My Hearing Condition ,Please read this

[Doctorb01@AOL.COM]

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Dear: PTG forum,

       I wrote a very short e-mail yesterday on hearing trouble. I wanted to 
see if I got a response, or if I did correctly. I did get some responses and 
I am glad, thank you for those who did!

       I want to begin by saying that this will be a rather long letter. My 
situation is rather odd, and It would be very much appreciated if anyone can 
shed some light on my condition, or is suffering from the same problem.

       To begin, my name is Simone Tucci, and I live in Toronto, Canada. I am 
26 years old and I have been tuning pianos professionally since 1998. I am 
not a member of the PTG though I do get their monthly magazine. When I began 
my career I had perfect hearing, and no genetic hearing disorders in the 
family. I was tuning an average of 3 pianos a day sometime 5-6 and sometimes 
1, it varied. I also began to work at an institution where there were many 
big grands in very small studios. I was coming home at night with headaches, 
like I blasted my ears for too long every day. So I decided to wear ear 
plugs. So I just bought ear plugs at the local store, 3M brand (foam) were 
the ones that I was using. I thought that they were great I could hear 
everything that I needed and I was protecting myself. I wore them for a 
period of 2 years, every piano I tuned I wore them. Until last October 2000, 
that is when the problem began.

       I first noticed that my ears began to ring (tinnitus) mostly in my 
right ear. Then I noticed that when I would do something like drop a part or 
a screw on my work bench my ear drums would have some sort of popping reflex 
reaction. It felt almost as if they popped from out of their footing, I hope 
that makes sense! I sort of ignored that symptom, I didn't think that it was 
important. So I saw my doctor and he sent me to an ENT. I had my hearing 
tested and it came out completely normal. The audiologist recommended that I 
get a pair of ER-15 musicians plugs, and continue tuning.

       So I did. I did have to wait for an appointment to see the audiologist 
to fit the moulds for the ER-15 plugs, so I went on doing what I was doing. 
Then in October 2000 I noticed that is really began to get worse. I noticed 
that kitchen noises bothered me, and in the bathroom, and people talking to 
me really blew my mind. My ears couldn't take it. I then tried to tune 
without the ear plugs and it was Impossible!! I thought that my ear drums 
were going to explode. so I got scared. I went to my doctor and he sent me to 
a Hyperacusis clinic. Once there, I saw an audiologist and told him the whole 
story. He said that it was a classic case where I became excessively 
sensitive through the use of improper ear plugs. He tested my hearing and 
again it came out as normal as can be and then he arranged for me to have a 
ER-15 ear plug fitting. (For those of you who don't know of the Musicians 
Plugs there is a ton of stuff on-line.) He also said that I should have a 
radio on in the background with it set in between stations, to hear the 
static or white noise, this will help to desensitise my ears (brain really) 
from sound, and it should take 2-3 months. I was glad to hear that. 

       So the months pasted and no change. I kept going back for visits and 
telling them that there was no change and they said give it more time. After 
6 months I went back and asked them to put me on the TRT ( tinnitus 
retraining therapy) this also treats Hyperacusis. So they did a test on me to 
see if I was Hyperacusic and I am not. So I told them what do I need to do??? 
they arranged for me to have a ABR (acoustic Brainstem response test) to see 
if there was a problem with the acoustic nerve. Had the test, and came out 
completely normal. I asked them What do I do? They recommended that I take 
Valium. I said that that is not the answer, that will only dope me up and 
cover the disorder and not heal it in anyway.

       So I began to seek out other doctors, I saw a Marshall Chasin, a very 
known audiologist that works with musicians, and he did a test to see I was 
Hyperacusic and technically I am not. All the other audiologists agreed with 
the similar tests. He didn't know what it could be. I also saw an Otologist, 
and he did know ethier. He said try Valium.I saw in total 12 doctors between 
audiologists, ETS, Otologists, and I also tried acupuncture.

       I have now stopped tuning, because it's unbearable and trying to take 
it easy. I am seeking a Homeopathic doctor to see if that can help. I have 
also been researching hyperacusis online and I do think that is what I have, 
there are different forms of it. I am going to demand to do the TRT so that I 
can continue with my life. In addition I also had an MRI and that showed 
everything to be normal.

       Just to clarify what is happening with my ears. They are (the ear 
drums I think) very sensitive to sound. People talking specially women, and 
my own voice, and sudden volume changes, and if at the piano, the higher 
register. Not all the notes some here and there. I have distortion to 
somewhat loud sounds, but the strangest thing is that if I hear one sound at 
the time that is the biggest problem for me. If I go to some dance club I'm 
fine, weird!!

       I want to thank all of you people for taking the time in reading this 
situation that I am in, and if anybody can tell me something, or is in the 
same situations or has questions please, please e-mail me. I got a computer 
just to get help from anybody.

       Sincerely, Simone Tucci


Simone Tucci
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
       
 

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