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Author Topic: Hearing loss  (Read 8631 times)

The Hammered

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Hearing loss
« on: 26 Jun 2006, 13:26 »
I've been worrying about it lately. I don't know if my hearing's all that great in the first place (I often have trouble distinguishing what people are saying); much of the music I listen to simply doesn't sound right at low volumes; and even if I turn it down when I'm listening at home, I can't do more than bring earplugs if I go to concerts. I've also seriously considered a career in music, which would make keeping my hearing intact far more important and would also create still more risk of damage.

So, what do you all think? I do plan on keeping the volume as low as possible when listening on stereos, and bringing ear protection to concerts when necessary, but does anyone here have much experience or expertise with hearing loss, or have anything else to contribute?

Thanks.
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Oli

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Hearing loss
« Reply #1 on: 26 Jun 2006, 14:15 »
Fuck ear protection. Pull a Beethoven.
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Mikendher

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Hearing loss
« Reply #2 on: 26 Jun 2006, 14:53 »
Well, headphones can be damaging if you use them a lot. Low volumes is a good idea, you'll adapt to it.
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Rawr_Im_A_Melon

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Hearing loss
« Reply #3 on: 26 Jun 2006, 15:20 »
get a hearing aid grandpa...




...i also have a hearing problem, genetics.
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Misereatur

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Hearing loss
« Reply #4 on: 26 Jun 2006, 16:50 »
The Hammered, I'm guessing that youre about 15-20, right? So if you keep listening to music in low volumes and wear ear protection to concerts it'll sort itself out. If not, see a doctor.
If youre playing with other people, buy some ear plugs and take them to band practice/jam sessions. You'll never know when you'll be playing with a stupid guitar player who thinks that turning the amp volume to 10 in a small room is a good idea.
Also, if youre serious about it, and play constantly with people, you might want to invest in custom ear plugs. It will cost you, but its worth it (keeps volumes down while not blocking any frequencies)
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Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
FREE JAZZ ISN'T FREE!

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Johnny C

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Hearing loss
« Reply #5 on: 26 Jun 2006, 16:57 »
I agree. Earplugs are your homeboys, friend.
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Gryff

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Hearing loss
« Reply #6 on: 26 Jun 2006, 17:07 »
What?
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stevethepirate

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Hearing loss
« Reply #7 on: 26 Jun 2006, 18:09 »
Butt? What do you mean Butt?
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Gryff

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Hearing loss
« Reply #8 on: 26 Jun 2006, 18:34 »
Quarter past one.
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The Hammered

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Hearing loss
« Reply #9 on: 26 Jun 2006, 19:44 »
Quote from: Misereatur
The Hammered, I'm guessing that youre about 15-20, right? So if you keep listening to music in low volumes and wear ear protection to concerts it'll sort itself out. If not, see a doctor.


15, yes. I don't know whether the reason I have trouble catching what people say is because of bad hearing or something else, or whether I have more trouble with it than most people, but that's often been the case even before I started listening to loud music. Of course, my hearing could have gotten worse since then and I may just not have noticed.

Quote
If youre playing with other people, buy some ear plugs and take them to band practice/jam sessions. You'll never know when you'll be playing with a stupid guitar player who thinks that turning the amp volume to 10 in a small room is a good idea.
Also, if youre serious about it, and play constantly with people, you might want to invest in custom ear plugs. It will cost you, but its worth it (keeps volumes down while not blocking any frequencies)


I don't yet, but it is something I want to do in the future. Yes, I would probably take earplugs unless I knew the group I was with would consistently play at a reasonable volume.

Mikendher: I almost never use headphones, but the stereo certainly can be loud enough to damage my ears; and I often turn the volume up to unsafe levels. I'm not worried that I've done any major damage yet, but if I keep it up at this pace I know I will.
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Rebourne

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Hearing loss
« Reply #10 on: 26 Jun 2006, 22:27 »
hmmmm... I might see a doctor if I were you te see if there was any damage or if it was acctually a disease or something.  You never know what is going on and it's better to catch it early when you can do something about it.

Also you can get musicians ear plugs specifically made for you at the doctor, they lower the decibles but keep the frequencies in tack for the most part.  Their great I use them a lot for long practices and playing loud shows.  Without them I would probally be deaf now.
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Thrillho

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Hearing loss
« Reply #11 on: 27 Jun 2006, 09:22 »
My first real gig was to see Muse at the local Ice Arena. It's the loudest thing I've ever been to, and I have a permament (if mild) case of tinnitus now based on that one gig because I didn't take earplugs.

Look after your ears, motherfuckers.
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BeoPuppy

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Hearing loss
« Reply #12 on: 27 Jun 2006, 09:57 »
Plus, concerts sound better at a lower volume. There's just more distinction to the mix. I find.
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penpen17

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Hearing loss
« Reply #13 on: 27 Jun 2006, 10:11 »
Depends on who you're going to see.  I saw Mogwai live, without earplugs, and it was SO worth the massive hearing loss.  Personally, I have naturally bad hearing, use headphones constantly, and will probably require a hearing aid by the time I'm 40.  I'll just have to deal.
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The Hammered

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Hearing loss
« Reply #14 on: 27 Jun 2006, 11:53 »
Quote from: Rebourne
hmmmm... I might see a doctor if I were you te see if there was any damage or if it was acctually a disease or something.  You never know what is going on and it's better to catch it early when you can do something about it.


I'll probably ask a doctor about it some time. I'll bring earplugs to the Sonic Youth/Go! Team show as well, since I don't know how loud it will be.

One more question: is there any easily available and not too expensive equipment that I could use to measure how loud my speakers are? I can tell if something is ridiculously loud or not, but I couldn't guess at any numbers.
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Misereatur

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Hearing loss
« Reply #15 on: 27 Jun 2006, 12:24 »
Dude, the volume button is there for a reason.
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Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
FREE JAZZ ISN'T FREE!

I am a music republican.

jariku

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Hearing loss
« Reply #16 on: 27 Jun 2006, 14:12 »
One thing you should keep in mind with hearing problems is that they can manifest themselves gradually. I for one never realised I had a hearing problem until I found out that I can't hear voices over 11,000 Hz (when the normal human hearing range goes up to 20,000 Hz).

Investing in proper earplugs (christmas tree shaped or custom made) is well worth the money. I wouldn't use the cheap-ass "cigarette filter" variety unless absolutely necessary.
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schimmy

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Hearing loss
« Reply #17 on: 27 Jun 2006, 14:12 »
Yeah, it's there to be turned up.
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Not An Addict

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Hearing loss
« Reply #18 on: 27 Jun 2006, 15:13 »
Buy earphones that block outside noise, so you can listen to the music at a lower volume. Like these!
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Thrillho

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Hearing loss
« Reply #19 on: 28 Jun 2006, 09:11 »
Quote from: schimmy
Yeah, it's there to be turned up.


You're either being moronic, or attempting to be funny. Either way, your comment has no place in this thread.
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eternie

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Hearing loss
« Reply #20 on: 28 Jun 2006, 13:57 »
Quote from: Nolaw_Nocrime
Fuck ear protection. Pull a Beethoven.


HA! *so amused*
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Kai

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Hearing loss
« Reply #21 on: 28 Jun 2006, 20:27 »
Quote from: DynamiteKid
Quote from: schimmy
Yeah, it's there to be turned up.


You're either being moronic, or attempting to be funny. Either way, your comment has no place in this thread.



Chill out.


Speakers are totally there to blow your ears out. LET THEM DO THEIR JOB



I AM PRACTICALLY DEAF IN ONE EAR THOUGH


MAYBE I MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST PERSON TO TALK TO
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Quote from: Mr. Doctor on 21 Sep 2009, 12:01
but the music sucks because the keyboards don't have the cold/mechanical sound they had but a wannabe techno sound that it's pathetic for Rammstein standars.

IronOxide

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Hearing loss
« Reply #22 on: 28 Jun 2006, 20:34 »
Quote from: Not An Addict
Buy earphones that block outside noise, so you can listen to the music at a lower volume. Like these!


NONONO Don't pick up earphones that sit inside your ear like that. They don't allow air to leave or enter the ear while you're listening to stuff, so the vibrations just end up pommeling your eardrums.

Generally the rules are (according to most doctors):
1. Get headphones, not earbuds
2. Keep it down if possible.
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NosLycn

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Hearing loss
« Reply #23 on: 29 Jun 2006, 11:07 »
Never clean your ears with a darning needle.  Absolutely never clean your ears with a small knife.

Also, learn some different sign languages as a back up plan.  ASL is a good start if you are in North America.

The best bet is to not wear headphones.  Wearing headphones (especially earbuts) causes the bacteria in the ears to reproduce at an accellerated rate.  It also brings the source of the volume closer to the eardrum, causing more risk of damage.

Stay away from loud concerts.  From now on, you are only allowed to go see The Beatles perform live.

If you must wear headphones, keep the volume low and don't get anything that isn't comfortable.  If it's uncomfortable, that's generally a bad sign.
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Kai

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Hearing loss
« Reply #24 on: 29 Jun 2006, 11:19 »
Quote from: NosLycn
Stay away from loud concerts.  From now on, you are only allowed to go see The Beatles perform live.



HEY TOMMY UR GETTING NAMEDROPPED
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Quote from: Mr. Doctor on 21 Sep 2009, 12:01
but the music sucks because the keyboards don't have the cold/mechanical sound they had but a wannabe techno sound that it's pathetic for Rammstein standars.

The Hammered

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Hearing loss
« Reply #25 on: 29 Jun 2006, 19:05 »
I almost never use headphones, but I'll keep those suggestions in mind if I start.
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Not An Addict

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Hearing loss
« Reply #26 on: 29 Jun 2006, 22:54 »
Quote from: ironoxide887
Quote from: Not An Addict
Buy earphones that block outside noise, so you can listen to the music at a lower volume. Like these!


NONONO Don't pick up earphones that sit inside your ear like that. They don't allow air to leave or enter the ear while you're listening to stuff, so the vibrations just end up pommeling your eardrums.


Which can't be any worse than having to crank the volume full blast to drown out traffic noise with regular headphones. At least with the earbuds you can turn the music down and still hear everything clearly.
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Jenno

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Hearing loss
« Reply #27 on: 30 Jun 2006, 01:54 »
After being diagnosed with mild tinnitus earlier this year, I was basically told to always use ear protection when exposed to loud music (clubs, gigs, etc.) and to avoid using headphones in situations that are already loud, such as on a train. I would assume this advice holds pretty similar for most hearing issues for younger people.

Oh also, concert plugs are definitely recommended over normal ones, there is a huge difference in quality.
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Thrillho

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Hearing loss
« Reply #28 on: 30 Jun 2006, 08:25 »
Quote from: Not An Addict
Quote from: ironoxide887
Quote from: Not An Addict
Buy earphones that block outside noise, so you can listen to the music at a lower volume. Like these!


NONONO Don't pick up earphones that sit inside your ear like that. They don't allow air to leave or enter the ear while you're listening to stuff, so the vibrations just end up pommeling your eardrums.


Which can't be any worse than having to crank the volume full blast to drown out traffic noise with regular headphones. At least with the earbuds you can turn the music down and still hear everything clearly.


Possibly not, but you shouldn't be turning it up that loud in your ear anyway.
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BeoPuppy

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« Reply #29 on: 30 Jun 2006, 15:50 »
Quote from: penpen17
Depends on who you're going to see.  I saw Mogwai live, without earplugs, and it was SO worth the massive hearing loss.  Personally, I have naturally bad hearing, use headphones constantly, and will probably require a hearing aid by the time I'm 40.  I'll just have to deal.


Sucks. Sorry, dude.

I don't know this 'Mogwai' that you speak of. However, I tested the earplug thingy at a Cradle Of Filth show and a Metallica show and it helped loads.
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