Hi. My son is 11 and has been playing the violin for 2 years. he s fine with plucking the strings, but bowing some of the higher notes causes him severe pain. He said it s like hundreds of little knives stabbing him in his head. We tried foam earplugs, but that only seemed to add to the frustration. Is there a name for this problem and can anything be done to fix it? Thank you, Kimberly
Headaches associated with specific notes could be either a trigger for migraine or tinnitus (ringing sensation in the ear). Look for any associated symptoms. Whether his pain gets relieved with sleep, worsens towards the end of the day, any other triggers for his headache or visual disturbances. Also look for positional changes if it is a vertigo. Some simple tests by physician could differentiate them. Treatment mainly relies on the right diagnosis.