Understanding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) & Tinnitus
- Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and “Foo Fighters” frontman David Grohl is celebrating his 56th birthday. As Grohl turns another year older, we’re reminded how he’s been powering through adversity by living with hearing loss and tinnitus.
- According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), tinnitus, which is pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-uh-tus, “is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, so other people cannot hear it” and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when sensitive structures in the inner ear are damaged.
- SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.
- Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who also played for the iconic grunge band Nirvana from 1990 to 1995, has been playing music for decades and doing what he loves despite experiencing hearing loss, and we admire his resilience to thrive amid adversity. However, his hearing struggles are an important reminder to protect your ears and get routine hearing exams.

After noting that he has tried an ear monitor before “a long time ago,” he said he doesn’t like that it “removes you from the natural atmosphere sound.”
Grohl said he wants to hear the audience in front of him, as well as he bandmates around him, adding, “That being said, I’ve had the same monitor guy, the guy that mixes my monitors, for 31 years. He’s in my head, so even though I’m not using in-ear monitors, the sound on stage for me is perfect.Because it’s been the same guy, Ian Beveridge, for 31 years, since Nirvana.
“So I’m not up there just getting my ass kicked by some loud stuff, it sounds great. And I just don’t like the in-ear things. Plus, I have little ear holes, and when I put those things in they just pop out.”
Grohl also explained how his ears are still able to hear “the slightest little things.”
“My ears are still tuned into certain frequencies and if I hear something that’s slightly out of tune or a symbol that’s not bright enough, or something like that, in the mix I can hear the minutia of everything that we have done to that song,” Grohl continued.
“That being said, if you were sitting right next to me hear at dinner, I wouldn’t understand a word you’re staying to me, the whole time … in the crowded restaurant, that’s the worst.”
He than expressed how “the worst thing” about the pandemic was everyone wearing masks and him having trouble understanding others because he’s been “reading lips for 20 years.”
Despite his hearing struggle and previous health issues, like breaking a led during a performance in Sweden, he said in an earlier interview with RadNet TV, “I think, just in general, in life, it’s important to carry some sense of hope within yourself all the time. Even on the worst days.
“On bad days, there are times where you’re sort of locked in a crisis and it’s hard to image being outside of it, but if you remind yourself of a much bigger picture, that’s what I kind of try to do every day. And you can apply that sort of hope to so many different things.”
He concluded, “And when it comes to recovery I think it’s really important to have that positive energy, positive attitude, and a sense of hope.”

Although Grohl has never battled cancer, it’s important to note that tinnitus and hearing loss are often something cancer survivors struggle with, and according to a recent study by University of California San Francisco (UCSF) adults receiving chemotherapy treatments don’t usually undergo routine hearing tests, like children do.
The findings suggest that since hearing loss and tinnitus aren’t checked amid patient’s breast, gastrointestinal, lung and gynecologic cancer journeys, adults may experience age-related hearing loss.
Study author Dr. Steven W. Cheung, MD, a otologist-neurotologist at UCSF, said in a statement following the news, “While hearing loss associated with the administration of platinum drugs was reported in adults with testicular and head and neck cancer, our study is the first to demonstrate that hearing loss and tinnitus are highly prevalent problems in survivors of the four most common types of cancer.”
Corresponding author Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center adds, “While individuals often underestimate hearing problems, our findings point to the need for cancer survivors to have their hearing tested.
“Though the type of hearing loss that occurs with platinum and taxane drugs is permanent, patients’ hearing can be improved with the use of a hearing aid. Only 17 percent of the survivors in our study were using a hearing aid, which suggests that clinicians need to refer survivors for a hearing test on a routine basis.”
Understanding Tinnitus
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), tinnitus, which is pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-uh-tus, “is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, so other people cannot hear it.”
The condition, which is often described as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears, has been estimated that between 10 to 25 percent of adults have it, and children can have it too.
“For children and adults, tinnitus may improve or even go away over time, but in some cases, it worsens with time. When tinnitus lasts for three months or longer, it is considered chronic,” the NIDCD explains.
“The causes of tinnitus are unclear, but most people who have it have some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.”
Although there’s no way to cure tinnitus, it is possible to reduce symptoms through hearing aids or other sound therapy devices, medications, and behavioral therapies.
Additionally, the cause of tinnitus isn’t completely understood, but the NIDCD says the condition can be caused by noise exposure, hearing loss, medications, earwax, ear infections, as well as head or neck injuries.
Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders also explains that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when sensitive structures in the inner ear are damaged.
“NIHL can be immediate or it can take a long time to be noticeable. It can be temporary or permanent, and it can affect one ear or both ears,” the NIDCD states. “Even if you can’t tell that you are damaging your hearing, you could have trouble hearing in the future, such as not being able to understand other people when they talk, especially on the phone or in a noisy room.
Additionally, when combined with aging, the damage caused from this type of hearing loss can lead to significant loss of hearing where hearing aids may be needed for daily activities.
The NIDCD says long-term noise exposure can also lead to tinnitus.
For anyone looking to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the NIDCD recommends:
- Understand what noises lead to damage
- Wear earplugs or other protective devices when near loud noises
- Move away from loud noise if you can’t protect your ears
- Protect the ears of children
- Inform your friends and loved ones of the dangers of noise
- Get your hearing tested if you suspect hearing loss
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Resilience Through Adversity
SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Resilience: Staying Positive Despite Adversity
Meanwhile, resilience is an important trait, but not the easiest to build. When building resilience, the ultimate goal is not to avoid tough times, but to be able to bounce back from them. And yet, when they are faced with an overwhelming, life-changing situation, how do people shift their view? How do they learn to see the problem as temporary, rather than permanent, and figure out a solution?
It’s complicated, because building resilience is more about your mental and emotional fortitude than anything else.
According to the American Psychological Association, “the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.” In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with, which should be encouraging. Instead, after every challenge in your life, you build more and more resilience to those hard times.
Building resilience is down in the same way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill.
Some lessons learned from other cancer warriors SurvivorNet has covered include being willing to learn, spending time with people who inspire you, allowing yourself to grieve, being flexible, and leaning in to your community for support.
Tips To Overcome Adversity
Overcoming adversity can certain seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change.
- Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
- Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
- Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
- Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this! or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
Facing Cancer: How to Turn Stress into Strength
If you’ve been through a difficult health challenge or any type of adversity throughout your live, Dr. Boardman told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that one way to get your mental health back in check after a diagnosis is to try to play up your strengths.
“I sometimes will ask patients, tell me about yourself when you were at your best,” she explained. “Using that story, trying to figure out what strengths come to mind. Is it patience? Is it appreciation of beauty? It is perseverance? [Then we can] use those strengths in constructive ways to navigate their cancer journey.”
Dr. Boardman says another way to approach harnessing the strength you already have is by tapping into your values. This could be family, close friendships, spirituality, or commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Reminding yourself of what your values are and how you are living accordingly is another way to unleash that inner strength.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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