Health & Fitness Tools

Constant Ringing in the Ears: Is It Tinnitus?

9th September, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Back in the 60s and 70s, doctors were already telling us that listening to blaring rock music could eventually lead to a condition known as tinnitus or “ringing in the ears.” It appears those doctors knew what they were talking about.

We’re now learning that baby boomers who grew up and lived their adult lives listening to loud music are more likely to have hearing problems than their parents, grandparents and previous generations. There’s mounting reason to believe that years of exposure to loud music causes hearing problems later in life.

Just look the number of well known rockers from the 60s and 70s who now hear constant ringing in the ears and other ear noise caused by tinnitus. Just look at the celebrity rockers who now hear ear noises that won’t go away are.

Start with The Who’s Pete Townshend and John Entwhistle. Townshend has completely lost his hearing in one ear. He attributes his deafness to onstage explosions and sound effects, loud music played at concerts, and super-high volume in headsets as he listened to playbacks in the studio.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood admitted in a recent Rolling Stone Magazine interview that “The world’s worst is when you find yourself going like Mother Hubbard and cupping your hand behind your ear. I was a major glutton for volume: ‘Gotta feel it, gotta hear it.’ Sooner or later you’re going to pay the reaper.”

Neil Young of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds, Ted Nugent, Huey Lewis, and Bono (U2) have suffered hearing damage during their careers.

Rockers from other groups (Metallica, My Bloody Valentine, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers) now hear noises in their ears too.

Tinnitus and other ear noises seem to be an occupational hazard for other entertainers too – not just musicians.

Both William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy now hear ear noises due damage they suffered due to a prop that exploded on the set during the filming of a Star Trek episode back in the 1960s.

Steve Martin, the actor and comedian, acquired tinnitus in the mid 80’s while filming a pistol-shooting scene for the movie “¡Three Amigos!” .

Constant ringing in the ears has been a problem for some famous people for a long time – even before they became famous, in some cases.

Barbra Streisand has ascribed her volatile temperament to the tinnitus from which she has suffered since she was seven, according to a number of news reports.

Actress Morgan Fairchild had scarlet fever when she was very young. She says she suffered multiple ear infections and kidney infections when she was little that she admits she is “partially deaf” as a result.

Ear noises that were probably caused by tinnitus by tinnitus have also affected many other famous people, including the late ABC newsman Peter Jennings, broadcaster Larry King, actor Richard Thomas, and presidents Bill Clinton and the late Ronald Reagan.

If you hear a constant ringing in the ears or ear noises like a hum, hiss, buzz, whoosh or anything else you shouldn’t be hearing, you may have tinnitus. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re heading for deafness, but it’s definitely a sign that you should have your hearing checked as soon as possible.

To get more information on topics related to this article, click on mysterious ear noises and sounds and ringing in the ears. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Hearing Problems and Ear Health, a resource website about ear health and wellness.