Will.I.Am is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, record producer and judge on The Voice and The Voice Kids. William James Adams, known professionally as will.i.am, has released four solo albums and produced with other artists such as Michael Jackson, Usher, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. No stranger to musical success, he is a seven time Grammy Award winner with eight American Music Awards and a Teen Choice Award. will.i.am has always remained on the cutting edge of technology and made history when he became the first artist to stream a song from another planet. The song was uploaded to the Curiosity Rover spacecraft and launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Music has been his biggest love, but when a constant ringing in his head turned out to be a serious health condition, he believed it would be the end of his career.
will.i.am told The Sun: “I’m 43 and when I went to the doctor and got an ear test, they said to me my ears are that of someone a lot older.
“There’s always a beep there everyday, all day, like now. I don’t know exactly how long I’ve had this, but it’s gradually getting worse.
“I don’t know what silence sounds like anymore.”
will.i.am was diagnosed with tinnitus, which is the name for hearing sound in one ear, both ears or in the head that doesn’t come from an external source.
Most often, tinnitus is linked to hearing loss caused by ageing or exposure to loud noises.
People of all ages may develop tinnitus, including children. Tinnitus could last for a short time or it could be a condition for life, with one in ten adults in the UK dealing with tinnitus all the time.
Tips to help with tinnitus:
- Avoid possible irritants
- Cover up any noise
- Manage stress
- Reduce alcohol consumption
Drugs can’t cure tinnitus, but in some cases they may help reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Tricyclic antidepressants and Alprazolam (xanax) can be used with some success but it is warned to check the side effects.
The NHS advises tinnitus sufferers to try and relax by deep breathing or yoga, try get enough sleep or join a support group.
Try not have total silence and try not focus on it.
The NHS said: “Your GP will look in your ears to see if tinnitus is caused by something they can treat, such as an ear infection or a build-up of earwax. They might also check for any hearing loss and you may be referred to a specialist.”