It was an ordinary day. Trying to take an afternoon nap and all I can hear is that constant ringing in my ears. You ever hear the same thing? If you do...it's called tinnitus and it's absolutely awful. And...it never goes away. It will be with me for the rest of my life! I'm not sure if I had ever written about it in the past, but just in case I haven't, I want to share with all my readers that if you happen to have it, I know what you are going through. As I sit here typing this story, I have a metallic ringing in my ears. Not real loud, mind you, but some days it can be deafening. An article I have read about tinnitus says that it can sound like buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or humming. For me, I'd love if it was humming, since I tend to hum all day long and it could be background humming for me. Tinnitus is the sensation or perception of sounds that other people can'd hear, and it doesn't have an external source. For me...I can hear it all day long, every day of my life. Tinnitus is caused by an underlying condition. This could be age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, ear infection, ear canal blockage, medications or a problem with the circulatory system. Most of the time, tinnitus will improve when the underlying condition is addressed. For me, that's just not going to happen! And...it is exceedingly bothersome and impacts my quality of life. Just how did I get it? Who knows! My guess is that it began when I became an Industrial Arts teacher who taught wood shop and graphic arts. In the wood shop we had half a dozen machines that made tons of noise...and I never wore hearing protection. Why...because no-one thought it would hurt you. In the print shop we ran presses that made quite a bit of noise...and I never wore hearing protection. Back in the 1960s no one said much about wearing ear protection! Not even the school district! Not even my doctor! But, the main reason I believe I now suffer with tinnitus is the fact that I coached the high school rifle team. And...we practiced just about all school year! Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I would have team members, both boys and girls, in the rifle range after school for a few hours firing rifles at targets 50 feet away. And we practiced from September until when the rifle season was over in late March. We were a great team, winning the State Championship one year. But, was it worth it? I'm sure you can guess what my answer might be! Back in the 1960s and 70s no one said much about wearing ear protection. How stupid could I have been? Unfortunately, for some people it can't be cured. I am one of those people. It affects my life on a daily basis. I hear ringing right now as I type this story. Some days I have trouble even hearing my wife who might be sitting next to me. She understands my problem, but that doesn't make it any easier for either one of us. I have been wearing hearing aides for years, but at times all that does is make the ringing louder. Tinnitus can't be cured for some people...and I seem to be one of them. So...I must create a strategy to help make the noise less noticeable so I can hear those talking to me. And, I can tell you...it doesn't always work. I have read that behavioral therapies can help decrease a person's perception of tinnitus. These therapies are to help me cope and be less bothersome to those around me. Good luck with that! If I didn't have an understanding wife and family, it would be awful. I am in my late 70s and many at that age begin to lose their hearing anyway. For me, I already know how to cope with hearing loss. Luckily, writing this blog doesn't require that I can hear...or you probably wouldn't be reading this story today. If you are one who suffers daily with tinnitus, I know how you feel. You will find a way to live a normal life. I have! But, I couldn't have done it without my wonderful wife! I know I don't hear many things she says on a daily basis, but I believe she understands why I'm like that and that I'm not trying to be spiteful. And...it will never get better! I realize that and have learned how to live with it. Not easy, but life never is easy! I try to think that my life could be so much worse if I had another medical problem other than tinnitus! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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