Does Loud Music Cause Ear Noise from Tinnitus? Ask These Rock Stars

<p>Baby boomers are now entering the time of their lives when they start to have problems with ear noises caused by tinnitus. For the boomer generation, the problem of constant ringing in the ears from this condition may be worse than for past generations because of the way they listened to music as they grew older. Can you say “loud?” In fact, very loud. There’s more and more reason to believe that years of exposure to loud music will result in hearing loss as you get older.

For proof, just look the roster of “veteran rockers” who now have to live with constant ringing in the ears and other ear noise caused by tinnitus. Among the celebrity rockers who now hear ear noises that won’t go away are.

The Who’s John Entwhistle and Pete Townshend. Townshend is completely deaf in one ear, a condition caused by the combination of an onstage explosion, loud stage music, and highly pumped up volume in headsets as he listened to playbacks of studio cuts.

Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac admitted in a recent Rolling Stone Magazine interview that “The world’s worst is when you find yourself going like Mother Hubbard and cupping your hand behind your ear. I was a major glutton for volume: ‘Gotta feel it, gotta hear it.’ Sooner or later you’re going to pay the reaper.”

Others who have suffered at least partial hearing loss or related problems include George Harrison of the Beatles, Neil Young, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Huey Lewis and Bono.

Band members from My Bloody Valentine, Metallica and The Red Hot Chili Peppers are also on the list of the hearing impaired.

Other Causes of Tinnitus Among the Famous

Loud music is not the only hearing hazard among entertainers.

Both William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have tinnitus-like hearing problems suffered during a prop explosion when they were filming a Star Trek episode four decades ago.

Steve Martin, the actor and comedian, acquired tinnitus in the mid 80′s while filming a pistol-shooting scene for the movie “¡Three Amigos!” .

Still others have had ear noise since before they were famous.

Barbra Streisand has said her reputation for volatility may be the result of tinnitus or a similar hearing impairment from which she has suffered since she was seven, according to news sources in the United Kingdom.

Actress Morgan Fairchild had scarlet fever when she was very young. She says she had so many kidney infections and ear infections as a child that she admits she is “partially deaf” as a result.

Ear noises that may be caused by tinnitus have also affected many other famous people, including the late ABC newsman Peter Jennings, broadcaster Larry King, actor Richard Thomas, and presidents Bill Clinton and the late Ronald Reagan.

Hearing ear noises (a hum, buzz, whoosh etc.) or a constant ringing in the ears doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going deaf. But it is a sign that you may have tinnitus, and that you should see a specialist for a hearing exam right away.

To learn more, click on Tinnitus.

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