I'm 43 and have no tinnitus or anything, so I'm very grateful for that... being a musician and all!
But this topic allows me to tell a story. A couple years ago I had wax in my ears, and in my desperation trying to get out I actually compacted it in, and I'd say I lost 90% of my hearing due to the wax. I made an appointment to see an audiologist, but it took 2 days to get in. Lying in bed trying to sleep the night before my appointment I envisioned a life without hearing, and realized being deaf is "spending my life trapped in my head with nothing but my own thoughts" and then I had the thought "what if this is permanent?"... and suddenly I had my first ever panic attack, I was 40 (or 41) and had never experienced one before. I was wired and up all night after that. The next day I got my ears cleaned out, and it was no big deal but the audiologist said "that was really bad, you've bruised your eardrums", but I got my ears checked several times and the bruising quickly dissipated... but, after that I developed an irrational fear of losing my hearing, not only that, but after my first panic attack the flood gates opened and I developed panic disorder and started having them all the time. I had to quit my job as a event manager because I suddenly couldn't handle any stress at all without having a panic attack.
I worked a stress free, minimum wage job for a year, but eventually felt I was ready to go back to management... and I did.
But long story short, I really REALLY look after my ears now. I mix at low levels and wear earplugs at gigs.
I'd also better acknowledge that the above story might be a little insensitive to those that have lost their hearing.
But this topic allows me to tell a story. A couple years ago I had wax in my ears, and in my desperation trying to get out I actually compacted it in, and I'd say I lost 90% of my hearing due to the wax. I made an appointment to see an audiologist, but it took 2 days to get in. Lying in bed trying to sleep the night before my appointment I envisioned a life without hearing, and realized being deaf is "spending my life trapped in my head with nothing but my own thoughts" and then I had the thought "what if this is permanent?"... and suddenly I had my first ever panic attack, I was 40 (or 41) and had never experienced one before. I was wired and up all night after that. The next day I got my ears cleaned out, and it was no big deal but the audiologist said "that was really bad, you've bruised your eardrums", but I got my ears checked several times and the bruising quickly dissipated... but, after that I developed an irrational fear of losing my hearing, not only that, but after my first panic attack the flood gates opened and I developed panic disorder and started having them all the time. I had to quit my job as a event manager because I suddenly couldn't handle any stress at all without having a panic attack.
I worked a stress free, minimum wage job for a year, but eventually felt I was ready to go back to management... and I did.
But long story short, I really REALLY look after my ears now. I mix at low levels and wear earplugs at gigs.
I'd also better acknowledge that the above story might be a little insensitive to those that have lost their hearing.
Statistics: Posted by an-electric-heart — Mon Oct 07, 2024 2:53 am