Hearing damage, tone and live sound.

[mcnach]

When I was young, I suffered horrible and regular ear infections. Caused me to miss a ton of school, and doctors at that time wanted to insert tubes in my ears. My mom was a nurse, and thankfully, she adamantly refused this new procedure. Later on, many of my friends who did go thru that procedure had all kinds of ear and head health issues I do not have today. But I digress...
I'm 51. Played bass professionally since I was 15 or so. After my ear infections stopped, due to puberty I suppose, my ma, who had lost hearing in one ear, advised against ever putting anything IN my ears. This includes plugs and earbuds. I will not insert anything in my ears. But I do cover them. I wear beanies. I've played in some loud ass bands over the years. Heavy music rehearsals are THE worst fer high dB assaults, but all styles can get insane. I use the beanies to cover my ears as much as I need. The outer ear is responsible fer gathering and focusings highs into the ear drum. Covering my ears has worked fer me, and hats have become a fashion thing fer my image. The beanies keep my hearing far more clear than plugs, and along with using long cables to get away from strong drummers' cymbals and snares has helped me to keep nearly all my hearing despite having played so loud for so long. I always wear one. Even to other bands shows, to movies, anywhere SPLs can be high. I do have slight tinnitus. But truthfully, it seems to be linked more to my blood pressure than external noise. It increases after heavy physical exercise (I move furniture for a living), and when my heart is racing the tinnitus increases. As I sit outside this morning, relaxed having just awakened, it's nearly nonexistent. I will never insert anything into my ears. Ever. Bad idea. I put headphones over my beanies, even. And the louder the stage? The thicker the beanie. My hearing is very important to me. And the health of my ears, too. I am thankful that I still possess most of my hearing. And thankful fer my ma, who taught me.

That beanie is not going to protect you a hell of a lot... be careful. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

It's easy to keep your outer ear clean and healthy, using plugs is not a big deal, they don't go that far in anyway.

 

[The Nameless]

That beanie is not going to protect you a hell of a lot... be careful. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

It's easy to keep your outer ear clean and healthy, using plugs is not a big deal, they don't go that far in anyway.

Heh. 35 years on stages an still goin strong. My ears are very good. The beanies have worked. Today, volumes on stages have been reduced to whispers, comparitavely. Whispers I can still hear in great detail. Rehearsals are still too loud, tho. It's not just the beanies. Proximity is another culprit. As I said, I use long cables. Get away from snares and cymbals. Along with my beanies, distance has been my friend. I wear one at concerts, movies, etc. I can hear more clearly on stages with em. And I'll never stick anything in my ears. Not even a little. You never know what those buds or plugs are carryin. And my practice has served me well fer quite awhile. It may not be for everyone. But I credit em for my continued great hearing.

 

[The Nameless]

As an addendum, I have toboggin caps that when folded double over my ears? Nearly deafen me to speech, surrounding noise, and certainly deaden stage volumes to next to nothing. I don't use em often. They are very hot to wear! But, they certainly can kill sound when necessary.

 

[mcnach]

Heh. 35 years on stages an still goin strong. My ears are very good. The beanies have worked. Today, volumes on stages have been reduced to whispers, comparitavely. Whispers I can still hear in great detail. Rehearsals are still too loud, tho. It's not just the beanies. Proximity is another culprit. As I said, I use long cables. Get away from snares and cymbals. Along with my beanies, distance has been my friend. I wear one at concerts, movies, etc. I can hear more clearly on stages with em. And I'll never stick anything in my ears. Not even a little. You never know what those buds or plugs are carryin. And my practice has served me well fer quite awhile. It may not be for everyone. But I credit em for my continued great hearing.

Guess what? I haven't died yet. However that's not proof of my immortality.



But I wish you the best of luck. Hearing loss is a bitch especially if music is something you enjoy as much as I do.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Obviously more comprehensive hearing tests are possible, but the annual tests I was required to take pretty much met minimum OSHA requirements. The tests were administered by a technician who monitored an automated process. An audiologist performed more extensive testing when I experienced a threshold shift.

Some key OSHA guidelines:

1910.95(g)(10)(i)
As used in this section, a standard threshold shift is a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear.


1910.95(h)(1)
Audiometric tests shall be pure tone, air conduction, hearing threshold examinations, with test frequencies including as a minimum 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Tests at each frequency shall be taken separately for each ear.​

Ref page: 1910.95 - Occupational noise exposure. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

My apologies on my claims of 8kHz for the highest tested frequency...as you see it's actually 6kHz for occupational hearing tests.

No arguement here on what you have posted. OSHA requirement hearing tests determine if your exposure to noise is damaging your hearing beyond acceptable levels. Essentially, they expect you will have hearing loss or they wouldn't be testing your hearing. The testing is to see if the hearing loss you experience is still within acceptable levels. The acceptable loss is apparently about 2/3 of the upper end of the overall frequency range of the average young adult.

An audiologist, and I'll qualify, a private sector audiologist, has a significantly differently approach.

 

[Wasnex]

No arguement here on what you have posted. OSHA requirement hearing tests determine if your exposure to noise is damaging your hearing beyond acceptable levels. Essentially, they expect you will have hearing loss or they wouldn't be testing your hearing. The testing is to see if the hearing loss you experience is still within acceptable levels. The acceptable loss is apparently about 2/3 of the upper end of the overall frequency range of the average young adult.

An audiologist, and I'll qualify, a private sector audiologist, has a significantly differently approach.

The point is many people who have had a hearing test may not realize they have lost a significant part of there hearing, because they were not even tested above 6kHz.

This is special in regard to post #9

I am shocked how many musicians will deny they have hearing loss. When I bring this up, and I do it gently, almost all of them deny it, say they have had their ears tested and they are fine etc.

 

[Wasnex]

No arguement here on what you have posted. OSHA requirement hearing tests determine if your exposure to noise is damaging your hearing beyond acceptable levels. Essentially, they expect you will have hearing loss or they wouldn't be testing your hearing. The testing is to see if the hearing loss you experience is still within acceptable levels. The acceptable loss is apparently about 2/3 of the upper end of the overall frequency range of the average young adult.

An audiologist, and I'll qualify, a private sector audiologist, has a significantly differently approach.

The point is many people who have had a hearing test may not realize they have lost a significant part of there hearing, because they were not even tested above 6kHz.

This is specifically relevant to post #9

I am shocked how many musicians will deny they have hearing loss. When I bring this up, and I do it gently, almost all of them deny it, say they have had their ears tested and they are fine etc.

 

[fokof]

I have always worn hearing protection when I play in a live environment that is excessively loud (or even moderately loud) I have been lucky to not lose too much of my range. Something I have noticed, especially when playing with players over 40 in more "rock" environments is that I am usually the only one wearing protection (hearing, that is). After I set up my stage sound/volume I sometimes get comments that the sound is muffled or doesnt have enough highs. When I listen there is plenty of tone, range and IMO more treble than I need! I also find these same folks, when doing the FOH sound have piercing highs that cause me pain. Unfortunately when I mention that they may be using too much high end as a result of hearing loss over the years they are less than receptive. Too me it seems obvious that decads of loud guitars, drums and stage volume is gonna take its toll. Just venting here but anyone else run into this? (Maybe I just been playing jazz for too long )

Here too , I've always use protection when in a loud environment.
But I'm 52 , so I lost everything above 10k/12khz

Haven't read all the answers but appart from age and exposition to loud music , alcohol also changes the hearing. Being drunk lowers your perception of High-mids/highs.

Also the people who always listen to iPods have better chances to develop hearing problem.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

The point is many people who have had a hearing test may not realize they have lost a significant part of there hearing, because they were not even tested above 6kHz.

This is specifically relevant to post #9

This is specifically what I was commenting about; Most common hearing tests don't evaluate the full 20-20kHz range.
I've had 8 or 10 hearing tests in the past 30 years or so. I don't know if any of them started at 20Hz and stopped at 20kHz, but 100% of them tested my full hearing range, which was close to triple 6kHz on the high end at one time, but only about double 6kHz recently.