Troublesome Tinnitus
An Aspiring DJ’s Story
A 39-year-old man, Richard Gillis, from Mosel, Birmingham has recently spoken out about his troublesome tinnitus. Mr. Gillis spends his day working as an IT consultant but, in 2016 Mr. Gillis took up DJ-ing as a part-time hobby. The aspiring DJ is now trying to raise awareness of tinnitus and is calling for more people in the music industry to use ear protection, and raise awareness of tinnitus.
Mr. Gillis says he started to hear a “high-pitch ringing noise in his ears” within a couple of months of being exposed to loud music, with only basic foam ear plugs to protect his ears.
It is a well-known fact that with exposure to loud music comes hearing loss, but Mr. Gillis feels DJs and artists are not entirely aware of how seriously tinnitus can affect their lives and careers. In almost all cases, people only become aware of tinnitus once it’s too late and the effect is already bothersome.
Tinnitus is a condition which causes people to hear ringing, buzzing, whistling or hissing in one or both ears, which isn’t from an external source. Unfortunately, tinnitus never subsides, and can present as a constant internal sound. It’s especially noticeable in quiet rooms, for example, when you’re trying to sleep at night.
Mr Gillis’s Words…
Mr. Gillis goes on to say: “The main worry that was getting me down, was not the tinnitus itself – as I am lucky it is only a mild form – but for the real fear of it getting worse, ultimately becoming life-changing and stopping me from doing the things I love.”
“I would advise people to limit the hours they spend without correct ear protection in any loud environment – as the consequences you face could ultimately be life-changing.”
Mr. Gillis went on to attend tinnitus therapy sessions, which helped him after acquiring the mild tinnitus.
At Hearing Healthcare Centre…
We frequently receive calls and emails from clients who are suffering the side-effects of troublesome tinnitus, and although a cure is not yet available, there are many ways to reduce the effects and distract from the overall sounds.
To find out more about noise-induced hearing loss, Please Click Here! and read about our Ear Protection for Music!
