Did you know that most Western countries have established a maximum noise exposure limit for employees in a working environment before hearing protection is required? These guidelines commonly set the limit at 85 decibels, with approximately 81% of countries adhering to this standard.
However, the mandatory availability of hearing protection in loud working environments hasn’t always been a thing, and in many countries, it is still a fairly new concept. In the U.S., it became mandatory in 1981, and in countries like Denmark, such regulations were not enforced until 2006.
As a sad consequence, many retired people who used to have blue-collar jobs in fields like mining, welding, construction, and machinery are suffering from tinnitus today. When workers have been exposed to such loud environments without protection through a huge portion of their life, it will almost inevitably lead to some irreversible damage to the sensory hair cells. This damage will often trigger tinnitus later in life as one gets older, especially if going through a stressful period.
Ole Hansen was once a welder constantly surrounded by a loud working environment, long before hearing protection became mandatory in the workplace. Years in that noisy setting, coupled with a stressful position as the workshop manager, potentially led to his severe case of chronic tinnitus, which appeared in that period of his life.
Fortunately, Ole’s wife discovered Notch Frequency Therapy at Specialklinikken Borgaa just in time, and after a long period of consistent daily self-treatment, Ole’s tinnitus frequency has impressively dropped from a piercingly high ringing of 11,800 Hz all the way down to a 250-300 Hz.
Dive into his story to see how this change brought back peaceful nights, and the subtle sound of silence he once missed, and how he has even developed a positive ‘addiction’ to Notch Frequency Therapy
How did you discover you had tinnitus? (Did it come on gradually?)
“It all started when I began to notice a hearing loss when I was with my grandchildren, where it could be quite noisy. After they left and it became completely quiet, I had a very pronounced howling tone in my head. It was especially bad when I was laying in bed trying to sleep. That’s when I became aware that something was wrong. So it appeared quite suddenly.”
How long ago did you notice tinnitus for the first time?
“It started 9 years ago.”
Do you have an idea of what caused your tinnitus?
“For many years, I was a metal worker in a very noisy environment with lots of loud machines and tools... This was before the time when hearing protection and similar safety measurements became mandatory. At the same time, I became a workshop manager, and it was an extremely stressful time in my life. I noticed it during that period, so I am sure that the combination of stress and a lot of noise has been a contributing factor to my tinnitus.”
How and to what extent were you burdened by your tinnitus?
“I was very plagued by my tinnitus. It especially burdened me when I was in silence, that is, any place where there was no other noise present. While I was at work, and in an environment of constant noise and commotion, I did not observe it, but when I had time off and came home and sat in the living room, and at night when I laid in my bed, that’s when I was particularly troubled by it.”
How did you hear about treating tinnitus with music?
“My wife Helle saw an ad in the weekly magazine ‘Familie Journalen’ about music therapy for people with tinnitus. So we talked about it for a while, and I thought it sounded exciting and agreed that I should contact clinic manager Thomas Borgaa at Specialklinikken Borgaa in Skive. So I contacted Thomas, and from there the treatment began.”
How, and to what extend, has the treatment helped you?
“It all started with Thomas determining the frequency of my tinnitus. It was quite straightforward for me to identify my frequency because I had a very distinct and high-pitched ringing sound, making it indisputable when Thomas found the right tone. It was established at 11,800 Hz. After treatment, it has dropped to between 250 to 300 Hz. So, it has helped me tremendously. It’s an incredible feeling of liberation. However, nowadays it’s a bit harder to determine the frequency as it has become so low and thus not as notable in my head.”
How did the treatment process go?
“After a few visits to Thomas to determine the frequency, I was given music for listening to at home. Since then, I’ve had several follow-up visits at the clinic in Skive, and it’s been a wonderful ‘journey’.”
How long have you been doing music therapy and when did you start noticing an actual improvement?
“I have been using music therapy intensively for the first four years after I got diagnosed. Thomas could notice an improvement in my frequency after two months, and although I didn’t feel any change myself initially, it gradually decreased. After three months, I could now start to feel an improvement myself and the ringing sound began to diminish progressively. From there, it has only been improving.”
When did you listen to the music and for how long each time? - Do you still use it occasionally?
“At the beginning, I listened for 60 minutes every day. I would sit quietly in the evening for an hour, relaxing with the music in my ears. Today, I listen for 20 minutes every day, and it’s always in the morning before I get out of bed. Interestingly, it has become a dependency in my life. If I don’t listen before getting up, it feels like my day starts off on the wrong foot.”
Has your quality of life improved?
“Yes, I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my quality of life. Now I can hear the birds sing again, and although it might sound strange, I can hear silence.”
Have you tried other forms of tinnitus treatment?
“Yes, I started with acupuncture followed by reflexology. But neither worked for me. Discovering notch frequency therapy and meeting Thomas and his wonderful team at the Borgaa clinic has been an enlightenment .”
It may seem like a strange question, but have you experienced any side effects from the music treatment?
“The only side effect is the positive one of becoming dependent on listening to the music every day. The whole process has been wonderful.”
How would you describe this form of treatment?
“The treatment is very accessible. You can adapt it to suit yourself and listen whenever it fits into your schedule. I quickly found a rhythm, and establishing that routine has been very calming.”
What role did Thomas and his clinic play in your treatment?
“Both Thomas and his staff at the clinic have been super professional throughout the whole treatment process. They get my highest recommendations. It has been a really good experience and, as I said, has helped me a lot.”
