The Jastreboff Hearing Model - Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, TRT

[Johnloudb]

Hi, I wrote a paper, which explains how an accident with my audio hobby put my life in the toilet . But, I'm on my way back. I have Hyperacusis (increased sensitivity to certain sounds) and Tinnitus (ringing ears). Here's my webpage where you can download the paper (Hearing_Beliefs.pdf):

http://sites.google.com/site/johnsaudiopage/

I think the hearing model developed by Dr. Pawel J. Jastreboff, answers some questions related audio, such as subjective versus objective listening tests. Beliefs and past experience play an important role in how we hear sounds.

I hope you find my story interesting.

If you have Hyperacusis or Tinnitus you can find help here:

http://www.tinnitus.org

[Zen Mod]

many , many tnx for sharing !

I wish you all the best !

[Johnloudb]

Thanks Zen Mod, I really appreciate that!

[mfc]

Hi,

Read your article. Makes sense that beliefs can control
the "gain".

I hope this helps to bridge the gap between so called
subjective and objective hearing proponents.

My belief is that the ear can be much more sensitive when
used in subjective mode than people realize.

So maybe .00~00~001% amplifiers aren't such a bad idea
if the ear can really be that sensitive.

Thanks,

Mike

[Johnloudb]

Originally posted by mfc


I hope this helps to bridge the gap between so called
subjective and objective hearing proponents.

Yeah, that's my hope. I'm really glad people are reading this, I wasn't sure how this would go over.

My belief is that the ear can be much more sensitive when
used in subjective mode than people realize.

So maybe .00~00~001% amplifiers aren't such a bad idea
if the ear can really be that sensitive.

I think so too.

I guess the lower distortion better, and the types of distortion are also important.

I read an article in popular science about a treatment similar to TRT for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Popular Science (September 2008). It's kind of a similar mechanism, I'd think. Fear of sound, versus, fear of gun fire and bombs which people should be afraid of.

I also read a study that showed good thoughts could help people with Parkinson's Disease. The study showed they actually produced more dopamine, which they are deficient in.

So beliefs really do affect us a lot.

[bear]

I suspect that Tinitus can be caused by damage to the cillia (sp?) as well as circulatory problems such as high blood pressure, and in response to certain medications (including Aspirin). Fwiw.

But ur experience is interesting and I found your paper intriguing also.

_-_-bear

[Johnloudb]

Thanks Bear,

Yeah, there are many causes of tinnitus, like Asprin and hearing loss. But regardless of the cause tinnitus can be treated through habituation and it is not permanent. The wearable sound generators I mentioned in my paper are also helpful as they increase the plasticity of the brain. Sometimes, counseling is required too, depending on how distressing the sound is to the person. Brain Plasiticity is a requirement for all learning, and is required in reversing these conditioned reflexes.

Basically, I'm just trying to communicate that the ears work on feedback and that beliefs are an important part of that feedback. And we respond differently to sounds based on the conditions we hear them.

Because of my condition (increased sensitivity) I'm just much more aware of these mechanisms. This stuff happens in the auditory subconcious and we have almost no conscious control of this.

I think people take this as I'm saying "your not hearing what your hearing." That's not true. The ear is just very selective. And we can respond differently to the same sound.

I mean people place importance on different aspects of sound quality. For some bass and dynamics are more important that fidelity, or for some timberal accuracy is most important. They respond more strongly to that.

I'm just trying to increase awareness of the model, and share these experiences.

I'm sure other people have different ideas on how this relates to high end audio. I just want to get this info out here.

Thanks again for reading my paper,
I really appreciate it.

[bear]

I once heard an ant walking on a pane of glass... no lie.

_-_-bear

[Johnloudb]

I believe it ... can't say I've heard that, but I heard some fairly small bug walking on concrete once. I thought, how can I hear that?

[Johnloudb]

Originally posted by mfc
I like this as an aid in understanding the subjective/objectivist
debate.

http://sites.google.com/site/johnsaudiopage
Click on the pdf link at the bottom.

What I got out of this is that the "noise floor" of the ear
is controlled by our beliefs.

Under certain circumstances (controlled by beliefs), the "noise floor" can be lowered and increase our ability to hear small details.

Under different circumstances the "noise floor" raises and we become insensitive to small details.


Mike

Hi Mike,

Basically the ear is very selective. The brain focuses on sounds of importance to you. We respond much more strongly to sounds of importance that we are familiar with. And sounds that no significance get filtered out that we hear regularly. This is called habituation.

Our ears more easily filter out some sounds that are more natural, than other non-natural sounds. Record surface noise is not particularly bothersome to me especially when I'm really enjoying a piece of music. Sometimes I become completely unaware of the sound. If I listen for it, of course, then I hear it. Some people might find it very unpleasant and distracting.

These mechanisms are just part of how we hear and we really don't think about it. Beliefs, also affect our hearing, and everyone forms different beliefs through experience. It's not really something we have conscious control over. And not something we should be concerned with, especially when listening to music.

I just don't think short ABX blind tests tell the whole story. We respond much more strongly to sounds we're familiar with. And, some sounds aren't immediately apparent.

John