Hello all, well this year has been difficult on my hearing. I am already deaf on my right side, and now after illness my good ear is showing effects of tinnitus, dizziness and a weird water-like fullness that is effecting my enjoyment of music in ways I haven't experienced before (I don't remember what it was like to hear stereo). I have my good days but now bad days like today where the bass is faint, like under water, or too reverberant and the top end is thin. This is making me depressed. I see doctor in a month, but I am afraid this is permanent. I am 54 and maybe I have worn my ear out. I hope I am still healing, or maybe allergies are doing this. I can't enjoy Beethoven's Missa Solemnis without bass!
Quote from: Leo K. on November 04, 2024, 10:53:05 AMHello all, well this year has been difficult on my hearing. I am already deaf on my right side, and now after illness my good ear is showing effects of tinnitus, dizziness and a weird water-like fullness that is effecting my enjoyment of music in ways I haven't experienced before (I don't remember what it was like to hear stereo). I have my good days but now bad days like today where the bass is faint, like under water, or too reverberant and the top end is thin. This is making me depressed. I see doctor in a month, but I am afraid this is permanent. I am 54 and maybe I have worn my ear out. I hope I am still healing, or maybe allergies are doing this. I can't enjoy Beethoven's Missa Solemnis without bass!
I'm sorry to hear that. When I was in my twenties after an ear infection I lost some hearing in one of my ears. Nothing like what you're going through now. I hope that perhaps a hearing aid can help. It helped my Mother. It didn't restore her hearing, and there were certainly issues with it, but it did help.
I will say that an equalizer can also help you out.
This sounds suspiciously like an ear wax problem.
I can only tell you what my experience was.
I began losing my hearing partially in the left ear after an infection during the pandemic (AFAIK, not COVID-related). I simultaneously developed tinnitus (which I must admit I've grown used to and don't really notice unless I am inactive). This summer (I turned sixty last month) I woke up one day almost completely deaf on that same ear. Rushed to a doctor (finding one in Madrid at the end of July is not easy at all ::) ). He determined I had lost 15% of my hearing capacity in my right ear —which is "normal" for my age—, but 40% in the left ear (more marked in some frequencies than others), prescribed a CAT scan of the area (to see whether there was some hidden origin to my condition — there wasn't) and sent me to a hearing aide specialist. They provided the aide, and fine-tuned it for about a month before I had to decide whether to keep it or not (they're b&*#&y expensive, these things). I kept it, and must say my hearing is much better (e.g., I now have the volume much lower when listening to music or watching TV), and really don't notice that I need the aide until I take it off. What I mean is that my hearing now appears "natural" when using the aide, and diminished when I take it off.
When I started having problems in my left ear, the most affected sound was... the soprano voice! Most sopranos on record sounded shrill and squeaky, and only the finest artists were acceptable to me. Now, with the hearing aide, I'm more tolerant of mediocre sopranos! :laugh:
So, it all depends on what your doctor says, but at least in my experience a good hearing aide really helps.
I hope you also find a satisfactory solution to your problem, LeoK.
Thank you all for your thoughts! I am going to see if I can get a cleaning too!
Quote from: Leo K. on November 04, 2024, 12:57:40 PMThank you all for your thoughts! I am going to see if I can get a cleaning too!
That would be my first move. My ears wax up badly and if I leave them too long then some of the symptoms you describe appear and a good clean from a local clinic resolves the problem.
Once that path is gone down and it makes no improvement then the obvious next step is an audiologist. Best wishes
Quote from: Holden on November 04, 2024, 10:18:40 PMThat would be my first move. My ears wax up badly and if I leave them too long then some of the symptoms you describe appear and a good clean from a local clinic resolves the problem.
Same. That is why I can't use earphones, the wax builds up too quickly. I always have a bottle of Debrox on hand.
Of course, in the description of my case (above), I failed to mention that the first thing the doctor checked was whether there was a wax buildup causing the problem. Alas, that was not the case...
Quote from: DavidW on November 05, 2024, 04:55:13 AMSame. That is why I can't use earphones, the wax builds up too quickly. I always have a bottle of Debrox on hand.
When I shower, I regularly turn my head and hold the warm water in my ears for a bit. I've found it helps keep the wax from hardening.
Another agreement on wax. There is apparently a gene that results in production of extra wax for those who have it, and I certainly do. In college I once woke up completely deaf in one ear from the 19 years of wax that had gotten compacted when my mother used Q-Tips to "clean the ears" (which actually pushes wax further inside).
I have had lifelong tinnitus, another genetic gift - my father and his mother had it all their lives too. It is high-pitched like Smetana's but only noticeable in quiet settings (so music, for instance, covers it up). It is most annoying trying to fall asleep at night. I have noticed it gets somewhat louder when wax is building up.
I sometimes wonder what it must be like to hear silence.
I am definitely going to get my ear cleaned, maybe try an ear flushing kit. I bet its wax build up!
Quote from: Szykneij on November 05, 2024, 06:47:18 AMWhen I shower, I regularly turn my head and hold the warm water in my ears for a bit. I've found it helps keep the wax from hardening.
Aren't you more likely to get an ear infection though?
K
Quote from: Kalevala on November 05, 2024, 07:31:26 AMAren't you more likely to get an ear infection though?
K
I had one doctor tell me that I should always try to shoot the shower's water stream into my ears to dislodge wax, and another tell me to never ever do that because it would cause infection...guess it's time to ask doctor #3 ;D
Quote from: Brian on November 05, 2024, 08:37:23 AMI had one doctor tell me that I should always try to shoot the shower's water stream into my ears to dislodge wax, and another tell me to never ever do that because it would cause infection...guess it's time to ask doctor #3 ;D
You're supposed to put a few drops of olive oil in your ears instead. More effective and less likely to cause infection.
Quote from: Leo K. on November 05, 2024, 07:26:48 AMI am definitely going to get my ear cleaned, maybe try an ear flushing kit. I bet its wax build up!
If there is serious buildup I would recommend having a healthcare professional do it. You don't want to injure yourself in the process.
(I've come across ear cleaning gadgets that have a camera built in, but again, warnings that they can cause injury.)
Quote from: Kalevala on November 05, 2024, 07:31:26 AMAren't you more likely to get an ear infection though?
K
Maybe, but I haven't yet, and I'd rather take the risk than deal with the nasty feeling of a clogged ear.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 05, 2024, 08:53:29 AMIf there is serious buildup I would recommend having a healthcare professional do it. You don't want to injure yourself in the process.
(I've come across ear cleaning gadgets that have a camera built in, but again, warnings that they can cause injury.)
I'd definitely agree!
Good luck,
@Leo K. I have my ears suction cleaned once every year or so which I find very effective. It's expensive, but it's safe and it's simple, and you don't have the trauma of your eardrums being blasted by water.
Thanks again all of you, very much appreciated!!
FWIW - a very old friend of mine just recently told me he has been fitted with a hearing-aid. On reflection he thinks/realises that probably this high-frequency role-off in one ear has been something he has had for years if not decades. The day to day reality is that the human brain compensates and if the loss is gradual you do not notice it incrementally getting worse. Now with an aid he is absolutely delighted with the restoration of his hearing and regrets not having his hearing properly investigated some years earlier. His strong recommendation is to get your hearing tested and if required do get an aid as it really helps!
His only other observation was that it can take some time to get the level and frequency profile that you need absolutely right so worth perservering even if at first the results are not as instantly "better" to the degree one might have hoped......
Music listening aside, I have read that hearing loss is associated with onset of dementia, since the lack of audio stimulation and social contact are detrimental to mental function. One more argument to consider a hearing aid.
Quote from: Iota on November 05, 2024, 11:15:47 AMI'd definitely agree!
Good luck, @Leo K. I have my ears suction cleaned once every year or so which I find very effective. It's expensive, but it's safe and it's simple, and you don't have the trauma of your eardrums being blasted by water.
I've never had suction before. The few times that I've had my ears cleaned out, well the first time was done with water and the doctor's assistant/nurse jammed the thing in my ear(!) and the last time was at an ENT's office in which the P.A. used a tool to carefully scrape out the buildup in my ear and then prescribed an antibiotic as it had become infected (to make a long story short).
K
Quote from: Kalevala on November 06, 2024, 10:11:33 AMI've never had suction before. The few times that I've had my ears cleaned out, well the first time was done with water and the doctor's assistant/nurse jammed the thing in my ear(!) and the last time was at an ENT's office in which the P.A. used a tool to carefully scrape out the buildup in my ear and then prescribed an antibiotic as it had become infected (to make a long story short).
K
Sounds horrible. I always hated having my ears syringed, the sound and pressure on the eardrum were highly unpleasant, and afterwards it felt like having been aurally mugged or something.
Suction is really very easy, you just lie down for a few minutes while they work on each ear and it's done. There's a slightly louder sibilant sound sometimes when it's getting a tough bit out (sorry if my phraseology is not the most delicate ::) ), but it's nothing like the roar of water-blasting.
The clinic that does my suction has a big screen where you can actually see what is being done. I left my last clean far too long and the camera at the end f the suction tube clearly showed how badly blocked my right ear was. I could not see any part of my ear drum at all and after the first couple of passes I could feel the pressure being relieved.
I had both ears dewaxed yesterday, not before time! Looking back this is required every two years or thereabouts. A big relief and one beneficiary is music. I have not enjoyed a listening session (Arnold: English Dances) so much for a long time. The stereo not skewed to the right - left ear on cusp of completely blocked - and treble set free from the constraints of that damn wax.
Quote from: Irons on November 13, 2024, 07:27:54 AMI had both ears dewaxed yesterday, not before time! Looking back this is required every two years or thereabouts. A big relief and one beneficiary is music. I have not enjoyed a listening session (Arnold: English Dances) so much for a long time. The stereo not skewed to the right - left ear on cusp of completely blocked - and treble set free from the constraints of that damn wax.
Very happy for you. :)
K
Quote from: Irons on November 13, 2024, 07:27:54 AMI had both ears dewaxed yesterday, not before time! Looking back this is required every two years or thereabouts. A big relief and one beneficiary is music. I have not enjoyed a listening session (Arnold: English Dances) so much for a long time. The stereo not skewed to the right - left ear on cusp of completely blocked - and treble set free from the constraints of that damn wax.
Out of curiosity, who did it and via what method?
K
Quote from: Kalevala on November 13, 2024, 10:04:10 AMOut of curiosity, who did it and via what method?
K
My dentist has a chap who performs earwax removal every Tuesday. Method by suction. Charges are £50 for one ear, £75 for both.
Quote from: Irons on November 13, 2024, 11:38:00 PMMy dentist has a chap who performs earwax removal every Tuesday. Method by suction. Charges are £50 for one ear, £75 for both.
Interesting, I would have thought that you would to have to go to an ENT for that? Reminds me that I should make an appointment.
As an aside, I try and be really careful when I'm working with any power landscaping tools to wear protective head/earring gear. The tools are so friggin' loud these days! And professional leaf blowers (which I don't have one
that strong)....don't get me started! >:(
In any event, I'm delighted that your hearing has improved! :)
K
p.s. When I run across it, I'll post some information that an audiologist shared with me when I was getting my hearing tested (which was when my ears were cleaned out; I also had a minor ear infection then) about how long and what level you can safely listen to before hearing loss occurs.
Alright, I found my notes (I believe that I recorded the information correctly, but please feel free to double check!). I had written it down on the back of my hearing evaluation/report about 1 1/2 years ago.
At 85 dBs, one can listen to (or hear) "X" at 85 dBs for 8 hours before causing hearing damage.
Every +3dBs to that = Double the pressure which means that you can only listen half that amount of time before doing damage to your hearing.
So at 88 dBs = 4 hours max
And 91 dBs = 2 hours max
Personally, I was quite surprised to learn that [Not that I know a ton about dBs].
K
Quote from: Kalevala on November 14, 2024, 08:38:51 AMAt 85 dBs, one can listen to (or hear) "X" at 85 dBs for 8 hours before causing hearing damage.
Okay, my FiiO player has 50 levels of volume intensity, ranging from 0 (inaudible) to 50 (unbearable). I usually set it at 25 for non-vocal music and at 30 for vocal music. Am I within or outside the normal range?
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 12:12:16 PMOkay, my FiiO player has 50 levels of volume intensity, ranging from 0 (inaudible) to 50 (unbearable). I usually set it at 25 for non-vocal music and at 30 for vocal music. Am I within or outside the normal range?
I don't know. I suspect that you would need to get some sort of meter in which to register the dB level(s).
And talk to an audiologist/ENT for advice.
K
Quote from: Kalevala on November 14, 2024, 08:38:51 AMAlright, I found my notes (I believe that I recorded the information correctly, but please feel free to double check!). I had written it down on the back of my hearing evaluation/report about 1 1/2 years ago.
At 85 dBs, one can listen to (or hear) "X" at 85 dBs for 8 hours before causing hearing damage.
Every +3dBs to that = Double the pressure which means that you can only listen half that amount of time before doing damage to your hearing.
So at 88 dBs = 4 hours max
And 91 dBs = 2 hours max
Personally, I was quite surprised to learn that [Not that I know a ton about dBs].
K
I actually teach that in algebra-based physics!
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 12:12:16 PMOkay, my FiiO player has 50 levels of volume intensity, ranging from 0 (inaudible) to 50 (unbearable). I usually set it at 25 for non-vocal music and at 30 for vocal music. Am I within or outside the normal range?
It depends on the headphone! If you plug in sensitive IEMS you could drive the volume into the danger limit with ease, but plug in some 600 ohm Beyerdynamic headphones and it might be at a low volume.
Quote from: DavidW on November 14, 2024, 01:56:22 PMI actually teach that in algebra-based physics!
Nice to know that I'm still sane! 😁 And thank you for chiming in! 😘
K
@DavidWWell, thank you.
From,
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYr04DRCXDY/W0CoSSMUz7I/AAAAAAAAMi0/hqea_GRI1-8U6JANLDChkW2EhYdHBjiuQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Athena+Greek+Goddess5.jpg)
Goddess of wisdom, amongst other things....
When I was teaching, occasionally a student with earbuds would pass by in the corridor and I could hear the music they were listening to from several feet away. I would warn them that they were probably harming their ears, but I'm not sure they paid any attention. I believe ears can become numb to loud music after a while, limiting the discomfort, but not the damage.
My ears tested normal for all frequencies except for mild hearing loss in both ears at the 4K range. This is the range most often damaged by loud noises, and I blame a guitarist I used to play next to for it. Some consolation is that I let him talk me into buying his Gibson RD Artist which has become somewhat of a collectors item today.
Quote from: Szykneij on November 14, 2024, 04:13:50 PMWhen I was teaching, occasionally a student with earbuds would pass by in the corridor and I could hear the music they were listening to from several feet away. I would warn them that they were probably harming their ears, but I'm not sure they paid any attention. I believe ears can become numb to loud music after a while, limiting the discomfort, but not the damage.
My ears tested normal for all frequencies except for mild hearing loss in both ears at the 4K range. This is the range most often damaged by loud noises, and I blame a guitarist I used to play next to for it. Some consolation is that I let him talk me into buying his Gibson RD Artist which has become somewhat of a collectors item today.
That's one of the things that I have been wondering and concerned about. I've heard stories over the years too of young people's hearing being hurt by earbuds/headphones and too-high-volumes. I also knew someone who loved music and used to play in various bands who by his 60's was already wearing hearing aids. At the time I remember *thinking but isn't that something that people in their 80's or older need? And this was decades ago. And no, they weren't a musician by profession. :(
*Silly, young and ignorant me!
K
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 12:12:16 PMOkay, my FiiO player has 50 levels of volume intensity, ranging from 0 (inaudible) to 50 (unbearable). I usually set it at 25 for non-vocal music and at 30 for vocal music. Am I within or outside the normal range?
I keep my player at a volume where I can hear outside noise through the open-back headphones (so don't use it when my wife has the internet radio on).
Quote from: steve ridgway on November 14, 2024, 11:03:15 PMI keep my player at a volume where I can hear outside noise through the open-back headphones (so don't use it when my wife has the internet radio on).
I don't use it when the wife is talking to me. :laugh:
Joke!
Quote from: Szykneij on November 14, 2024, 04:13:50 PMWhen I was teaching, occasionally a student with earbuds would pass by in the corridor and I could hear the music they were listening to from several feet away.
I read somewhere that this is a clear indication that the volume level is way too high.
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 11:41:52 PMI read somewhere that this is a clear indication that the volume level is way too high.
Yes, it must be much louder than ambient sounds.
Quote from: DavidW on November 14, 2024, 01:59:50 PMIt depends on the headphone! If you plug in sensitive IEMS you could drive the volume into the danger limit with ease, but plug in some 600 ohm Beyerdynamic headphones and it might be at a low volume.
Oh, my earphones are no-name low-end. :laugh:
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 11:50:26 PMOh, my earphones are no-name low-end. :laugh:
Well, you wouldn't need anything fancier to listen to
Lanner, would you? :laugh:
Good day,
Andrei!
Quote from: Szykneij on November 14, 2024, 04:13:50 PMWhen I was teaching, occasionally a student with earbuds would pass by in the corridor and I could hear the music they were listening to from several feet away. I would warn them that they were probably harming their ears, but I'm not sure they paid any attention. I believe ears can become numb to loud music after a while, limiting the discomfort, but not the damage.
My ears tested normal for all frequencies except for mild hearing loss in both ears at the 4K range. This is the range most often damaged by loud noises, and I blame a guitarist I used to play next to for it. Some consolation is that I let him talk me into buying his Gibson RD Artist which has become somewhat of a collectors item today.
Well, if need be, you can use some of the money from the sale of that to be able to buy some decent hearing aids? 🤔 Lord knows what's going to happen to health care--particularly in the near future. :(
Quote from: Florestan on November 14, 2024, 11:41:52 PMI read somewhere that this is a clear indication that the volume level is way too high.
That's what I recall hearing (No pun intended!).
K
Quote from: Szykneij on November 14, 2024, 04:13:50 PMWhen I was teaching, occasionally a student with earbuds would pass by in the corridor and I could hear the music they were listening to from several feet away. I would warn them that they were probably harming their ears, but I'm not sure they paid any attention. I believe ears can become numb to loud music after a while, limiting the discomfort, but not the damage.
My ears tested normal for all frequencies except for mild hearing loss in both ears at the 4K range. This is the range most often damaged by loud noises, and I blame a guitarist I used to play next to for it. Some consolation is that I let him talk me into buying his Gibson RD Artist which has become somewhat of a collectors item today.
When I was teaching in Oklahoma, I would use my SPL meter. We went to the parking lot to measure the volume of a student's car radio. 100 dB! He learned that he should turn it down... I mean if he could hear me. :laugh:
Quote from: Kalevala on November 14, 2024, 08:38:51 AMAlright, I found my notes (I believe that I recorded the information correctly, but please feel free to double check!). I had written it down on the back of my hearing evaluation/report about 1 1/2 years ago.
At 85 dBs, one can listen to (or hear) "X" at 85 dBs for 8 hours before causing hearing damage.
Every +3dBs to that = Double the pressure which means that you can only listen half that amount of time before doing damage to your hearing.
So at 88 dBs = 4 hours max
And 91 dBs = 2 hours max
Personally, I was quite surprised to learn that [Not that I know a ton about dBs].
K
To be a bit more precise, 3dB corresponds to doubling acoustic
power. The acoustic power is proportional to the square of the pressure, so doubling the acoustic pressure results in 4 times as much power, for a 6dB increase. The rule of thumb that a 3dB increase, twice the power, would cause damage to occur twice as fast seems plausible, since energy would be dissipated in your ears twice as fast, but it must be more complicated than that, probably depending on the frequency and other characteristics of the sound source. FWIW, different sources put the threshold for damage at different levels, as low as 70 dB, but that may be for continuous exposure.
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/keeplistening/decibels