Music legend Phil Collins, renowned former lead singer of Genesis and accomplished musical choreographer, is stepping off the stage of his career. The 60-year-old performer has announced that health problems, including hearing loss, have made it impossible for him to continue as a musician.
Phil Collins on the cover of Rolling Stone
Did chronic noise exposure make the music die?
Your ears can only handle so much stimulation; hearing loss and tinnitus, a condition where sufferers hear a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, are common ailments of musicians, as exposure to unhealthy levels of decibels is one of their occupational hazards. Jam sessions, never-ending concert line-ups and frequent iPod ear bud usage all account for irreversible damage to the cochlea in the inner ear.
Celebrities raise tinnitus awareness
How much is too much?
The National Institutes of Health define noise induced hearing loss as damage done to the ears as a result of constant exposure to loud noises greater than 75 decibels. Comparatively, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a safety standard of no more than 110 decibels. Musicians, stunt men and individuals who have served in the army or the air force are constantly exposed to decibels much greater than the amount advised by health experts; as a result they are most likely to suffer from irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus.
How can we protect our hearing and avoid the symptoms of tinnitus?
- If you work in an setting which requires constant exposure to loud noises, be vigilant about wearing protective earplugs.
- Avoid wearing iPod ear buds; opt instead for volume-controlled safe headphones which can be purchased on the internet.
- Listen to music on a moderate setting.
- Turn off the television or radio when not engaged; don’t be tempted to keep them on as “background noise.”
Sources:
Very often, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes tinnitus among soldiers in the armed forces. Unfortunately, powerful roadside bombs, commonly known as IED’s (improvised explosive devices), have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, which are often accompanied by hearing loss and tinnitus.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an object suddenly hits the head, and this in turn causes a trauma to the brain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The level of damage created by the TBI can be mild, moderate or severe. Symptoms of a TBI can include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, temporary or prolonged loss of consciousness, ringing of the ears (tinnitus), impaired memory and concentration, and loss of balance. Someone with a severe TBI may have seizures, convulsions or even death.
Fortunately, victims of many TBIs can benefit from treatment. This may involve surgery to repair broken bones, surgery to remove hematomas (blood clots), occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and possibly treatment by a psychiatrist.
Even with all the treatment options, however, scientist still have much to learn about the mechanism of traumatic brain injuries, and are trying to determine how to help those affected to recover over a shorter duration of time.
Many soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are victims of traumatic brain injuries. These include members of the armed forces suffering from tinnitus triggered by their head injuries.
Since our enemies are utilizing roadside bombs (a.k.a. IEDs) at increasing rates, more must be done to protect our soldiers from traumatic brain injuries and, in many cases, subsequent tinnitus.
Ear tinnitus has affected 619,826 veterans of the armed forces, according to the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research. This annoying phantom noise in the head can take on the form of a buzz, whoosh, high-pitched whistle, hissing, chirping or other sounds.
The primary cause of ear tinnitus is exposure to loud noises. Members of the armed forces must deal with noise levels well above those recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH had stated that noise levels higher than 85 decibels can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
The source for ear tinnitus among veterans stems from the key tactic employed by the enemies, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The resulting explosive blasts are as loud as 170 decibels, much higher than the 85 decibel threshold recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The implication is that veterans of the armed forces, who may be only in their 20s, are susceptible to a lifetime sentence of ear tinnitus.
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) reports that 49 percent of all soldiers exposed to explosive blasts in Iraq and Afghanistan developed tinnitus. Furthermore, it speculates the Veterans Association will be paying out nearly one billion dollars in disability compensation by 2010.
More research is recommended to remedy this problem.
Second to noise, head and neck trauma is the next leading cause of tinnitus. Roadside bombs, commonly known as IED’s (improvised explosive devices), can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) accompanied by hearing loss and tinnitus. Consequently, many victims of traumatic brain injuries are soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to the Congressional Research Service, The Military Health System recorded 43,779 patients who were diagnosed with TBIs from 2003 to 2007.
The Brain:
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an object suddenly hits the head, and the force of the impact causes trauma to the brain. The degree of damage can be mild, moderate or severe. Symptoms of a TBI can include temporary or prolonged loss of consciousness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing of the ears, loss of balance, impaired memory and concentration. Someone with a severe TBI may experience convulsions, seizures or death.
Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death for people younger than 45 years old.
Treatment for a TBI can involve surgery to remove hematomas (blood clots), surgery to repair broken bones, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and possibly treatment by a psychologist and/or psychiatrist.
There is ongoing research about the mechanism of TBIs, and how to help speed up recovery among its victims.
What is the connection between traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and tinnitus?
In an article by Marsha Johnson, M.S., CCC-A, Marsha cites Dr. Dennis Fitzgerald, who states that head trauma causes bleeding on the surface of the brain and brain stem. This bleeding, in turn, causes damage to the cochlea, the inner ear. The cochlea is a delicate maze that contains membranes and sacs filled with different fluids. It is theorized that a leakage of fluids in any of these sacs can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
The Ear:
It is also possible that the force of the impact from the trauma can cause leakage of fluids from different sacs in the cochlea.
In his article (The Washington Post; 3/10/2009), Tom Wilkinson tells the story of Captain Nathan Green, who was the victim of a roadside bomb/IED. Captain Green suffered a traumatic brain injury, and as a result, “hears the high-pitched whine and static buzz of an AM radio. All the time.”
The sound that Nathan Green does not exist outside of his head. It is generated by his brain. This is tinnitus.
Other sounds created by the brain are ringing, hissing, chirping or buzzing.
Tinnitus can interrupt a person’s sleep, ability to concentrate and participate in social situations.
The connection between traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and tinnitus is still not completely clear. It has been recommended by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that more research be conducted in this area, in light of the fact that the nature of the current war and the high incidence of IEDs translates into an increasing number of soldiers experiencing TBIs. Of these, a substantial number will subsequently suffer from tinnitus.
For those servicemen suffering from tinnitus, there is Tinnitus Dx, a homeopathic remedy for tinnitus.
In an article put out by the Deafness Research Foundation, (Winter, 2010), U.S. Army Specialist Opal Hood makes an interesting point. When going out to battle, no one would neglect to wear a helmet or body armor. Yet, little importance is given to hearing protection. As a result, most of the patients seen at Bagram Air Field, an ENT clinic, are for hearing-related problems.
Opal Hood quotes Air Force Col. Joseph A. Brennan, who has never met even one patient at his clinic who used hearing protection. He says that the troops feel that wearing any type of earplugs could prevent them from performing properly.
As mentioned in previous blogs, there are so many types of earpieces that don’t interfere with communication. From this article it would seem that the Air Force is not doing enough for its members.
While in Iraq, Brennan noted that the biggest problem is hearing loss and tinnitus caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). IEDs have noise levels that approach 170 decibels, well above the 85 decibel limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is physical damage to the ear, such as broken ear bones. Surgery is the best option for this type of damage.
With regard to sensorineural hearing loss, the nerve in the inner ear is damaged. Unfortunately, the only solution is a hearing aid.
Tinnitus is yet another result of nerve damage to the ear. This is a phantom noise that a person hears even when no auditory stimulus is present.
There are two types of tinnitus: objective and subjective. The advantage of objective tinnitus is that it can be measured by an ENT. With subjective tinnitus, however, the severity is based solely on the claim made by the patient.
Additionally, “blown-out” eardrums are another effect of the high noise levels from IEDs. However, these holes can heal by themselves or can be corrected by surgery.
Perforated ear drum:
Brennan told a story of a soldier who could not hear as a result of ruptured eardrums, and nearly died because he could not hear his fellow soldiers telling him how to avoid the shower of bullets.
Furthermore, Brennan points out that even a hearing loss in one ear can impair a soldier’s ability to tell which direction a gun is being fired, and subsequently endanger his life.
Once again, this is totally unnecessary with the presence of so many high-tech earpieces on the market that are specifically made for such situations. It’s a travesty. Ironically, after a hearing-impaired service member leaves the military, the Veteran’s Administration provides him with hearing aids.
For those retired service members who suffer from tinnitus, they will benefit from Tinnitus DX, a homeopathic remedy for tinnitus.
