Hello,

i'm not sure if you will be able to answer my question, but any bit of advice will help. I'm a student in grade 12, and until last september I played the clarinet in both the school band and the city youth orchestra. I have meniere's disease and over the past few years, my hearing has dropped significantly in my right ear. My parents almost immediately decided that I would not be able to play the clarinet anymore, so as a result I am no longer in the orchestra or the school band. They are convinced that my playing the clarinet so much had a role in my hearing loss - that it aggravated whatever was causing my hearing loss to happen.

The problem is, I loved being involved with the orchestra and playing the clarinet; music is my life! And I was getting very good. It really hurt when they cut me off from it. I know that they mean well and are only thinking of my wellbeing, but my question is: *can the pressure of playing a musical instrument affect your hearing?* I know that the loud environment would, but when I played, I would turn off my hearing aids and still be able to hear the music, so I hope that functioned as musicians earphones. I doubt anyway that the loudness of the orchestra would have had a big impact on me, as my hearing was not completely great even when I started.

If anyone can help me I will be extremely grateful!

Thank you,
sincerely,
m.