Tinnitus anyone?
 

I know for a fact the ringing in my ears is not from the whistle. Because the summer league games I had, no issues after 3 back to back games.

Come November, I attend a concert and wear no hearing protection, I don't even think to wear any, ringing in my ears since.

Now, after each game, the ringing is louder for about 24-36 hours, then goes back to the same level. I am going to a ENT Doctor in two weeks.

I am just wondering if anyone else has Tinnitus, because this is my first year, and I would really dislike not being able to continue reffing because of it :mad:


Oscar

If you have an iPhone, you can test your own hearing with uHear:
Hearing Loss - Treatment - Test Yourself

I do not. AT&T don't like us down here in my area!

Quietus
 

I have tinnitus but it comes from shooting guns for over 30 years and using power equipment. Anyway, there is something on the market now called Quietus (Quietus for Tinnitus Relief | Welcome! Find Tinnitus relief products, as well as other ear health products and information.) that is advertised to silence the ringing. I don't know if it works or not since I haven't tried it yet, but it might be worth a conversation with your doctor.

Bp
 

High blood pressue will cause T.

Yeah, I read that also. AFAIK, my last checkup everything was solid, but that was back in late August.

I have already read up on that, and am highly thinking about purchasing it. As of now, at 150 dollars for 3 bottles, I am willing to spend that cash just to see if it stops, or reduces the ringing. Since this will be the first time I will see a ENT, I am waiting to hear what he has to say, before purchasing Quietus.

There is another thing out now, I actually just heard it advertised on the radio today. Can't remember what it is called. I think you go to the doctor and he'll put headphones over the ear with the T and will play a series of loud, annoying sounds through your ear. It's supposed to get rid of it somehow, but not sure what the success rate would be. If I hear it on the radio again, I'll let you know of it. Mention it to your doctor if you'd like, but it seems to be pretty new so he/she might not know about it yet.

A lot of stations play that loud, annoying sound all the time. No need to look far or pay a doctor for it.

I spoke with someone who used to work for an otolaryngologist (eye, ear, nose and throat doctor) and while she isn't a doctor or a nurse, she is very familiar with how tinnitus is treated. The "headphone" treatment mentioned earlier is called "Noisebreakers". It forces loud tones into the patients ears that have a different frequency than the frequency of the noise he or she is hearing. My source says it's not extremely successful, especially if the tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noises and not by fluid buildup in the ear canal.

Unfortunately, she said sometimes it just isn't curable. She also noted there are "tinnitus clinics" in some major cities which also sponsor support groups.

DISCLAIMER: Please note I am not representing this information as medical advice. Only a licensed medical professional can provide that.

Okay. Certain abbreviations on this forum usually mean one thing. Not to take away from the gravity of the OP's concerns, but I immediately thought that coaches with high blood pressure get the most technical fouls called on them.

Definitely wait until you see the ENT before spending your cash. As a couple of the others said high blood pressure can cause this. I know in my case once I got my blood pressure under control I very rarely have any ringing in my ears. As you have experienced it is not a pleasant condition.

I smashed my head into a concrete wall 27 years ago. BAD BICYCLE ACCIDENT! My right has been ringing ever since. Nerve damage. Doctor says no cure. I can not hear soft sounds nor high pitch sounds.

Showbo,
I have had a very bad case of Tinnitus for many years -- way to many concerts: Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Jethro Tull, Styx, Kansas, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Journey, Asia, Yes, Rolling Stones, Michael Stanley and the list goes on and on.

I have gotten fairly used to it over the years. It also gives me a good excuse for not hearing at certain times of the day. :)

I have heard the ads for Quietus on the radio. I may give it a try -- I think XM subscribers might be eligible for a free trial. I am not counting on it. The way I look at it is the ringing makes it more difficult for me to make out the other voices in my head. :)

I am a music teacher, an avid hunter and official. I have always been concerned with my ears/hearing. I have gone to an audiologist and have been fitted for a pair of special custom ear plugs. These plugs filter the sounds that cause problems and cut sounds of certain frequency - lowering decibel's to a safe range.

Basically they work like this - once you put them in you can stand if front of a pep band, on a firing range, or with a person blowing whistle in your ear - yet still hear a normal conversation with the person standing next to you. They h ave been great, and are comfortable. No problems with normal conversation with or without other noise around. You can have them customized for shooting, music, gunfire, etc or for all. They are not cheap - I paid around $300 for the first set - but upgraded so that one set would cover everything. However - they last. I've had them for 17 years and they are still good. I work with the wife of the guy that fitted them and see him fairly often. He has checked them - and they are still like new. Just follow the directions for cleaning and you'll have no problems. he told me that the only thing you need to worry about is not losing them. I'd ask when you go to the ENT.

I had the same problem that you described and simply changed whistles and that corrected it. Fox40 made my ears ring all night. I use an old Acme whistle with the little bead in it and have no problem.
Also tried the noise reducing ear plugs to reduce certain pitches and frequencies, but thought I was missing too much on the court and couldn't get comfortable with them.

just curious - how did they make you miss thiings. :confused: With mine I hear everything - it's not like sticking one of the industrial ear plugs in. Perhaps we aren't talking about the same thing.

Mine was molded to fit inside the ear canal so it couldn't be seen. there were no batteries or electronic device with it. It had a small hole it. Can't tell you much more than that. I still use them for loud events, but for officiating I'm just not comfortable using them.

Mine were molded as well - no electronics involved either. I wear them a lot depending what my teaching assignment is. If in front of a large group band for example - definately wear them all day. This year I am doing choral and don't use them as much. Being that I had to wear them all the time when I got them - I became very comfortable with them quickly.

Here is a whistle you might want to try. Best Whistle
I will get one before soccer season starts. I won't give it a try in Basketball because our local association specifies the use of the Fox 40

Can't believe no ones said this yet...
 

Must be a regional thing...