Singing
 

I have been reading this forum for a while and learned a lot, but this is my first post here. In February 2017 I was punched in the nose by a stranger on the street, with no particular reason. The police found him recently, as it turns out that this was kind of a hobby, or at least a habit for him. Can you believe it?!!!!!

I went to the ER and everything was clear except the broken nose. They sent me home and told me I did not have any brain injury since the scanner was normal, and that I would recover in a few days!!!! But I have been having strong symptoms since then: intense headaches, brain fog, and hyperacusis. My memory is not as good as before. But this has all been gradually improving with time and I cannot complain.

I came to ask a very specific question. Before all this I was a semi-professional lyric singer. Meaning that I was singing in operas, oratorios and concert halls regularly as a soloist or a chorister. I have another job to pay the bills but this was my passion and also a source of income.

I have been trying to sing again recently. The voices of other singers and the instruments now seem very loud to me and this intensifies my headaches. I can't imagine how bad I would feel on stage with a soprano singing in my ear and a full orchestra. I feel ok when I sing softly but when I need to push it and sing louder like if I am on stage I get a very unpleasant sensation in the head and all symptoms intensify. Especially the headaches and brain fog. And they last for days or weeks.

Is singing loud dangerous? Is it causing a new concussion because of the vibrations, bone conduction of sound, etc.? Can I push through it or should I wait? Or should I accept that I am done with singing for life?

I would take it easy while you are having the symptoms , give it some more time and slowly increase volume and other sounds as you can tolerate it.

[should I accept that I am done with singing for life? ]
No, never give up hope of full recovery and it is very early still..

Baritone,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Many who have had a concussion suffer from hyperacusis. We often use foam earplugs to reduce the intensity of the sound. For many the problem can be both the volume and the intense mix of sounds, sometimes sounding chaotic as the brain is overwhelmed with more variety of sounds than it can process.

The sound vibrations are not causing injury or a concussion. They are just overwhelming the brains ability to process the sound. Some explain it that the brain loses its ability to filter out the extraneous sounds. You could compare it to trying to take a shower under a fire hose. Just too much for the brain to handle.

Find the level of music and singing you can handle and give it time.

You may have additional injury to the bones around the sinus that have not healed properly or are inflamed. What diagnostics have you had?

useful ear plug suggestion
 

I found "Dubs Acoustic Filters" on Amazon and they have been a life saver for me post concussion! The only drawback for me is I talk softer than I realize as I think I'm talking louder than I am.

My concussion doctor suggested musician ear plugs and I found these within my price range for what I needed (conversations - I'm not a musician).

These work in restaurants, waiting rooms (dang TVs in waiting rooms and talking people) They filter out loud background noise so I can focus on the conversation I want to listen to or the waitstaff or the medical staff helping me.

I've even used these to go to a movie (ONCE - and then I also used ear muffs - closed my eyes - Star Wars - well at least I got to be with my family!)

Earplugs can be our best friends with PCS!

Blue Skye, when I was able to return to church a year after my accident I had earplugs and closed my eyes or kept my head down such as yourself at Star Wars and told myself the same thing, at least I'm here!

Bud