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From: wmartin@brl-smoke.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.bio,net.med
Subject: Originally aspirin; now tinnitus
Message-ID: <617@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 16:38:08 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.617
Posted: Wed Jan 15 16:38:08 1986
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Speaking of tinnitus, I was wondering if someone could either verify or
disprove the statement I have heard, "Every time you hear a ringing in
your ear, that means a nerve cell is dying." (Referring here to real
tinnitus, not your telephone ringing, of course. :-)

Since I perceive brief tinnitus maybe about twice a week or so, not
enough to bother but only noticeable in a quiet room, I do wonder if the
satement is true, and some nerve cell in my inner ear has chosen that
instant to die, thereby decreasing my hearing capability. I hope that it
is not true, but that this minor tinnitus is caused by some other factor
and indicates no permanent failures. However, I do not know.

I have had a period of severe tinnitus after exposure to large amounts of
gunfire without ear protection; I suppose that single episode did damage
my hearing. However, that period lasted for several days and was quite
noticeable; the kinds of random tinnitus I refer to above last only for
some seconds and do not follow any loud noises (as I said, they can only
be detected in a quiet room).

Regards,
Will Martin

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