Going deaf

Zascar · 31-01-2011 9:35am #1

Does anyone else think that their hearing is not what it used to be? I'm not actually going deaf but I definitely think its has been damaged in some way. Mainly the way I notice it is when in a random bar with a group of people with music playing, I can hear the person standing beside me if having a conversation directly with them, but if the group as a whole is talking and someone is 5-6 feet from me, I seem to have difficulty hearing them, whereas others have no problem. Also I seem particularly sensitive to crappy speakers wehre the highs are too harsh and cut the ears off you, but no one else seems to complain. Sometimes when I'm on the phone and switch ears I can hear a difference, maybe its cause I always monitor with my left ear.

I've been saying it for ages, but I'd like to go and actually get my ears tested. Someone said there is a test you can go get done through the healthy system for free. Anyone know what this is, or should I be going to get a proper one done? Has anyone had one done before?

BaZmO* · 31-01-2011 9:38am

What?

francois · 31-01-2011 9:40am

Most definitely, years of sh1tty monitors up full didn't help!

milltown · 31-01-2011 9:47am

I've the same trouble, picking out a voice in a crowd from a few feet away. But it's a requirement in work to have our hearing tested annually and I've supposedly still got 20/20 hearing (or whatever the aural equivalent is). Although the closet conspiracy theorist in me doesn't really believe that the company that might be damaging my hearing would volunteer that sort of information to me anyway.

No doubt Jeff will be along soon enough to give us the exact scientific reason. Hopefully it's more than just, we're getting old and are genetically programmed to avoid noisy bars and clubs once we hit 30.

Zascar · 31-01-2011 9:47am

francois wrote: »

Most definitely, years of sh1tty monitors up full didn't help!

Yeah in fairness if I think I'm bad, I can only imagine what it must be like for someone who has played many hundreds of gigs, starting before some people on this forum were even born!

BaZmO* · 31-01-2011 9:50am

I think mine are ok(ish), would really need to get them checked professionally to know for sure.

Couple of years back I was heading out with a mate of mine (who goes to a ridiculous amount of gigs) and we were heading up to a mates house and I could hear the alarm going off (inside alarm) and he couldn't hear it until we were literally outside the house. But as I've said, he goes to an awful lot of rock gigs.
iPod listening doesn't help either.

Years of abuse certainly takes it toll, and it's invariably too late to do anything when you notice a decline.

Zascar · 31-01-2011 9:55am

This could be bullsh1t, but someone told me depending on the type of damage you have, there are certain things you can do to partially restore affected hearing. Apparently you listen to certain frequencies that compliment the ones that are damaged, and it can help to retore them, or something.

I was in London a few months ago, and my ears were still ringing the next day. Not good. Is it true that when your ears are ringing, you've damaged that frequency and you'll never hear it again? Sounds fishy to me.

francois · 31-01-2011 10:00am

Zascar wrote: »

Yeah in fairness if I think I'm bad, I can only imagine what it must be like for someone who has played many hundreds of gigs, starting before some people on this forum were even born!

DJ Zimmerframe in the house

dubsbhoy · 31-01-2011 11:57am

i constantly suffer with ear problems, had an infection all last week and i've always put it down to headphones up full crank

bohsboy · 31-01-2011 11:58am

The Asylum destroyed my hearing and I attribute it to the tinnitus I have now. The bank of speakers against the wall were way too much for the small ceilings. Any female vocals in there were ear splitting.

Id never frown at anyone wearing ear plugs to a gig now, sensible stuff to be honest.

But maybe it was all worth it!

Android 666 · 31-01-2011 12:17pm

bohsboy wrote: »

The Asylum destroyed my hearing and I attribute it to the tinnitus I have now. The bank of speakers against the wall were way too much for the small ceilings. Any female vocals in there were ear splitting.

Id never frown at anyone wearing ear plugs to a gig now, sensible stuff to be honest.

But maybe it was all worth it!

I thought earplugs were for pussies?

bohsboy · 31-01-2011 12:28pm

Android 666 wrote: »

I thought earplugs were for pussies?

Really?

Jesus, I wish Id worn them.

kippy · 31-01-2011 12:40pm

Excuse the site design, it kinda sucks but the information on it is very relevant.
I wouldnt be surprised that people who wear earphone and work in very loud environments would have hearing difficulties.
http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.php

old gregg · 31-01-2011 1:11pm

kippy wrote: »

Excuse the site design, it kinda sucks but the information on it is very relevant.
I wouldnt be surprised that people who wear earphone and work in very loud environments would have hearing difficulties.
http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.php

coolio, thanks.

I like this bit .... 110 dB
Squealing pigs
Typical night club

Duelling Banjos at the Twisted Pepper for some major ear carnage

Mickb · 31-01-2011 1:17pm

Some more info here:

http://www.dontlosethemusic.com/home/

MiCk B. :-)

cynder · 31-01-2011 1:21pm

Zascar wrote: »

Does anyone else think that their hearing is not what it used to be? I'm not actually going deaf but I definitely think its has been damaged in some way.

I've been saying it for ages, but I'd like to go and actually get my ears tested. Someone said there is a test you can go get done through the healthy system for free. Anyone know what this is, or should I be going to get a proper one done? Has anyone had one done before?

You can go to specsavers and get a hearing test done for tree approx 1 month waiting list, if you are under 40 you will be sent to your gp who will then send you to a ENT, all normal nothing much the ENT can do.

Im 30 i have mild/moderate hearing loss (cookie bite), (i did the above) i been on the waiting list to go public for the last year (referred via the ENT) the waiting time is now 2 years as they are upgrading all hearing aids to digital so the ones who already have hearing aids are being seen before the one that dont have any at all.

In may my medical card is gone so i believe then i will have to buy my own hearing aid, if i get seen before that i might just get one of the HSE.

So if you want to find out how your hearing is make an appointment with spec savers. No charge.

Oral Slang · 31-01-2011 1:28pm

My mam is quite deaf - wears 2 hearing aids & I've always been worried about whether I'll end up like her (she goes to more gigs than me and also has sclerosis of the middle ear!) I used the test below & it said my hearing was better than normal, so touch wood that means I've not been affected.

http://www.hearingdirect.com/pages/Hearing-Check.html

Is mise le key · 31-01-2011 2:05pm

bohsboy wrote: »

The Asylum destroyed my hearing ...............
But maybe it was all worth it!

Yep it surley was, dont think the experience in the ASYLUM would have been quite the same with earplugs in.

Android 666 wrote: »

I thought earplugs were for pussies?

They are:D

SteveDon · 31-01-2011 2:40pm

Oral Slang wrote: »

My mam is quite deaf - wears 2 hearing aids & I've always been worried about whether I'll end up like her (she goes to more gigs than me and also has sclerosis of the middle ear!) I used the test below & it said my hearing was better than normal, so touch wood that means I've not been affected.

http://www.hearingdirect.com/pages/Hearing-Check.html

Got 86% in that test, 80% being average, really suprised thought my hearing my ****ed

romarr · 31-01-2011 5:05pm

these guys have been offering free hearing tests for past few weeks - v close to tallaght hospital

still havent got around to it myself

linky

BigDaddyCan · 31-01-2011 7:06pm

old gregg wrote: »

coolio, thanks.

I like this bit .... 110 dB
Squealing pigs
Typical night club

Duelling Banjos at the Twisted Pepper for some major ear carnage

isn't there a limit of something like 100db for nightclubs in Ireland?

I might be wrong on this one...

I certainly notice some nights after work that my hearing would be a bit diminished, and I would notice it in loud pubs as well trying to talk to other people!

ear plugs may be for pussies but I want to be still able to hear the tunes in 20 years time!

RMD · 31-01-2011 10:11pm

BigDaddyCan wrote: »

isn't there a limit of something like 100db for nightclubs in Ireland?

I might be wrong on this one...

I certainly notice some nights after work that my hearing would be a bit diminished, and I would notice it in loud pubs as well trying to talk to other people!

ear plugs may be for pussies but I want to be still able to hear the tunes in 20 years time!

Doubt it, last 2 nights out I've had both clubs were definitely over 100 dbs.

Going deaf

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