Author Topic: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus  (Read 7203 times)

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Offline Harlequin Forest

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Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« on: July 23, 2009, 05:35:14 PM »
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Sad news in the Belgian newspapers today. Dietrich Hectors, a 29-year old Belgian metalhead (and a doctor of engineering) killed himself last Friday because he was suffering from a severe form of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Tinnitus is an incurable condition, where the ear is permanently damaged, resulting in an over-sensitivity to certain frequency ranges of sound. Despite taking some sort of medication, in the end, every single sound hurted his ears, especially his own voice. "This disease controls my life: every word hurts."

His ears got damaged permanently after a Sepultura concert in 1996. From then on, he used ear plugs for almost every loud activity. After a rehearsel with his metal band - where he forgot his plugs because he was in a hurry - his condition got worse. Eventually, Dietrich Hectors was forced to quit the band in 2003. He also gave up most of his social life - avoiding pubs etc. - locking himself up in total loneliness and silence. After visiting a small, local music festival in 2006, he took off his ear plugs, just when people started firing fireworks right next to him. When he got his plugs back in, already a few explosions had passed. The next few days, his ears started hurting like never before.

In his goodbye letter, Hectors wrote: "For the first time in my life, the ringing noise in my ears is totally unbearable. It goes beyond anything. Despite the heavier medication, EVERYTHING is hurting my ears, especially my own voice. I can no longer communicate - just when I really needed to talk with the people around me the most. A hundred times, I tried to fight back, kept myself in silence, involved in antisocial behaviour - waiting for some sort of improvement. But there is a line somewhere. That line is reached. Please respect my choice, my life has become a living hell."

He also added he now regrets his switch in musical preferences from hard-rock to heavy metal...
http://www.metalstorm.ee/events/news_comments.php?news_id=9135

I swear by earplugs now, no band is worth losing your hearing over, and a tragic story like this really justifies wearing them.

Offline Dementor

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2009, 06:05:32 PM »
shit, poor bugger...

Offline Mago_Haydz

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2009, 06:44:18 PM »
I blame Max and the boys for kicking so much arse.

Not a nice story though.

*waits for Nihilist to chime in with his pathetic, distasteful comment*
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Offline goatlady

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2009, 10:22:54 PM »
That really sucks. My partner has permanent tinnitus from an ear infection a few years back and it's only because we're really careful about wearing plugs that it's not gotten any worse.

Does anyone know if you can get Hearos anywhere locally? I've been buying a whole heap once a year or so online but local would be more convenient. I saw some once at Kosmic ages ago for $25 a pair... they're like US $2.95 each online, but the shipping is killer.

Offline ironguardian

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2009, 01:55:03 AM »
Yeah, earplugs are really needed. It's rare that I forget to take a pair to a gig, and when I do, I'll often find some tissues to improvise with.

Sure, louder is better at times, but not when it can have such permanent ramifications.

Offline goat

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2009, 02:18:46 AM »
people are curing their tinnitus with a device called a SCENAR.

Offline goatlady

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2009, 02:47:38 AM »
people are curing their tinnitus with a device called a SCENAR.

That's the thing that's tuned to generate white noise at the frequencies that the person suffers at? That's not really curing it, just training your ear to tune out the noise so you don't go insane and end up like that poor Belgian dude. The hearing damage is still done.

Offline nihilist

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2009, 03:16:19 AM »
*waits for Nihilist to chime in with his pathetic, distasteful comment*

I can hardly do that now everyone's expecting it can I.

1996 would have been the Chaos AD tour though I'm thinking.. not a bad time to stop listening to them. Blessing in disguise perhaps? ;)
My hands are choking, my knife is broken.
An orgasm is what I need.
Your blood is spilling, the sight is thrilling.
To cum I need to see you bleed.

Offline nihilist

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2009, 03:23:47 AM »
Punishment for turning up then I suppose.
My hands are choking, my knife is broken.
An orgasm is what I need.
Your blood is spilling, the sight is thrilling.
To cum I need to see you bleed.

Offline WarNick

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2009, 03:28:35 AM »
Hearos are available at Kosmic and Concept, i'm sure other places too.

I've bought them from both these places.

Offline Grim

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2009, 03:40:19 AM »
I saw Napalm Death at Planet in 96. During the soundcheck for ND the kick drum was so loud that everyone in front held their chest, made a small whining noise and said something to the effect of "oohhh, fuck....that was fuckin loud".

The Bezerker at Raffles a few years ago was also unnecessarily loud. It physically hurt to at the front AND I was wearing earplugs. For me it really ruined the sound. It was so loud it was almost innaudible.   

Offline goat

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2009, 03:51:30 AM »
people are curing their tinnitus with a device called a SCENAR.

That's the thing that's tuned to generate white noise at the frequencies that the person suffers at? That's not really curing it, just training your ear to tune out the noise so you don't go insane and end up like that poor Belgian dude. The hearing damage is still done.
whatever works. It may have saved his ass if he knew about it.
not real sure if that's the case about the ear tuning out thing (scenar), and im not really sure if tinnitus and actual hearing "loss" are associated are they?

oh yeah btw "goatlady" is a great name, couldnt have thought of a better one myself. :laugh:

Offline Mago_Haydz

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2009, 04:16:17 AM »

oh yeah btw "goatlady" is a great name, couldnt have thought of a better one myself. :laugh:

hahaha... quite the pair
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Offline goatlady

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2009, 07:46:17 AM »
oh yeah btw "goatlady" is a great name, couldnt have thought of a better one myself. :laugh:

ROFL I've been goatlady for years mate... http://enterthegoatlady.com

But I agree, all things goatish are most excellent.

Offline Funeral Tormentor

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2009, 09:52:02 AM »
Hearos are available at Kosmic and Concept, i'm sure other places too.

I've bought them from both these places.

but it only helps Nick when you bring them to rehearsals and put them in your ears! hahahahaha  ;D
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Offline Merlok

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2009, 02:07:45 PM »

i use Etymotic:ER-20
great thnigs...reduces over all sound LEVEL but not sound quality

available from heaphonics  :headbang:

http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=7


Offline Teeman

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2009, 02:29:22 PM »
oh yeah btw "goatlady" is a great name, couldnt have thought of a better one myself. :laugh:

ROFL I've been goatlady for years mate... http://enterthegoatlady.com

But I agree, all things goatish are most excellent.

"Enter the goatlady"? Quite the offer for an online community :P I completely sympathise with your t-shirt problem though, god knows where my 6 new shirts will go :(

I've used Heros for two Odysseys now (would've been three if I didn't lose them before any festivals had even started :P ) and they haven't let me down when I needed 'em. Sometimes it's just too fuck'n loud to enjoy.
« Last Edit: July 24, 2009, 02:31:27 PM by Teeman »
[Psychonaut] Sounds like Black Sabbath having rough sex with NWOBHM while 'early' Slayer jerks off in the corner  :cunning:

Offline goatlady

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2009, 03:23:03 PM »
"Enter the goatlady"? Quite the offer for an online community :P

ROFLMAO you're the first person to think it's some weird sexual reference (well that's mentioned it anyway). Bruce Lee, people!

I've used Heros for two Odysseys now (would've been three if I didn't lose them before any festivals had even started :P ) and they haven't let me down when I needed 'em. Sometimes it's just too fuck'n loud to enjoy.

I really like the Hearos muso ones. My dude has to use their "skull screws" because he's got big freaking ear canals or some shit and the regular ones don't do the trick. You know what they say about guys with big ears *wink wink nudge nudge*

Offline Mago_Haydz

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2009, 03:58:25 PM »
You know what they say about guys with big ears *wink wink nudge nudge*


yeah...



she likes em...
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Offline goat

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2009, 04:49:24 PM »
he's a "wingnut", uh, now thats a mental pic i wished didnt just happen.

hey Mago, those ear plugs work good yeah?
How about for vocal type apps, are they better than just normal ones?

Offline Mago_Haydz

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2009, 04:55:40 PM »
he's a "wingnut", uh, now thats a mental pic i wished didnt just happen.

hey Mago, those ear plugs work good yeah?
How about for vocal type apps, are they better than just normal ones?

wouldnt have a clue man.... aside from working in a mine plant, or cutting steel in my shed or whatever, Ive never worn ear plugs.
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Offline goat

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2009, 05:15:06 PM »
no worries, will give em a shot.
you work on site eh? me too, well mine sites all over, doing shuts mostly.
you a Boily?

Offline Mago_Haydz

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #22 on: July 24, 2009, 06:12:07 PM »
no worries, will give em a shot.
you work on site eh? me too, well mine sites all over, doing shuts mostly.
you a Boily?

nah havent worked at a mine for 11 years. I'm a building estimator/scheduler... I just like to tinker in my shed like any good bloke should. I still have a box of industrial ear plugs in my shed, courtesy of the mine site I last worked at  :laugh:
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Offline goat

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #23 on: July 24, 2009, 06:35:15 PM »
no worries, will give em a shot.
you work on site eh? me too, well mine sites all over, doing shuts mostly.
you a Boily?

nah havent worked at a mine for 11 years. I'm a building estimator/scheduler... I just like to tinker in my shed like any good bloke should. I still have a box of industrial ear plugs in my shed, courtesy of the mine site I last worked at  :laugh:

oh fuck yeah i always stock up on plugs n "stuff". and yeah the tinkering in the shed is a must. its amazing the shit you can make without having to go fork out coin for it. and youve still got it years later, instead of it fucking up in 2 weeks.

Offline Damo

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Re: Metalhead kills self becauase of tinnitus
« Reply #24 on: July 25, 2009, 01:09:48 AM »
Can anyone confirm this story? I call BS, personally.

Also, tinitus, although uncurable, CAN be treated and any doctor would have told him this.