Overcoming Your Limitations: 5 Tips for Musicians Who Are Living with Tinnitus

Can you imagine being a musician suffering from a hearing problem? This is a very common challenge for many musicians; with statistics showing that as many as 39 percent of musicians suffer from a particular form of hearing problem. This can impair the musician’s ability to work and live normally.

Tinnitus is a form of hearing problem where a buzzing or ringing sound is heard in the ear. The constant ringing doesn’t just make it difficult to make music, it also affects your ability to sleep well or communicate effectively with other people. Since all you hear is the constant ringing with no background noise to distract you, sleep problems occur.

However, all is not lost for musicians with tinnitus. It is a treatable disease that can be managed with several strategies. Here are five tips for managing tinnitus:

Information

The first thing you have to do is to educate yourself about the condition. At first, it may seem like you are going crazy due to the unexplainable sound ringing in your ears. As time passes, making or even just listening to music becomes more of a chore rather than a pleasure. It’s easy to assume that you are the only one suffering from this condition or are in need of ear wax removal. However, tinnitus is very common among musicians, including some high profile performers. Once you begin to learn more about tinnitus, you will realize you are not alone.

Counseling

You can also seek some form of counseling to help you deal with the problem. Eliminating negative thoughts and practicing mindfulness can help a musician regain their confidence in music. This can be used as a technique on its own or it can be used in combination with sound therapy. Research on supplements for tinnitus suggests that certain nutrients like ginkgo biloba, zinc, and magnesium may provide relief, but it’s important to consult a healthcare professional before incorporating them into your treatment plan.

Correction of Hearing Loss

In some cases, the tinnitus gradually turns into hearing loss. This can be corrected by wearing hearing aids. As a musician, you can get your super powerful hearing aids from a variety of sources, including Beltone hearing aids.

Relaxation

As simple as it sounds, this is one of the most effective strategies that you can use. Many musicians who practice relaxation, meditation, or mindfulness techniques state that they experience a significant reduction in their tinnitus. With time, they learn to ignore the ringing noise.

Sound Therapy

If you notice that the buzzing or ringing noises sound louder when the room is quiet, especially at night when you want to sleep, then you may have to use sound therapy. You can play some natural sound in the background to distract you from the noise. This can be from a CD, a ticking clock, a fan, or even an in-ear sound generator.

One strategy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT involves the patient talking to a therapist about how to maintain the right thoughts and behaviors regarding their tinnitus.

Though it can be frightening when you hear this new sound in your ear for the first time, you don’t have to panic. Once you learn what tinnitus is about, you should get some good hearing aids and learn some relaxation techniques. Counseling and sound therapy will also ensure that you continue with your music career.

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