Tinnitus and earworms have plagued me for about 30 years. Part of it from being in bands since I was in my late teens. To others it is often pawned off as bad hearing or not paying attention. "You never listen" is another common response to our distracted hearing. This non-stop, high pitched tone similar to that of what my GoPro makes when I turn it on. Only it's not a simple "Beep", is a run-on sentence of a tone that demands to be noticed above all else. I feel your pain.
Earworms I don't mind so much unless if it is a song that I absolutely hate. I'm told the only way to stop that is to listen to that song to satisfy your brain and then immediately put on something else. I find that Audiobooks or YouTube videos are great for pushing those pesky worms out of my head but you must do so with headphones on. Good luck.
Yep, you definitely understand. :) I've gotten to the point where I just tell strangers (like cashiers) that I'm hard of hearing so they'll up the volume of their question a bit - it's just less complicated than trying to explain the whole tinnitus thing. My hubby is finally beginning to understand that I sometimes miss what he's saying because of the nonstop feedback in my head (and NOT because I'm not listening), so if it's something important he now makes sure that he says it in a way I'll definitely be able to hear.
Thank you for the tips. I recently figured out that I'm intentionally turning on "The Sultans of Swing" whenever something annoying comes on (I'll spare you the references so I don't wake up your earworms!). Something especially obnoxious was playing in my head this morning, so I woke up the Dire Straits living in my skull, and that took care of it... though both songs were playing simultaneously for a while - my husband was mystified by my rotten mood earlier today, but TWO earworms at once can be especially irritating (even if one of them is good).
Good luck to you as well. Quick question: As a musician, do you find earworms to be helpful or distracting? Are you able to switch them into whatever song you happen to be playing?
The earworm thing doesn't happen all that often but when it does it rattles on for a few days. But no, it never interferes with what I'm playing, trying to play or practicing/performing. I guess it's the focus on what I'm doing at the time that blocks it all out.
I can't use the tinnitus excuse, I've never tried to use to explain my inability to hear what the wife is saying. She would just say "Bullshit, you just don't listen". Which is the common response when I don't hear something. I've given up on trying to defend my hearing issues with anyone and let them believe what they will. I know the reason.
My earworms have become constant - I'm wondering if it's because the tinnitus has gotten louder over the years and my brain is trying to make sense of it. I don't play an instrument, but I imagine it would drive me bonkers if I did, so I'm glad you're able to block it out.
The guy in the article I mentioned, Nubar Alexanian, wasn't so lucky. He was working on a book when his case of tinnitus started, with the title "Where Music Comes From," and he "...traveled around the world with 25 different musicians." He had two different tones going at once, one in each ear. He said, "The right ear is a D-flat, and the left ear is a C. The most maddening part of this was when I was with this friend of mine, this jazz musician. And I described it to him. And he threw his head down on his hands on the table. We were having lunch. And I could see in him that he completely understood how maddening it was. Because he understood that the D-flat was always trying to resolve itself into the C.... The whole thing got so bad that my career just came to a stop. I just couldn't travel. I was completely disabled by these tones." I thank goodness that my livelihood doesn't depend on my hearing or ability to interpret sounds. As far as I'm concerned, my tones are just high pitched squeals.
My husband is more understanding because he's always known about the other issues going on in my head - he knows that I have a differently-wired brain. :) When I need someone I don't know well to speak up, I just tell them that they need to repeat themselves more loudly. In a few more years, I may consider just saying, "Eh, sonny?" while cupping my hand to my ear. It may not be something that other people can hear, but it's there. In a way, I think it's kind of cool that our brains can produce an "imaginary" sound that can fake out our ears into thinking it's real.
I have come to terms with it. Okay, you exist, now fuck off. It's still there when it's silent around me and there are no thoughts in my head but if I focus on a thought, a project, a song I'm writing, a chapter I'm working on or the dog or cat I can put it in the back of my head. I've managed to control its effect on me you could say.
Our bodies and minds do what they do, we are just along for the ride. But focus brings us all back to one piece and we enjoy the trip as one.
Just wild. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. This is a fascinating condition, for sure. I too love Dire Straits, especially "The Sultans of Swing." Such a classic. Glad you have ways of 'silencing' it for a bit.
I think the brain works in very interesting ways and I am fascinated by the different ways we percieve reality. As long as I understand what's going on, I don't mind the occasional short circuits. Dire Straits is awesome. I was 19 when "The Sultans of Swing" hit the radio (yeah, I'm getting old!) and it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. Mark Knopfler's guitar work is hypnotic.
Hi Jeannine, I read with interest your struggle with Tinnitus and ear worms. My late mother suffered with what was diagnosed as “musical ear” where the same tune played in her head for years nearly driving her mad. She did overcome this for the most part but there wasn’t any treatment for the condition. I have heard of a new procedure that is having excellent results.
I will get the source of it for your consideration. Best Wishes Ken
Thank you! I didn't realize that the condition had a name. "Musical ear" sure makes it sound like it might be nice, but in reality it can indeed be a bit maddening, depending on what gets stuck in the head. I'll be interested in seeing what the docs think they can do about it...
Thank you for the tip. I looked the place up and it looks like all the outlets are down south - I'm closer to the Canadian border! 😂 I'm okay without it anyway. And the crickets will be out in a few months! 🦗
Tinnitus and earworms have plagued me for about 30 years. Part of it from being in bands since I was in my late teens. To others it is often pawned off as bad hearing or not paying attention. "You never listen" is another common response to our distracted hearing. This non-stop, high pitched tone similar to that of what my GoPro makes when I turn it on. Only it's not a simple "Beep", is a run-on sentence of a tone that demands to be noticed above all else. I feel your pain.
Earworms I don't mind so much unless if it is a song that I absolutely hate. I'm told the only way to stop that is to listen to that song to satisfy your brain and then immediately put on something else. I find that Audiobooks or YouTube videos are great for pushing those pesky worms out of my head but you must do so with headphones on. Good luck.
Yep, you definitely understand. :) I've gotten to the point where I just tell strangers (like cashiers) that I'm hard of hearing so they'll up the volume of their question a bit - it's just less complicated than trying to explain the whole tinnitus thing. My hubby is finally beginning to understand that I sometimes miss what he's saying because of the nonstop feedback in my head (and NOT because I'm not listening), so if it's something important he now makes sure that he says it in a way I'll definitely be able to hear.
Thank you for the tips. I recently figured out that I'm intentionally turning on "The Sultans of Swing" whenever something annoying comes on (I'll spare you the references so I don't wake up your earworms!). Something especially obnoxious was playing in my head this morning, so I woke up the Dire Straits living in my skull, and that took care of it... though both songs were playing simultaneously for a while - my husband was mystified by my rotten mood earlier today, but TWO earworms at once can be especially irritating (even if one of them is good).
Good luck to you as well. Quick question: As a musician, do you find earworms to be helpful or distracting? Are you able to switch them into whatever song you happen to be playing?
The earworm thing doesn't happen all that often but when it does it rattles on for a few days. But no, it never interferes with what I'm playing, trying to play or practicing/performing. I guess it's the focus on what I'm doing at the time that blocks it all out.
I can't use the tinnitus excuse, I've never tried to use to explain my inability to hear what the wife is saying. She would just say "Bullshit, you just don't listen". Which is the common response when I don't hear something. I've given up on trying to defend my hearing issues with anyone and let them believe what they will. I know the reason.
My earworms have become constant - I'm wondering if it's because the tinnitus has gotten louder over the years and my brain is trying to make sense of it. I don't play an instrument, but I imagine it would drive me bonkers if I did, so I'm glad you're able to block it out.
The guy in the article I mentioned, Nubar Alexanian, wasn't so lucky. He was working on a book when his case of tinnitus started, with the title "Where Music Comes From," and he "...traveled around the world with 25 different musicians." He had two different tones going at once, one in each ear. He said, "The right ear is a D-flat, and the left ear is a C. The most maddening part of this was when I was with this friend of mine, this jazz musician. And I described it to him. And he threw his head down on his hands on the table. We were having lunch. And I could see in him that he completely understood how maddening it was. Because he understood that the D-flat was always trying to resolve itself into the C.... The whole thing got so bad that my career just came to a stop. I just couldn't travel. I was completely disabled by these tones." I thank goodness that my livelihood doesn't depend on my hearing or ability to interpret sounds. As far as I'm concerned, my tones are just high pitched squeals.
My husband is more understanding because he's always known about the other issues going on in my head - he knows that I have a differently-wired brain. :) When I need someone I don't know well to speak up, I just tell them that they need to repeat themselves more loudly. In a few more years, I may consider just saying, "Eh, sonny?" while cupping my hand to my ear. It may not be something that other people can hear, but it's there. In a way, I think it's kind of cool that our brains can produce an "imaginary" sound that can fake out our ears into thinking it's real.
I have come to terms with it. Okay, you exist, now fuck off. It's still there when it's silent around me and there are no thoughts in my head but if I focus on a thought, a project, a song I'm writing, a chapter I'm working on or the dog or cat I can put it in the back of my head. I've managed to control its effect on me you could say.
Our bodies and minds do what they do, we are just along for the ride. But focus brings us all back to one piece and we enjoy the trip as one.
Focus is one of the big things I have trouble doing. I guess I need to practice more. :)
Just wild. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. This is a fascinating condition, for sure. I too love Dire Straits, especially "The Sultans of Swing." Such a classic. Glad you have ways of 'silencing' it for a bit.
I think the brain works in very interesting ways and I am fascinated by the different ways we percieve reality. As long as I understand what's going on, I don't mind the occasional short circuits. Dire Straits is awesome. I was 19 when "The Sultans of Swing" hit the radio (yeah, I'm getting old!) and it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. Mark Knopfler's guitar work is hypnotic.
Hi Jeannine, I read with interest your struggle with Tinnitus and ear worms. My late mother suffered with what was diagnosed as “musical ear” where the same tune played in her head for years nearly driving her mad. She did overcome this for the most part but there wasn’t any treatment for the condition. I have heard of a new procedure that is having excellent results.
I will get the source of it for your consideration. Best Wishes Ken
Thank you! I didn't realize that the condition had a name. "Musical ear" sure makes it sound like it might be nice, but in reality it can indeed be a bit maddening, depending on what gets stuck in the head. I'll be interested in seeing what the docs think they can do about it...
Hi Jeannine, Following up on your post on Tinnitus, The website is www.Lenire.com
I’m sorry I don’t know the costs or the availability where you live. Regards, Ken
Thank you for the tip. I looked the place up and it looks like all the outlets are down south - I'm closer to the Canadian border! 😂 I'm okay without it anyway. And the crickets will be out in a few months! 🦗