Orynyms! What’s an Orynym? For years I have had Tinnitus and it has been particularly bad in my left ear.
The Hiss of a Leaky Gas Pipe
I consider myself fortunate as it’s never bothered me as it does with a lot of folks. Usually, when it’s quiet I will have what can best be described as a ‘leaking gas pipe’ sound in my head. What I have noticed though, as I get older, is my misunderstanding of words which on occasion can be very funny for those around me.
Pick of the Pops
This brings me on to last Saturday as the wife and I sat listening to Pick of the Pops on Radio 2 from the B.B.C. For those who don’t know, Paul Gambichini plays hit songs from the past decades, usually corresponding to the date of the day. So Saturday, the 2nd of April and he will play the top 100 as it was in maybe 1965 and then as it stood in 1999. You get the idea.
Mary who>
After playing David Bowie’s ‘Sound and Vision’, Paul Gambichini said that a little unknown fact was Mary Poppins had sung backing vocals on the record! My immediate thought was that Mary Poppins wasn’t a real person, so how could she possibly sing? I turned to my wife and said to her that I think it might have been a late April Fools joke by Mr. Gambachini by telling everyone about Mary Poppins. She looked at me with that ‘you stupid, stupid man’ look. With a raised voice, she said, ‘MARY HOPKIN you fool, not Mary Poppins!!’
Pie and What?
Only the very next day did I have another moment of mishearing, this time over what we were having for dinner. After questioning my dear wife what would be on the menu Sunday evening, she replied Cheese and Potato Pie and Gammon, to which I heard, Cheese and Potato Pie with Jam in, which you have to admit is a strange concoction. On my questioning of such a dish, I was soon reprimanded that once again I’m a fool. Well, I think that’s what she said.
Late Dinner
We always have a late dinner on a Sunday and I must have been getting peckish around 4:00 pm. I gingerly asked what time dinner would be when the answer I heard was ‘quarter to one’. I pointed out that it was already 4:00 pm when the raised voice boomed back, ‘I SAID IT’S ALL ON!’ That’s me told then. Now, whoever said the singer of Queen was Eddie Murphy, they’ve got that all wrong!
If you’d like to know more about Tinnitus, here’s a recommended website.
I know the feeling, as I sit with the song of Christmas beetles in my ears. In southern Africa we used to hear the high pitched song of the “christmas beetle”, actually cicadas, in the trees around Christmas time. That’s the form my tinnitus takes,
I have seen some people driven mad by Tinnitus. ????
Oh being deaf I can understand your difficulty. I too half the time only understand what I hear. If I am looking at a person I do OK. My biggest problem is with a group of people so stay away from “get together’s” any more. Especially in a restaurant where the clanging of plates and several people around talking at the same time. With hearing aids it is all coming in as noise. Like a bunch of chickens in a hen house.
I hesitate to chime in when others are holding a conversation because of the many times when my comments have nothing to do with what they are talking about. embarrassing~!
Now my standing joke is about my being asked when we would go to bed, her asking: “do you want to go to sleep or what”, and my reply was always: “WHAT~?”
My problem has been with me all my life~! As a kid in church the songs did not make much sense to me, why were they singing about a “constipated cross eyed bear”~? and “Skin me o my savior, skin me”, among many others~! I still mis-pronounce many words and often spell them as I hear them. But this is why I spend so much time reading and writing. Talking on a phone is almost impossible for me.
Thank you, Sam. I do have a hearing aid for when I’m in large groups which helps. I always thought The Beatles Paperback Writer was called Chase The Black Rider. ????
I can relate. It stays with me too!
Right ear!
Thank you, Soiba, I hope the suffering isn’t too bad. ????
Firstly, have you visited an audiologist?
I also have tinnitus in my left ear so I visited an audiologist. I was told that the tinnitus was not causing the misheard words, it was in fact deafness that was causing the tinnitus. I objected and said I could hear perfectly well. But like you I was missing certain sounds in words.
The audiologist told me Tinnitus is caused by the ear over compensating for loss of hearing in the affected ear.
Ignoring it and not seeking assistance can cause further damage.
I had a hearing a test and it was discovered that I was not hearing certain sounds and just like you I was mishearing the words. Volume was not an issue.
Oh, how technological the tests are these days. I was hooked up to a computer and repeated words that were said me and clicked a buzzer on sound and pitch tests. All this diagnosed my exact problem and the hearing aids would be tailored exactly to my needs.
I was most upset by this news and suddenly felt old. However, he assured me that my hearing loss was not age related, it was nerve damage due to being exposed to ongoing loud noise. in my case small children in school. Apparently, teachers suffer from nerve damage more than any other occupation!
The privately purchased hearing aids are very small, not noticeable but have made a massive difference to my hearing. No one makes fun of me anymore for mishearing and I no longer question what has been said.
My cousin booked NHS tests at Spec Savers but the care was very poor and the hearing aids are not of the same quality as mine. Spec savers have a poor reputation. Boots are better, but it depends on the branch I understand,
If you do go down the route of having a hearing test, please book a free private one and preferably at a good opticians where they are usually offered and normally with a first class service. They also wear full PPA and take every precaution.
Either way, get a hearing test!
Hi Sue, yes, I’ve had a few tests over the years. Like yours, my problem was caused by working in a noisy industrial environment. I do have a hearing aid, which helps when I’m in a crowded room. Without it, if I’m in a group, I just hear a mumbled mush of voices. At home, I’m usually ok, but it seems lately that I am mishearing things. When all this Covid is over, I will see about getting further tests. Thank you, Sue. ????
I can relate to this. My wife has tinnitus and I’m partially deaf in one ear and wear an aid. Supermarket shopping is a nightmare – after a few nonsensical exchanges, we end up communicating by nods and gestures. ????
Thank you, Paul. Yes, it can get frustrating at times. ????
I have poor hearing and often get the wrong end of the stick! I also have tinnitus with various noises including what sounds like a cheerful football crowd in the distance and another which is the ‘blues and two’s – disconcerting if I am driving as I look for the emergency vehicle to get out of its way.
Thank you. When I first had tests at the hospital, they told me they had patients who heard full orchestras playing. That must be so difficult to live with. Thank you again. ????
I’m sharing the hissing gas pipe of yours! I’ve saved the link for later. Thanks.
Thank you ????
There was an article going around not long ago about “the hum of the Universe”. It seems quite a few people can hear it, but not all. I’m not sure if it’s the same thing as tinnitus but I have been hearing things a very long time. Sometimes it sounded like a high frequency radio playing the evening news in the distance. I could almost hear voices. But mostly I hear cicadas, like Jerry. I can usually hear alright as long as there isn’t a lot of other noise going on. Life is confusing enough, isn’t it?!
Gosh, I haven’t heard that one. Yes, it certainly can be confusing. Thank you, Yeti. ????
Haha … I would have been surprised if I had heard Mary Poppins too 🙂
Thank you. ????
It’s funny you wrote this post. I just went to the audiologist yesterday for the first time. My hearing is low, borderline on needing hearing aids. I feel for you, this sort of thing happens to me all the time.
Hope all works out for you, Herb. Thank you ????
I hear what you say – or not, as the case may be. I wear aids in both ears and have done for many years. 28 years in the army with lots of loud bangs didn’t help! I now have the super de luxe version of Phonak aids which are rechargeable, automatically latch on to the TV, laptop, mobile phone, and anything else that they are programmed to. They guard against sudden loud noise and can be controlled by my laptop or mobile phone, as well as rocker switches at the back of the aids. They also greatly reduce tinnitus, but how, or why, I have no idea. The problem, of course, is that many people who need the greatest help with hearing cannot afford the cost of the best solution. Although the NHS aids are now much improved they do not match privately purchased ones in effectiveness. You never know Trev, you may be the first person to hear the aliens when they eventually contact us!
Thank you, Peter. I’ve always found my NHS aid to be great. You start the car and it sounds like the exhaust has fallen off. ????
Great post, Trev. I’ve had Tinnitus for as long as I can remember, probably due to too much Van Halen, The Who and so on back in the 1980s. It really is a hissing sound but I’m so used to it that it doesn’t bother me.
Thank you, John. Yes, if I’m honest, some of my hearing problems have been caused by too loud music. ????
So far I’m okay in normal face-to-face conversation. But with smartphones, I sometimes require two or three repetitions to understand certain words. Obviously the other person is not enunciating clearly.
Thank you. I do try my best to avoid smartphones. ????
I think it must be quite the riot in your household 🙂
Thank you, June. You’re probably not far wrong. ????
Thanks for sharing the Tinnitus link, Trev. Mine began over ten years ago here in the USA. After failing to get medical help, I’ve learned to live with the constant ringing. Aging definitely does not help the afflicted!
Thank you, Rosaliene. You’re right about the ageing too, certainly in my case. ????
This was fun to read. I get it too. After years of rock and roll concerts, motorcycling, and yelling at my brothers in my youth, my right ear has faded. With masks on I am constantly saying “what?” these days. I am old too… I guess that’s another reason. 🙂
Thank you, Mrs Shelly. We don’t realise when we’re younger some of the problems we are building up for later life. I hope it isn’t too bad for you. ????
Have a left ear tinnitus as well. I liken it to a steam radiator hissing. it’s normally no big deal. But if I have too much caffeine I’ll wake at two AM with a loud roaring in my ears. I haven’t had the other problem. Whoever said that growing old wasn’t for weaklings was right.
Thanks Lou. It is strange how something like caffeine can aggravate it. Thankfully, I’ve not had that. ????
Trev, I think I’m in the early stages of this. Background noise is a problem and I have a slight swishing sound in my ears sometimes. Hope you find some relief. <3
Thank you, Cheryl, but I’m ok with it, it doesn’t bother me like some folks that suffer dreadfully with it. I should get your hearing checked out too by the sounds of it. 🙂
Thanks for the laughs Trev as I totally can relate and so can my fam! ????????????????????????
Thank you, Cindy, glad it gave you a laugh. ????
I don’t have tinnitus, but I’ve had blocked ears for several weeks so can sympathise a little. What annoys me these days is that I used to set the volume on the TV and it would remain at the same volume no matter which station I watch, now every time we change channels we have to adjust it – and we have a NEW TV (but the previous one did the same). And everyone mumbles. 🙁
Having blocked ears is terrible. I’ve had it a few times and the relief I get when I have them unblocked is wonderful. Our supposedly smart T.V. drives me crazy, they’re too technical. Thank you, Eileen, I hope you get your ears sorted ????
Mary Hopkin, Mary Poppins. Potato, potat-oh ????
This sounds rather like what it’s like in my house with my dad, only I have to shout loud enough to deafen myself for him to mishear me in the first place! xx
Thank you, Caz. I’m not like it all of the time. ????
I so needed that. Please continue to make me laugh. I have no one now to shout back to
Thank you, Susie. I will try my best. Thoughts and condolences to you at this time. ????
Very funny! Mr Gambaccini would laugh like a drain.
Thank you. ????
This inability to hear what your significant other increases with decades lived together.
He’ll get downright peeved with me about something he thought he heard me say. Woof.
Thank you, dunelight. ????
although some words went flying around, it was a fun read. 😛
Thank you. ????
Bless your heart. I have never had cheese and potato pie with Gammon either 😀
Wonderful read about your coping skills with tinnitus
Thank you. ????
Enjoy the pub tomorrow!????
Thank you, but in Wales, it’s another couple of weeks before the pubs open. ????
I can relate Trev, I’ve had tinnitus too for the last five years or so.
Thank you, Amanda. I hope it doesn’t plague you too much. ????
But to be fair to you Trev, Bowie would definitely have used Mary Poppins as a back-up singer!
Lol, Jadi, perhaps I heard it right then. ????Thank you.
Mine started stress related. Now when it gets worse it’s a good indicator to slow down a bit. Funny how the body finds it ways to communicate with you
I never realised that, but I can understand it. Thank you ????
Well, Trev, it certainly does make life interesting – to say the least. And I imagine could also relieve moments of prolonged boredom!
Thank you, Sheila. I think it’s interesting, yes. Certainly gives you a chance of conversation ????
Oh dear…but thank you for making smile in an otherwise quite dull day 🙂
Thank you, Carol. I’m glad I made you smile. ????
Hello there, great blog I enjoyed your story, although I prefer to eat at 17h00 in the afternoon. 🙂
Thank you, Yvette, I appreciate your kind words ????