tinnitus
Hey guys (and also the ladys),
I just read this statement by circlotron:
We all know the pleasure and excitement one can sometimes get when listening to music at higher volumes. Although we all know very well it can damage our ears permanently, we expose ourselves every now and then such sound pressure levels, not to mention environmental noise.
I've already got a slight tinnitus (at the age of 20!), and would like to know what you think about it.
Hey guys (and also the ladys),
I just read this statement by circlotron:
Circlotron said:BTW, I can ony hear to 9.5 kHz now.
We all know the pleasure and excitement one can sometimes get when listening to music at higher volumes. Although we all know very well it can damage our ears permanently, we expose ourselves every now and then such sound pressure levels, not to mention environmental noise.
I've already got a slight tinnitus (at the age of 20!), and would like to know what you think about it.
Hi bob4
Matters of ear damage have been on my mind lately[again!].
Sorry to hear about your tinnitus..bummer.
I too was shocked to read circlotron,s statement about his
extreme top end roll off!
I am a headphone enthusiast and post at head-fi,there have been quite a few posts there on the subject.
Largely irreversible 'sporting injury's' due to enjoying ones music
hobby are a real downer
.
I too suffer from mild tinnitus in the right ear[began about a year ago] and have been carefull ever since.
BUT it seems I may have gotten complacent as just in the last week the other ear has developed some anomalies,now I cannot
be sure sound has been the cause here [for various reasons]
but I does seem rather a coincidence that I have been doing some heavy auditioning of a new audio design.
Even though the levels have seemed sensible perhaps the LENGTH of exposure time has taken it,s toll.
As usual with perception related matters it is difficult to tell
what changed when or has it always been like that etc.
I am aware my hearing has never sounded the same through
each ear [i suspect this is usual,humans being asymmetrical etc]
but the recent symptoms pointed to some sort of irritation
or trauma in the ear and made me analyze its characteristics more
closely.
The symptoms experienced were a slight fullness with a low
hum present.
When tested in this state the top end curtailed quickly after about
15K but more worryingly the LF performance had suffered in such
a way that roll off occurred from 100hz and at a 40hz test tone[all played from a test disc through stax 4040 system]only the highest
harmonics could be detected .
This kind of performance robs music of all its fullness.
Things have improved today though and 40hz is now sounding like bass again,but 20hz is still very very attenuated.
top end has improved as well.
My 'good' ear[ironically the one with HF tinnitus] is able to detect
the low notes as soon as the Stax can produce a sound on to
20K[though not without age related roll off..I am 39]
How much of this asymmetry is normal to my personal set up I cannot tell but the LF roll off seems new.
Sorry to go on somewhat, but matters of the ear can panic me a bit
So all I can add to readers of this thread who,s ears are fine is:
Look after them! you only get one pair
Setmenu
Matters of ear damage have been on my mind lately[again!].
Sorry to hear about your tinnitus..bummer.
I too was shocked to read circlotron,s statement about his
extreme top end roll off!
I am a headphone enthusiast and post at head-fi,there have been quite a few posts there on the subject.
Largely irreversible 'sporting injury's' due to enjoying ones music
hobby are a real downer
.I too suffer from mild tinnitus in the right ear[began about a year ago] and have been carefull ever since.
BUT it seems I may have gotten complacent as just in the last week the other ear has developed some anomalies,now I cannot
be sure sound has been the cause here [for various reasons]
but I does seem rather a coincidence that I have been doing some heavy auditioning of a new audio design.
Even though the levels have seemed sensible perhaps the LENGTH of exposure time has taken it,s toll.
As usual with perception related matters it is difficult to tell
what changed when or has it always been like that etc.
I am aware my hearing has never sounded the same through
each ear [i suspect this is usual,humans being asymmetrical etc]
but the recent symptoms pointed to some sort of irritation
or trauma in the ear and made me analyze its characteristics more
closely.
The symptoms experienced were a slight fullness with a low
hum present.
When tested in this state the top end curtailed quickly after about
15K but more worryingly the LF performance had suffered in such
a way that roll off occurred from 100hz and at a 40hz test tone[all played from a test disc through stax 4040 system]only the highest
harmonics could be detected .
This kind of performance robs music of all its fullness.
Things have improved today though and 40hz is now sounding like bass again,but 20hz is still very very attenuated.
top end has improved as well.
My 'good' ear[ironically the one with HF tinnitus] is able to detect
the low notes as soon as the Stax can produce a sound on to
20K[though not without age related roll off..I am 39]
How much of this asymmetry is normal to my personal set up I cannot tell but the LF roll off seems new.
Sorry to go on somewhat, but matters of the ear can panic me a bit
So all I can add to readers of this thread who,s ears are fine is:
Look after them! you only get one pair
Setmenu
I used to travel a lot (atleast 2 flights a week for over 3 years), and was almost certain of permanent ear damage. But, was pleasantly surprised when I put in the stereophile disk in my system and could hear all the way upto 20kHz (not with PSBs, but with Axioms certainly). Actually, at 20kHz, it is quite a lot of discomfort in ears at the spl that seems very reasonable at other levels. I do not know about lower frequencies though (my setup does not produce any - appt living).
Now, as far as music is concerned, I listen at quite reasonable levels. And there are times - when weather is perfect: no AC; and the hour is perfect: no traffic on the nearest road, about a mile away, the baby is asleep; and I unplug the referigerator - and listen at extremely low levels, there is a magic in music that is very hard to explain
. This is the reason I decided on Axioms, only they seem to play real well at exceedingly low volumes (comparing below $500 speakers only). And offcourse, you need a microprocessor controlled volume control
Now, as far as music is concerned, I listen at quite reasonable levels. And there are times - when weather is perfect: no AC; and the hour is perfect: no traffic on the nearest road, about a mile away, the baby is asleep; and I unplug the referigerator - and listen at extremely low levels, there is a magic in music that is very hard to explain
. This is the reason I decided on Axioms, only they seem to play real well at exceedingly low volumes (comparing below $500 speakers only). And offcourse, you need a microprocessor controlled volume control 
I got it about 10 years ago after working for a year or so in a very noisy enviroment. It's very unpleasant. What made it worse was alcohol. Double trouble!
I had it for about 2 years badly, and it was accompanied by a wierd psyco-acoustical effect where my "sound stage" was distorted - sounds on my right front appeared to come from behind me.
Fortunately, it faded over the next 5 years, and now there's no real sign.
Hope yours fades,
I had it for about 2 years badly, and it was accompanied by a wierd psyco-acoustical effect where my "sound stage" was distorted - sounds on my right front appeared to come from behind me.
Fortunately, it faded over the next 5 years, and now there's no real sign.
Hope yours fades,
This thread is somewhat confused since it discusses two
different phenomanae, tinnitus and HF roll-off. These are
quite different things although they might, perhaps, be related
in some cases. I suggest posts make clear which of the
problems is discussed.
John,
which of the problems did you suffer from? I assume it was
HF roll-off since the problem has gone away, but if it was
tinnitus it makes it all the more interesting, since this is usually
considered irreversible.
HF roll-off can be due to physical damage, in which case it is
probably irreversible, but it can also be of a non-physical
nature. Depression tend to cause an increased sensitivity
to LF and decreased sensitivity to HF, for instance. This is
reversible to the extent the depression can be cured.
There seems to be several theories about tinnitus, but no
consensus about what it really is. The usual explanation is
a physical damage in the inner ear, but perhaps there are
different kinds of tinnitus? I have had problems with tinnitus
for a number of years, but it is not constant. It comes and
goes. It gets worse or better in periods, but it can also
switch on and off sporadically, for no apparent reason more
than some subtle change in the sonic environment. This has
caused me to wonder, is it a physical damage that the brain
can mask sometimes, or is it entirely a mental phenomenon
that is genereted in the brain? The amount of tinnitus clearly
is correlated to how tired my brain is, but that could be
reasonable in both cases. What are your experiences?
different phenomanae, tinnitus and HF roll-off. These are
quite different things although they might, perhaps, be related
in some cases. I suggest posts make clear which of the
problems is discussed.
John,
which of the problems did you suffer from? I assume it was
HF roll-off since the problem has gone away, but if it was
tinnitus it makes it all the more interesting, since this is usually
considered irreversible.
HF roll-off can be due to physical damage, in which case it is
probably irreversible, but it can also be of a non-physical
nature. Depression tend to cause an increased sensitivity
to LF and decreased sensitivity to HF, for instance. This is
reversible to the extent the depression can be cured.
There seems to be several theories about tinnitus, but no
consensus about what it really is. The usual explanation is
a physical damage in the inner ear, but perhaps there are
different kinds of tinnitus? I have had problems with tinnitus
for a number of years, but it is not constant. It comes and
goes. It gets worse or better in periods, but it can also
switch on and off sporadically, for no apparent reason more
than some subtle change in the sonic environment. This has
caused me to wonder, is it a physical damage that the brain
can mask sometimes, or is it entirely a mental phenomenon
that is genereted in the brain? The amount of tinnitus clearly
is correlated to how tired my brain is, but that could be
reasonable in both cases. What are your experiences?
Christer said:
In my case it's unfortunately permanent, I have been to an otologist who made an audiometry, and on my left ear I definitely do have decreasing HF sensibility due to tinnitus.
Fortunately the tinnitus is very moderate, e.g sitting next to the desk-top pc of my mother writing this, the hum from the computer covers the tinnitus completely. But in a silent environment, I immediately sense it.
To prevent further damage, I've bought some custom- made ear protection that damps 25 db, but is designed to give a very linear sound. A set costs ~ 165 EUR.
It sure is pricy, but nevertheless worth the money.
Christer,
I was talking about Tinitus. I do suffer from HF rolloff to an extent: 15KHz for 52 Years is not too bad!
The symptoms were not fully diagnosed, as there being no cure, doctors, unless you are paying them by the hour, lose interest rapidly.
The effect was like the sound of a very loud sawtooth waveform of (perhaps) 3KHz. The amplidude varied according to my physical and mental condition.
The fact that alcohol excasserbated the problem suggested to me that the sound I was hearing was blood passing through vessels near or in my inner ear. I believe everyone can hear this to a greater or lesser extent, but mine, at the time was sometimes so loud that I couldn't hear others speak. It affected only one ear.
As far as the psyco-acoustical imaging was concerned, it was wierd.
I did undergo medical tests for frequency response and for sensitivity. Although one ear was very slightly lower than the other for sensitivity, both were well within the range of normality.
Incidentally, the lower sensitivity ear was the same one as had the tinitus.
Both symptoms have gone completely now. It is a great relief.
Cheers,
I was talking about Tinitus. I do suffer from HF rolloff to an extent: 15KHz for 52 Years is not too bad!
The symptoms were not fully diagnosed, as there being no cure, doctors, unless you are paying them by the hour, lose interest rapidly.
The effect was like the sound of a very loud sawtooth waveform of (perhaps) 3KHz. The amplidude varied according to my physical and mental condition.
The fact that alcohol excasserbated the problem suggested to me that the sound I was hearing was blood passing through vessels near or in my inner ear. I believe everyone can hear this to a greater or lesser extent, but mine, at the time was sometimes so loud that I couldn't hear others speak. It affected only one ear.
As far as the psyco-acoustical imaging was concerned, it was wierd.
I did undergo medical tests for frequency response and for sensitivity. Although one ear was very slightly lower than the other for sensitivity, both were well within the range of normality.
Incidentally, the lower sensitivity ear was the same one as had the tinitus.
Both symptoms have gone completely now. It is a great relief.
Cheers,
What do I think about tinnitus? I think it sucks.
Had I known in my youth what I know now I never would have subjected my ears to the abuse that surely has contributed to my current state of auditory health.
I'm not sure what my response "curve" is but I do suffer from periodic tinnitus in both ears. Mine takes the form of a continuous 10K tone which at times can be so loud as to be distracting.
What is insideous about tinnitus is that there is no predicting who will get it. Of course you can be carefull with your exposure to high SPL's (as everyone should) but out of a group of people exposed to similar noise conditions, some will get tinnitus and some won't. I'm not one of the lucky ones.
My advise is to do everything possible to protect you hearing at all times. I carry disposable plugs in each of my cars, most of my jacket pockets etc. I use higher quality plugs at concerts. Basically I've become hyper-cautious and try to be aware of any high noise condition.
You would be surprised how loud some airplane and car interiors are, lawn mowers, power tools etc. Even hammering on metal can create peaks over 150 db. Keep in mind you are only an arms length away from the noise source when you are using hand and power tools.
It all adds up. In my case I've got the double whammy of higher than normal hearing loss AND tinnitus.
Protect you hearing and you'll have something to enjoy the music with!
Had I known in my youth what I know now I never would have subjected my ears to the abuse that surely has contributed to my current state of auditory health.
I'm not sure what my response "curve" is but I do suffer from periodic tinnitus in both ears. Mine takes the form of a continuous 10K tone which at times can be so loud as to be distracting.
What is insideous about tinnitus is that there is no predicting who will get it. Of course you can be carefull with your exposure to high SPL's (as everyone should) but out of a group of people exposed to similar noise conditions, some will get tinnitus and some won't. I'm not one of the lucky ones.
My advise is to do everything possible to protect you hearing at all times. I carry disposable plugs in each of my cars, most of my jacket pockets etc. I use higher quality plugs at concerts. Basically I've become hyper-cautious and try to be aware of any high noise condition.
You would be surprised how loud some airplane and car interiors are, lawn mowers, power tools etc. Even hammering on metal can create peaks over 150 db. Keep in mind you are only an arms length away from the noise source when you are using hand and power tools.
It all adds up. In my case I've got the double whammy of higher than normal hearing loss AND tinnitus.
Protect you hearing and you'll have something to enjoy the music with!
I have tinnitus, got it when I was 24. I see an audiologist every year to ascertain the extent of my hearing loss, get a base-line, and monitor the progress of my loss. I got it from a mixture of DJ'ing, riding my motorbike on the freeway without earplugs, and going out clubbing 3+ nights a week.
I used to wake up every day and think - "man, I am going out every night and my ears are ringing every day". The damage was IMO done by the regularity of the events.
Initially I was distraught - I lost the fine detail in the top end. The ability to run my fingers down a painted wall and hear the delicate interaction between the paint and my skin. The amazing stuff.
I also got hyper-acusis/recruitment initially, which has since faded a little, thank god, which is the perception that everything is either 'too loud' or 'too soft' and no happy middle ground. So frustrating for an audiophile.
Also the early distoring of loud music, say at a pub, loud conversation coalesces into 'clipping'. Actually, yeah, that's a good way of putting it. My dynamic range is now reduced because my ears clip early. It's only mild now, better than initially, but its par for the night club course.
My dad who has tinnitus from carpentry/machines was almost to the point of killing himself, until an audiologist gave him a pair of noise-producing earplugs that output the same hiss and tone as his tinnitus. This creates a phenomenon whereby the tinnitus is cancelled out. Knowing that it is possible to get peace, his worries evapourated and never used them again. He just wanted to know that escape is possible. And it is.
My advice for anyone experiencing Tinnitus is to see a good audiologist and get a base-line measurement done (I think you mentioned you had this). Don't worry about it. And protect your hearing for the future. It's only going to get worse.
I have read a lot about aural-hair gene therapy and other crazy 'cures' coming up. Fingers crossed.
HTH
I used to wake up every day and think - "man, I am going out every night and my ears are ringing every day". The damage was IMO done by the regularity of the events.
Initially I was distraught - I lost the fine detail in the top end. The ability to run my fingers down a painted wall and hear the delicate interaction between the paint and my skin. The amazing stuff.
I also got hyper-acusis/recruitment initially, which has since faded a little, thank god, which is the perception that everything is either 'too loud' or 'too soft' and no happy middle ground. So frustrating for an audiophile.
Also the early distoring of loud music, say at a pub, loud conversation coalesces into 'clipping'. Actually, yeah, that's a good way of putting it. My dynamic range is now reduced because my ears clip early. It's only mild now, better than initially, but its par for the night club course.
My dad who has tinnitus from carpentry/machines was almost to the point of killing himself, until an audiologist gave him a pair of noise-producing earplugs that output the same hiss and tone as his tinnitus. This creates a phenomenon whereby the tinnitus is cancelled out. Knowing that it is possible to get peace, his worries evapourated and never used them again. He just wanted to know that escape is possible. And it is.
My advice for anyone experiencing Tinnitus is to see a good audiologist and get a base-line measurement done (I think you mentioned you had this). Don't worry about it. And protect your hearing for the future. It's only going to get worse.
I have read a lot about aural-hair gene therapy and other crazy 'cures' coming up. Fingers crossed.
HTH
While we're waiting for new treatments, it's always a good idea to protect yourself. I am a percussionist, and I've been exposed to some very damaging sound levels in the past. I've been lucky so far... 24 and still able to hear ultrasonic noises (actually, I wouldn't mind losing that ability!), and only a few run-ins with temporary tinnitus. These days, I practice on electronic drums, and I regularly use earplugs from http://www.etymotic.com/. These earplugs (even the cheap ones) are exceptionally good. I wear them on airplanes and whenever there's a lot of noise, and they don't muffle sounds, only make them quieter. Airplane rides are so much more comfortable with them... These kind of quality earplugs are easily worth the investment. If you work in a noisy environment, you can even double up your protection by wearing a pair of earplugs underneath the usual industrial ear protectors.
Etymotic Research also make some very interesting and highly regarded earbud headphones, although they're a bit pricey...
Etymotic Research also make some very interesting and highly regarded earbud headphones, although they're a bit pricey...
The problem with having good HF hearing is every device on the planet emits a nasty squeal in the 18KHz+ range somewhere. I swear I can hear it every time someone turns on their satellite reciever or computer or what-have-you.
The biggest risk to my hearing is motorcycling. I wear NRR 33 earplugs and a helmet, but my ears still rings after a day on the bike. Also my ears ring slightly if I ever have the pleasure of a silent room. Are those signs of permanent impairment?
In a self-test with a function generator I can hear tones above 20kHz.
The biggest risk to my hearing is motorcycling. I wear NRR 33 earplugs and a helmet, but my ears still rings after a day on the bike. Also my ears ring slightly if I ever have the pleasure of a silent room. Are those signs of permanent impairment?
In a self-test with a function generator I can hear tones above 20kHz.
Hi JWB,
I don't know what NNR earplugs are... url? I can't comment on whether or not my ears rings after a day on the bike (w/ earplugs) because now they always ring
I'm not a doctor so I shouldn't comment, but hearing slight ringing in a silent room if it has more than a few days since your last big noise exposure is most likely the start of tinnitus.
Also worth mentioning is that I can still hear 20khz too - if it's loud enough. All that happens when your hearing goes is that it rolls of from the top end, and a notch starts to appear around 4khz. So just because you can still hear 20 <i>at some level</i> unfortunately doesn't mean that your hearing is ok.
When doing hearing tests they test your hearing ability with the same DB pressure at various frequencies - so it's all relative, it's not a binary result
If you search google for a bit you'll turn up some good information. <a href="http://hope4hearing.org/motorcycle.htm">Here is an interesting article</a> with some graphs comparing motorcycle brand db levels. To my chagrin the expensive brands have better results (I just swapped to AGV from Shoei after my helmet was cut off (by the neck strap) from my bike while I left alone one day).
I don't know what NNR earplugs are... url? I can't comment on whether or not my ears rings after a day on the bike (w/ earplugs) because now they always ring
I'm not a doctor so I shouldn't comment
, but hearing slight ringing in a silent room if it has more than a few days since your last big noise exposure is most likely the start of tinnitus. Also worth mentioning is that I can still hear 20khz too - if it's loud enough. All that happens when your hearing goes is that it rolls of from the top end, and a notch starts to appear around 4khz. So just because you can still hear 20 <i>at some level</i> unfortunately doesn't mean that your hearing is ok.
When doing hearing tests they test your hearing ability with the same DB pressure at various frequencies - so it's all relative, it's not a binary result
If you search google for a bit you'll turn up some good information. <a href="http://hope4hearing.org/motorcycle.htm">Here is an interesting article</a> with some graphs comparing motorcycle brand db levels. To my chagrin the expensive brands have better results
(I just swapped to AGV from Shoei after my helmet was cut off (by the neck strap) from my bike while I left alone one day).
Jason,
"NRR" means noise reduction rating. I think it is a concoction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the states. NRR 33 means a C-weighted reduction of 33dB. To convert to A-rated, subtract 7dB. So these NRR 33 plugs reduce the noise 26dB. I wear an Arai helmet in addition.
The particular brand is Hearos. I believe they are available in Australia. I buy them by them hundreds, since I also wear them when driving my car with the top down.
Happy motoring.
"NRR" means noise reduction rating. I think it is a concoction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the states. NRR 33 means a C-weighted reduction of 33dB. To convert to A-rated, subtract 7dB. So these NRR 33 plugs reduce the noise 26dB. I wear an Arai helmet in addition.
The particular brand is Hearos. I believe they are available in Australia. I buy them by them hundreds, since I also wear them when driving my car with the top down.
Happy motoring.
WOW... there are a lot of similarities here among the participants of this thread.
I have played percussion from the time I was 8 years old (27 now), which included the snare drum line for 3 years in high school. You would not believe the spl that a drum line close up with marching drums can put out! I have played in bands since I was 15, often practicing for 8 hours at a time, once or twice a week. I practiced regularly for at least an hour a night up until the last few years. I also have ridden motorcycles for the past 3 years. Now for the damage report:
Tinnitus- not very noticeable, except at night when all is really quiet.
HF rolloff- I'm good for about 16Khz. I miss the days when I could easily detect 18+khz changes. TV's and computers do bother me still, but not as bad.
The one thing that bothers me the most is the imbalance I experience. Each ear is a little different now. It drove me insane until I realized what it was. I was convinced for a while that the speakers I built had drivers that were mismatched. Then I changed houses, and it was exactly the same in a different room, with the speakers reversed! I wish it had been the speakers.
All you young guys out there, or people with kids: protect your / their hearing!!
NS
I have played percussion from the time I was 8 years old (27 now), which included the snare drum line for 3 years in high school. You would not believe the spl that a drum line close up with marching drums can put out! I have played in bands since I was 15, often practicing for 8 hours at a time, once or twice a week. I practiced regularly for at least an hour a night up until the last few years. I also have ridden motorcycles for the past 3 years. Now for the damage report:
Tinnitus- not very noticeable, except at night when all is really quiet.
HF rolloff- I'm good for about 16Khz. I miss the days when I could easily detect 18+khz changes. TV's and computers do bother me still, but not as bad.
The one thing that bothers me the most is the imbalance I experience. Each ear is a little different now. It drove me insane until I realized what it was. I was convinced for a while that the speakers I built had drivers that were mismatched. Then I changed houses, and it was exactly the same in a different room, with the speakers reversed! I wish it had been the speakers.
All you young guys out there, or people with kids: protect your / their hearing!!
NS
nobody special said:
When I was young, my dad would never let me put on headphones:
Me: (puts headphones on)
Dad: I have told you before, and I am telling again, those thing damage hearing because your ears get used to higher levels and you end up listening at much higher levels (in absence of reference sound from other sources which are blocked out). Remove them, now!
Me: But, they sound so much better than that crappy boombox. And you would not buy me a good system.
Dad: Would you rather have functioning ears and listen to a good system when you can afford it OR half deaf by the time you are 30!
Me: (throws away headphones) Yeah, whatever (walks out).
Since I have suffered from tinnitus on and off at various times throughout my life, I always look out for articles about what is becoming a modern epidemic. Here is some info I gathered – I hope it’s useful!
The symptoms associated with hearing loss occur when the tiny sound sensing hairs in your inner ear become damaged. Their sensitivity is decreased, leading to difficulty in perceiving certain frequencies, usually around the presence region, where most of the information in speech is contained. Also, the nerve cells at the base of the hairs fire off randomly, creating that classic ringing tone at the frequency at which the damage occurred. Like someone mentioned, I think the white noise like sound (hissing) you can sometimes hear is caused by the motion of blood through the structures of the ear.
It’s interesting to read other people’s experiences with their hearing – I can identify with many of the things people have said. My hearing has taken a beating over my whole life – I used to listen to my walkman earphones way to loud as a kid, I do a lot of live sound work, I travel on London’s noisy outdated tube trains, and I shoot fullbore and smallbore target rifles. Whew! Despite being only 19, I suffer from mild tinnitus already, and although it doesn’t bother me during the day, I can usually hear it at night – it sounds like a soft 2-3kHz triangle wave. It gets much worse when I am tired or ill, so I can often tell in advance when I am coming down with a cold.
I also get the “cracking up” effect some people have mentioned, where my hearing seems to distort or “max out” when I hear loud sounds, usually with lots of presence (midrange) content.
I am much more aware of my hearing now than I was, and I have been limiting my headphone listening volume for the past few years which has really helped with my tinnitus. I also have some high attenuation plugs and ear defenders for shooting, and a pair of Etymotic ER15 earplugs for my live sound work, and visiting clubs and bars. They were very expensive (UK£141), but definitely worth it. Here is a photo of a pair:
<center>
<img src=http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/images/ER_15_25_s.jpg>
</center>
These plugs are really comfortable, and sound excellent. I can easily mix sound with them in; and I can compare the volume of the mix with the crowd to judge absolute level. They are also great in nightclubs when I still want to hear the music and my friends, and they are quite discreet. I am always surprised when I take them out having just left the club, to hear just how loud it was inside. If you are in the UK, look at www.hearingprotection.co.uk for more information on the company, ACS, that distributes them in the UK.
I think my generation are storing up hearing problems – many people I know go clubbing several times a week, and they are subjecting themselves to very high sound pressure levels for hours on end. From my experience, I would guess that most club sound systems produce SPLs of around 110dB pretty much continuously. At this level, permanent damage occurs after only about 30 minutes according to the OSHA Regulations, and this is assuming your hearing was not already fatigued by the tube journey to the club! People in my halls complain about their tinnitus, but they don’t realise they are storing up long term damage, and even when I explain to them about hearing loss they don’t really care. In fact, one of my friends still believes that damage only occurs above 120dB...
The symptoms associated with hearing loss occur when the tiny sound sensing hairs in your inner ear become damaged. Their sensitivity is decreased, leading to difficulty in perceiving certain frequencies, usually around the presence region, where most of the information in speech is contained. Also, the nerve cells at the base of the hairs fire off randomly, creating that classic ringing tone at the frequency at which the damage occurred. Like someone mentioned, I think the white noise like sound (hissing) you can sometimes hear is caused by the motion of blood through the structures of the ear.
It’s interesting to read other people’s experiences with their hearing – I can identify with many of the things people have said. My hearing has taken a beating over my whole life – I used to listen to my walkman earphones way to loud as a kid, I do a lot of live sound work, I travel on London’s noisy outdated tube trains, and I shoot fullbore and smallbore target rifles. Whew! Despite being only 19, I suffer from mild tinnitus already, and although it doesn’t bother me during the day, I can usually hear it at night – it sounds like a soft 2-3kHz triangle wave. It gets much worse when I am tired or ill, so I can often tell in advance when I am coming down with a cold.
I also get the “cracking up” effect some people have mentioned, where my hearing seems to distort or “max out” when I hear loud sounds, usually with lots of presence (midrange) content.
I am much more aware of my hearing now than I was, and I have been limiting my headphone listening volume for the past few years which has really helped with my tinnitus. I also have some high attenuation plugs and ear defenders for shooting, and a pair of Etymotic ER15 earplugs for my live sound work, and visiting clubs and bars. They were very expensive (UK£141), but definitely worth it. Here is a photo of a pair:
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<img src=http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/images/ER_15_25_s.jpg>
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These plugs are really comfortable, and sound excellent. I can easily mix sound with them in; and I can compare the volume of the mix with the crowd to judge absolute level. They are also great in nightclubs when I still want to hear the music and my friends, and they are quite discreet. I am always surprised when I take them out having just left the club, to hear just how loud it was inside. If you are in the UK, look at www.hearingprotection.co.uk for more information on the company, ACS, that distributes them in the UK.
I think my generation are storing up hearing problems – many people I know go clubbing several times a week, and they are subjecting themselves to very high sound pressure levels for hours on end. From my experience, I would guess that most club sound systems produce SPLs of around 110dB pretty much continuously. At this level, permanent damage occurs after only about 30 minutes according to the OSHA Regulations, and this is assuming your hearing was not already fatigued by the tube journey to the club! People in my halls complain about their tinnitus, but they don’t realise they are storing up long term damage, and even when I explain to them about hearing loss they don’t really care. In fact, one of my friends still believes that damage only occurs above 120dB...
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