What's that ringing?

We have all had that ringing sound after leaving a club right? Or after a concert or festival?

Well imagine having it 24/7 and the sound is overpowering but there is nothing you can do.

Something that has affected us as a family but more so my husband, is Tinnitus.

Here's a short video I found explaining it quickly.

We were known for living life to the fullest before getting married and having kids. Festival after festival, club after club, and I for one have always listened to music at high volume (still do).

Back in 2014 Ben returned home from a bachelor party weekend and I was away with some girlfriends. He called to tell me his ears have not stopped ringing since going to see DJ Hardwell. As any of us would do, I told him to not panic and that it would go in time.

Well here we are in 2021 and it is something that he battles with day in day out. Ben's Tinnitus is chronic and unfortunately, nothing can be done. Countless doctors, scans, specialists, and no answers. He has hearing aids to help try and mask the sound when it spikes, we sleep with noise on all night and when he is at his worst, all that helps is sleep and taking something to help him relax. Some days are good, many are bad.

I too have Tinnitus but mainly in my right ear. It is definitely from exposure to loud music mixed with maybe taking medication in the past for depression but at the same time I suffer with TMJ and that is known to also be a trigger for Tinnitus.

Do you remember those ads on TV for driving too fast or smoking? Well why have we not seen any for protecting your ears? Before COVID everyone was festival crazy, alongside your normal concerts, live bands, bars and nightclubs but ear protection is never advertised.

No less than half of Dutch people suffer from hearing complaints as a result of loud music, while only 16 percent wear earplugs preventively.” – 2017 Alpine study among 3.200 festivalgoers.

A brand I have used in the past has been Alpine and they supply earplugs to protect your ears. The video below is taken from their website.

Recently within the last year, I have been having a harder time with my tinnitus, I guess in a weird way it's a comfort knowing Ben understands but I also feel bad for mentioning mine because I'm a level 4/5 and he is like a level 10+. It's so hard not being able to help him in his darkest days but all I can do is support him as best I can and lock the kids away in a soundproof room when they are too loud (jokes).

I want to add that Ben has had his hearing tested multiple times and his hearing is fine so it is not down to hearing loss.

Invest in some earplugs if you are going somewhere loud, even the cinema is too loud! Once you get Tinnitus it will be too late and the effects it has on your life are serious.

I'm not sponsored by Alpine but they design plugs especially for music events so it's not going to interfere with the experience and you are protecting your ears.

Check out their site: https://www.alpinehearingprotection.com/

PROTECT YOURSELF - WEAR EARPLUGS