Over 40 years - Lost tones - Can't play

Francis Chamberlain · Post by **Francis Chamberlain** » 17 Dec 2015 9:10 am

I have been playing steel over well over 40 years. I lost my tones almost 3 years ago and haven't been able to play since. My guitar sounds out of tune. I was wondering if anyone else on here has had this problem or know of anyone else that has and if there is a solution. I have got hearing aids but that hasn't helped. I sure do miss being able to play.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 17 Dec 2015 9:32 am

I'm so sorry to hear that, Francis
Our hearing degrades as we age -- I know from personal experience
I don't wear a hearing aid myself but have friends who do
If you turn the hearing aids down or off and play louder, do the frequencies still sound strange?

Francis Chamberlain · Post by **Francis Chamberlain** » 17 Dec 2015 12:06 pm

Thanks Larry for your reply..I have tried everything as far as my hearing aids and nothing seems to help..... Of all the players on this Forum there's surely someone else that has had this problem and I was wondering if they found a solution or if they just gave up.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 17 Dec 2015 2:00 pm

Well, my problem is severe Tinnitus, so nothing so far has helped me. Did you go to a hearing aid shop like the merciless Beltone? Have you gone to a good ENT doctor?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 17 Dec 2015 4:06 pm

Francis Chamberlain wrote:I have been playing steel over well over 40 years. I lost my tones almost 3 years ago and haven't been able to play since. My guitar sounds out of tune.

I don't understand that? The fact that you can hear that it's out of tune is very significant, and would indicate that there may be something else going on. Have you had any kind of hearing test lately?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 17 Dec 2015 4:08 pm

E.N.T. Ear, nose, and throat specialist. Get your regular doc to recommend a good one!

Francis Chamberlain · Post by **Francis Chamberlain** » 17 Dec 2015 6:12 pm

Thanks John and Donny for your replys..Yes I went to my family doctor when this happened and he recommended a hearing specialist. I told him that I wanted the best. He sent me to an ENT. When the ENT checked my hearing he said that the only answer was hearing aids...The hearing and balance doctor in his office has 42 years experience in that line of work. He fitted me with a set of aids that was supposed to sell for six thousand dollars and I got them for four. He told me that there were three ex-presidents that used the same brand of aids that I got.

Francis Chamberlain · Post by **Francis Chamberlain** » 17 Dec 2015 6:44 pm

On this same subject let me tell you about an experience that I had a few years ago. I have a good friend that had lost his hearing tones and we were
at his home for a jam session. He was playing rhythm and another friend was playing lead. We go a very loud feedback from one of our amps and my friend with the hearing problem didn't hear the feedback....This is an extreme case and also I might add that this was a year or so before my problem.

Billy Mostyn · Post by **Billy Mostyn** » 17 Dec 2015 8:12 pm

I wear hearing aids and have a great audiologist. I told him that if I have my hearing aids in and turned on whilst playing unplugged or when listening to CDs, the tone sounded somewhat "tinny". Like listening to an old cheap transistor radio. He then put a program into my hearing aids that sort of balanced the tonal quality of my hearing aids. Bass is good without being overpowering or too thumpin and treble tone is fine. Made a lot of difference to listening to music. My hearing loss is of high frequencies and hearing aids really made a difference. The music listening program my audiologist put in my aids has been fantastic. I suggest asking your hearing specialist if he/she has something similar.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 17 Dec 2015 9:45 pm

You're right, Billy! Hearing aids are normally designed for understanding conversation. If your primary interest is music, and not understanding speech, you need a special hearing device.

Bob Gondesen · Post by **Bob Gondesen** » 19 Dec 2015 12:40 pm

HI Francis , I had about the same problem , I saw
a eye specialist , he prescribed steroids in pill
form for about 6 weeks and thank God my hearing is
back to normal .- Good luck

Bob GONDESEN
la Marque Texas

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 19 Dec 2015 10:48 pm

Bob Gondesen wrote:HI Francis , I had about the same problem , I saw
a eye specialist , he prescribed steroids in pill
form for about 6 weeks and thank God my hearing is
back to normal .- Good luck

Bob GONDESEN
la Marque Texas

Steroids from an eye specialist helped your hearing? Weird!

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 20 Dec 2015 12:16 pm

Jim:

I heard a scientific talk several years ago by an ENT surgeon who claimed in some cases steroid injections in certain areas of the ear may reverse hearing loss. The idea is the hair cells in the inner ear are not always destroyed, they may just be worn out, and the steroids may help to reverse the fatigue.

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