Anyone get distortion sounds in their ears?

[hozepipe]

Thought I'd ask here as we're all quite tuned into to our hearing in hifi land.

For a long time I've had 'distortion spasms' in my ear(s) mainly the right one. It gets triggered by certain kinds of sounds, and situations, not necessarily sheer volume. I can get it in the car while listening to the radio if there is a big difference in the sound between the left and right ear or a phase effect. Also when one riding my motorbike. Sometimes it happens randomly for no reason. It feels like a kind of spasm/cramp in my ear but generates its own sound, which is very much like the kind of distortion you get when touching signal leads together, plus white noise, plus someone crushing a crisp packet!

Anyone get something similar?

I ask because I've been very sensitive to what I assume was HF distortion in my HiFi but have not been able to track it down to a single component. Maybe it's me!

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by hozepipe

Anyone get something similar?

yes, I know it well
but lucky to have have it under control
it can get permanent
have tried it for a short period
and that is really bad

[weskoki]

I get ringing in my ear when listening some piano music.It only happens on some high notes.

[hozepipe]

Its not tinitus, its a very definite crunching sound. Can't hear much else while it happens and lasts maybe 3-10 seconds. I do have mild tinitus from my years playing music, but that's actually improved over the years since I stopped playing live.

[JoeDJ]

Tinitus is actually a a hearing problem that has roots in ones brain even though it is caused by exposure to loud noises .

Personally, I got a bit of tinitus caused by loud music ( I'm a former rock bassist) and loud work enviorments but, no distortion as you described .
I would be extremely careful as it can only get worse
Also, I would strongly suggest getting a professional evaluation of your heaing problem.

[hozepipe]

Its not new, had it for years, comes and goes, tinitus has improved since not being so exposed to loud sound (former rock guitarist). Crunching doesn't seem to be getting worse but I do also seem sensitive to perceived HF distortion which I'm not convinced is actually real. Just wondering if this is linked to the crunching and if anyone had something similar.

[DF96]

Loud sounds sometimes cause a knocking sound in my right ear, almost as though something is hitting the endstops. I have wondered if I have a fault with my AGC system (the little bones which conduct sound adjust their attenuation - maybe mine don't always get this right). I had my ears tested a few years ago and they were 'fine for my age'.

[wahab]

Have experienced something similar when using synthesizers
with agressive signals such as square waves resulting in the tympani
experimenting what ressemble frequencies beating , that is f1 - f2.

Seemed not related to sound pressure but rather to modulated
high frequency sound.

[mr_push_pull]

yes, I have it.
it's like some sort of resonance that gets triggered on some notes (midrange but can't say exactly) at loud volumes. it's not the system because it sounds like it comes from the ear. it doesn't bother me as it only happens under extreme conditions (high SPL).

[Enzo]

Just an off the wall thought. Have you been checked for any earwax buildup? A collected amount of that can occasionally work loose or shift, and apply pressure to the eardrum. I occasionally have that, and now and then a drop of water from bathing or sweat gets under it, causing effects similar to those you describe.