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| Whiting School of Engineering - John Hopkins University |
What started out over a decade ago as a constant thrum of a bassoon in my left ear eventually became a hiss that accompanies me 24/7. My right ear joined the unhappy chorus about 2 years ago. No one really knows what causes it, and it can only be controlled, not cured. My brilliant audiologist, Dr. Arthur Tepper, has worked with me to manage the condition, which is a blessing, considering that the physicians basically gave up on me.
Although I often hear the world through the haze of a hiss, I am vocally healthy. My voice is still clear, my perfect pitch is still on target, and I can tell in an instant if my piano is out of tune. If the tenor misses the high note in Nessun Dorma - even by a smidgen - I squirm and shudder. So all is well that way.
There's definitely an up side. Tinnitus encourages me to listen intently and hear things I might have missed if I weren't paying attention. When I'm out for a walk, I pay particular attention to the sounds of breezes, birds, puppies, and children playing in their yards. When I sit in meditation, I specifically focus on what's outside my body: cars in the street, normal house noises, the coffee pot gurgling, and the periodic rustling of leaves. In a dialog, I listen for nuances that I might have missed before tinnitus made life interesting.
And here's the blessing: I listen more intensely, so I hear so much more.
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