? (part I)

[Tom Myler]

(Del Fandrich wrote):

>Dear NBWW (whoever you are),
>
>If you're talking about true tinnitus, there are no cures. Nor does it look
like there is much interest in finding one. It's
>not one of the glamour health problems.
>
>It is the result (usually) of to much exposure to to much loud noise for to
long a period of time. If a single exposure
>doesn't do it, several might. Mine came from working to close to some very
loud airplanes for my Uncle and was later
>aggravated by exposure to high sound levels in some fairly loud factories.
In the first case the furnished hearing protection
>was inadequate, in the second, both the factory and I should have known
better.
>
>While there is no cure, there is prevention. Turn the music down. Wear your
earplugs, not just while tuning, but anytime
>you're around loud noises. Stay away from the jack hammer. Put them on
before you turn on the saw. Put them in before the
>plane takes off. Don't be embarrassed, take them out of your pocket and put
them in. It's not Manly to be deaf when it is
>preventable. Tinnitus is a curse you will have inside your head for the
rest of your life.
>
>While I no longer tune, I did so for quite a while after it developed.
Tinnitus does not affect your ability to discern
>pitch. But that was when I got in the habit of wearing earplugs while
tuning. Especially with Asian pianos. It was the only
>thing that helped reduce the pain of the excessively harsh upper tenor and
treble sections. These days, even without
>tinnitus, I'd wear ear protection while tuning.
>
>If you already have tinnitus, it's too late to either prevent it or get rid
of it. But you should do your best to keep it
>from getting worse--which it will with very little additional provocation.
>
>For more information, you can contact the American Tinnitus Association.
(P.O. Box 5, Portland, OR  97207-0005)
>
>They also have a web page at http://www.teleport.com/~ata/
>
>Good luck,
>
>Delwin D Fandrich


Del,

I would add only this:

While there indeed is no cure, and all the specialists have told me that it
is irreversible,  I have noticed for many years that the severity of the
tinnitus does increase and decrease, sometimes from day to day, sometimes
from week to week.

There are times when the high pitch tone (I guess it to be about 15Khz, and
it's always been more pronounced in my right ear)  is distressingly loud;
and then there are the days when I suddenly realize that things are nice and
quiet.  On those quiet days, I can stop and "look" for the noise, and sure
enough it's still there, but *very* soft and unobtrusive. A day/week or two
later, it's back again loud as ever.   Unfortunately, the loud phases are
far more common than the quiet times.

The *only* pattern I've been able to discern is very surprising to me.   If
I'm in a high stress tuning situation (recent example- concert tuning,
difficult piano, limited time),   the tinnitus will be *least* severe.    Go
figure.



Regards,

Tom Myler
"Perhaps the greatest wisdom is
 the awareness of our own ignorance."
                                         ( John Steinbeck)