I can tell you about a couple of things I learned about this subject the hardway.

Obviously excessive and continuous exposure to noise, this includes music, does cause tinny and frequency loss too, but there are over 700 drugs identified as causes as well.

My loss began in my early 20's while flying multi-engine prop planes for the USAF. In my 60's I started taking a common blood pressure medication that completely destriyed what little hearing I had left. After 8 years of total deafness and one last thing to try before taking my life, I received a cochlear implant in my right ear. Born again to the human hearing world and once again able to carry on a simple conversation with my wife and grandkids and join the local community as a participant.

Treasure your hearing - you only think you can imagine what it will be like without it.

Bill G

So many physical changes come on gradually that we often don't notice...or, if we do, tend to live in denial. Such was the case with my ears. Not realizing that my ability to hear the upper reaches of EQ, I was adjusting the settings in my keyboard and on the mixer. It wasn't until a visiting musician in an audience told me I was "killing the audience with my highs" that I took a hard look at my EQ settings. YIKES...the high ends were maxed out on my mixer and in my keyboard.

Only after a comprehensive test by an audiologist and purchase of BTE (Behind The Ear) aids was I able to hear what the audiences were hearing...or pretty close to it. My hearing deficiencies could have been caused by any one of a number of things from my youth...or combination of culprits from playing in loud rock'n roll bands, working in construction, prescription drugs...and genetic. Serious hearing loss is common among the males in my family.

Tinnitus is a factor...but, as has been pointed out, you can learn to live with it.

Even with my hearing aids, I am eternally grateful for speaker phones.

On a totally Political Incorrect note, I mentioned to a friend once that I had trouble hearing female and children's voices. He said..."Don't worry about it. They don't say anything important anyway".

He was just kidding.................I think.

Eddie

Some many tears ago, a very comprehensive study was conducted on 100 married couples and it was discovered that exactly half of the participants reported the wife was the first the husband could no longer hear correctly. ;-)

Bill G

No, you do NOT have to "just live with it."

Hearing aids DO HELP! AND...The more attention
you give to the tinnitus, the more attention
you will give to tinnitus.....

My hearing aids even have a remote control to
adjust if needed in different locations!

Merry Christmas to all the Zonies!