AL DiMEOLA Speaks About His Tinnitus

[MickCorgi]

I read in the guitar magazine a long long time ago that he developed the mute picking because of small housing environment where he always had to play his guitar silently.

[ATAJD]

Al Di Meola has graciously started an online walk team to support the American Tinnitus Association's upcoming Jack Vernon Walk to Silence Tinnitus. You can join Al's online team by making a donation in support tinnitus research - Al has been afflicted with tinnitus since his childhood and cares deeply about a cure! Please support Al's team by visiting walk (dot )ata (dot) org and then click on "Find A Team" and click on "Team Di Meola" - you will find further instructions on joining there.

[cadburyenglishman]

Al is a warrior nevertheless regardless this annoying malady, and may he be an example to everyone who learns of his plight for Al is a Jazz God if there ever were one and he just keeps going which is highly inspiring!!! Indeed I caught him along with Return to Forever, I guess in 2007 in San Francisco, and from my first row vantage point I noticed he removed what appeared as hearing aids from his inner ear and he placed them on s monitor to be forgotten the rest of that magical evening!

[Harjawaldar]

Acoustic damage? What does he mean by that?

[ATAJD]

@Harjawaldar Acoustic damage means damage done to the auditory system, or more specifically the ear (and the tiny hair cells inside the ear that transmit sound up the nerve and to the brain where it is processed and given meaning) which cannot be undone, yet in humans.

[2Funky4me]

Paul Gilbert is got the same problem, he's almost deaf, that's why he gotta use headphones to perform live

[d3nisk3n]

im a musician, but ive never heard about this 'tinnitus' can anyone let me in with the facts? thanks

[ATAJD]

@d3nisk3n Tinnitus is most commonly caused by noise exposure - it can be a very loud sound that happens instantaneously, or in the case of musicians cumulative over time. There is a wealth of information on our website, ATA.org in the Patients, Family and Friends section. I would also be happy to send you more information specific to musicians if you would like to email me directly at jennifer@ata.org.

[wendileona]

Yeah, direct speakers can do damage. Especially at close range. The sound and music is sweet but you have to be aware of the risks. I think musicians and other audio enthusiasts, professionals, etc. also have fine tuned their ears to listen that they actually become more aware of it and the brain reacts to that awareness of that sound. I don't call it ringing because it does not ring like a phone or bell, I dont know why people say that, but its really just a high pitched sound.

[jonrittmann]

i have had it for 5 yrs now, been playing guitar for 40 yrs. I did acupuncture for a year which helped some and take 100mg of zinc daily which takes the edge off.

-Jon

[NotSoSuperJerk]

My guitar teacher has had tinnitus for many years. He has been telling me to be careful for many years now because it appereantly is horrible. I am VERY cautious about this because it is scary.

[rickcheyne]

I've had tinnitus most of my life but never realized it was abnormal until about 10 years ago. It got worse after a night at BB King's in Memphis and comes and goes. I have a cold right now and the ringing is driving me up the wall. And, yeah, it sucks being a musician and having this. Apparently they're getting mixed results with hyperbaric treatment but it sounds encouraging.

[NiteBlogger]

OMG - can't imagine being a musician & having this...

[hajarc]

Hello Al (if you see this),

I have been treated with Low Level Laser Therapy (Dr Wilden's method) for 22 months and my hearing loss/tinnitus/hyperacusi has now regenerated to 80%, and I still experience improvements.