ringing in ear... too much headphone mixing?

[Earwax69]

Hey, I've just noticed a permanent ringing sound in my right ear... I have such small sounds in my ears since im a kids but they usually go out very fast just by taking few deep breath and relaxing. Now this one is not going away. I didnt do any music today but all the week I was mixing few stupid tracks of mine with my Audio-Technica M-50 closed headphones. The volume is not high, I am careful not pumping the sound too loud but I can keep working few hours without interruptions.

Is heavy headphones use is worst than speakers? Im quite worry about that ringing sound. Its not very loud and if I put out the headphones, the computer fans are covering it but still, I never noticed it before.

[Rave]

Welcome to Tinnitus. I have it. It is horrible. Before it gets worse give your ears a break.

[micro-jr]

Funny this, when laying in bed last night with the ringing sounds in my ears i contemplated starting this thread myself.
For me it started about six months ago, a really high pitch sound in perfect stereo ( sometimes wandering to my right).
I am pretty sure it comes from using headphones, I rarely go to concerts anymore and never listen to speakers at high levels.
I mostly listen to music with headphones these days. I suspect that if you use them over a period of time you gradually
increases the volume as your ears get used to the high levels.
It was very worrying when it started, ATM I have sort of forgotten it but at times during sleepless nights it is annoying as hell!
I use headphones very carefully these days, always keep in mind what volume you are listening to and be sure to rest your ears
as often as possible.

Oh, I tried to rinse my ears with hot olive oil, never again.

[UKRuss]

The source of your problem may actually be in your forum name.

In any case, sample the noise for later production use.

[Earwax69]

^^^^^^
hehehe

Problem is my workstation is in the room in front of a very passing street, It's why I got the M-50 cans in the first place. Also the computer is doing the usual annoying fan sound and the room is very small and not sound friendly.

Tinitus, yeah, this is scary shit!

I have an hernia, G.E.R.D, Asthma and now tinitus... yeah great! All that since I came Japan 2 years ago. Oh well...

[Ball Sack]

I have an hernia, G.E.R.D, Asthma and now tinitus... yeah great! All that since I came Japan 2 years ago. Oh well...

Could be Aids next.

[Earwax69]

thanks for cheering me up!

[micro-jr]

I have an hernia, G.E.R.D, Asthma and now tinitus... yeah great! All that since I came Japan 2 years ago. Oh well...

Could be Aids next.

Nope, could be HIV next. You dont get AIDS without having HIV first.
BTW, " G.E.R.D " could be a decent band name?

[maxforlive]

Maybe sse a highpassfilter on the headphones when you not check tha bass

[Earwax69]

Not a bad idea (highpass filter)

I doubt a lot of people know about GERD. I did not until I felt it.
G.E.R.D! Great short for "Guys Exercising on RiverDance".

Actually, the pills I take for gerd is a pretty cool name for a technotrash band: Proton Pump Inhibitors!

[mr.ergonomics]

my physician(ear, nose and throat doctor) told me that the volume is the problem with headphones not the headphone self. but you rate the volume lower on the headphone, that's a problem (result hear at high volume with HP).
I have to say I never found something written (prove) about this, so don't sue me if it's wrong... I would like to have some written scientific infos about this too. I'm still curious about headphones an hearing damage.

[eightbit]

Tinnitus is a real pain. As a youngster I was going to concerts/shows regularly, and would always come home with that ringing in my ears. However, one night, after a particularly loud KMFDM/Rammstein/Lords of Acid show, that ringing never went away. Still have it, however, it seems like your brain kind of lessens the volume or tunes it out over time.

[rikhyray]

my physician(ear, nose and throat doctor) told me that the volume is the problem with headphones not the headphone self. but you rate the volume lower on the headphone, that's a problem (result hear at high volume with HP)..

It is only partially true, you cant expect any ordinary medical practitioner, even specialist to know about what is specific to our profession. Definitely consult specialists, I think everyone should get hearing test at least once a year, but not necessary believe everything they say.
Type of headphones do make a difference, since it went so far in this case you shouldn't use any headphones for couple of weeks, even months. Even then get yourself open headphones like Sennheisers 580/600/650, Ultrasone or AKG. Even if you get OK dont use closed headphones for longer the 1/2 hour, just for tracking .
Whatever kind of headphones you use take them off as often as possible-to allow oxygen, air flow. Take breaks at least every 2 hours, go for a walk, ride , have sex or cook something.

Couple of years back I had serious collapse- all at once-tinnitus, left ear lost everything over 7000 etc. I paniced, since music wass my only profession ( meanwhile got a bit into video, VJing just in case it happens again) I did come out of it but also radically change my working patterns, spend more time outside the studio, including working with laptop and a controller outside, open air-terraces, gardens, balcony as much as possible and weather allows, eat more regulary, healthier.etc, etc even visiting this forum and other internet stuff is part of it, taking internet break once ion an hour or so. Do video work as well, producing, editing so can get longer break/rest and still get paid.

BTW. My SHL (sudden hear loss) happened more or less as what OP describes.
Had a coming deadline, 3 songs to deliver next day to production company, doing lots checking with headphones, desperate to finish the job, no break, no food, just the obsessive drang to finish it. I finish it and it finished me. Next morning there was the infamous ringing and hearing like underwater on left ear......The stress, intensive concentration ( to hear some unwanted clicks,sounds and what not) are as bad as the physical aspect of the headphone pumping directly into your eardrum and oxygene deprivation. Closed in the studio, nailed to the chair, not moving much adds to depriving the inner organs through lesser blood flow etc,etc.

[Akshara]

Helichrysum Oil can help the nerves relax, which can lessen the volume, or stop it altogether for some. It needs to be applied properly and frequently though.

Neuromonics is an alternative treatment.

For me, cutting out caffeine and lowering stress with plenty of sleep can quiet the noise considerably.

[ethios4]

Caffeine and weed can contribute to tinnitus. I started having it quite bad because of the annoying fan on my laptop, so I got a really quiet tower and the ringing is pretty much gone. I figured it out one day when I was recording in my studio and noticed that the fan sound in the recording was exactly like the ringing in my ears. Having a room full of hummin electronics definitely makes my ears ring, so I got rid of most of it.

GERD....ugh. My wife has GERD and it has turned into Barretts esophagus. Ugh.