Hello Colleen
My main axe is/was trumpet. I stopped actively practicing/performing on it about 10 years ago. Part of that decision came from playing with a local university Wind Ensemble in which the percussion section was in very close proximity. to the trumpet section. At one point, I wrote (in pencil, of course) on a piece of music, "COVER LEFT EAR BEFORE DOWNBEAT!" My tinnitus went wild all the way home from rehearsals and into the next day. Subsequently I began playing Cello in our New Horizons String Orchestra. At the first rehearsal I was amazed at how quiet it was even with all members playing simultaneously. Lately, since I started teaching an adult beginning trumpet student, I've begun demonstrating on trumpet again. My schwannoma was diagnosed by a wonderful ENT Dr who referred me to Wake Forest University. There the schwannoma was confirmed as inoperable.
I'm attempting to find an audiologist through Sensaphonics in Chicago who has experience and training in working with musicians.
What has worked for you?
Best regards, Len Allman