maxg Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 OK - so I knew I had to get my ears cleaned - and we successfully removed enough to keep a small church lit for about a month. But - I had hoped it was the was that was causing the Tinitus - and it isn't. I have what appears to be a 10,000 Khz test tone added to everything I hear - and its in both ears. Actually it comes and goes - and it is worse in my right ear - but right now, for example, its coming on strong in both. Ocasionally it fades in and out rapidly so it sounds rather like a cicada. All joy - but there is more. I got my hearing tested at the same time. 50% hearing loss in my left ear over 8 KHz. I think its time to start looking into those nice little Bose cubes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I hate to hear (no pun intended) about your hearing issues, Max, but there are some things that people involved with the sound reinforcement industry do to preserve their hearing. One thing is to wear earplugs before a concert so as to rest the ears. There are all sorts of loud sounds such as vehicular traffic, loud crowds, construction noises, etc. that add up during the course of the day that cause hearing threshold shifts. Riding a motorcycle, in an open boat, or in a convertible auto can create wind noise that is pretty loud. Resting your ears before listening sessions really helps. There are also some drugs that can cause symptoms such as yours. Aspirin is a common cause of tinnitus, and an internet search will reveal others. And then there is the loss caused by colds, ear infections, and aging. Take care, good luck and good listening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 No sir! Turn it up and use some eq. I recall taking an octagenerian home with me once many years ago. He was a professional artist with a large bank account who was found disoriented and living in an El Paso flophouse. No one ever knew how he came to be there. In any event, he could barely hear and you had to speak quite loudly for him to understand. I settled him into a chair with a good scotch and cigar (not cool at the hospice) and turned on E. Power Biggs at about 106db/6meters. When it was done, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said simply "Uplifting!" He passed away a few months later. Lesson: A fine system capable of high volumes and clean reproduction is even MORE critical if there is hearing loss. Stack'em up Max, and ENJOY! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I once heard that caffeine and some sugar substitutes could cause tinnitus. Not sure how reliable that is.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Welcome to the Tinnitus club. Very common affliction I'm affraid. I have had it about 4yrs now. It seems alot of things affect it however. Wearing earplugs as mentioned is very good advice. I protect my ears from any loud noises. I cannot hear above 16K myself. Im really enjoying my 2way speaker setups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Do you think its age/genetic related or from experiances to loud sounds/music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg928gts Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 There is some evidence that suggests that we all "train' our ears and our minds to hear sound; even sound that we "cannot" hear. Our minds will fill the blanks I guess. There's more to sound that just what our ears hear, the brain plays a big part in the process. I don't remember where I read about this, but if you do some searching you will probably run across it somewhere. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I don't run so much as a blender without ear protection. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Clapton has spoken about some pretty severe hearing damage in his left ear. Youth is wasted on the young. We all get old and try to make up for it with bigger speakers, toupees, fancy cables, viagra, sports cars, hair in a can and fancy lp cartridges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I was working for the railroad in New Orleans right after Katrina. Locomotives sometimes kick railcars down the track. Two cars collided right behind me. Sounded like Dynamite going off. My ears immediately starting ringing. Hever had that happen before. That along with a knock in the head and my hearing hasn't been the same. Now if Im really careful about my sound systems volume levels and wear earplugs anytime loud noises might happen, I can really reduce the noise residing in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 Well thanks all for the support. I guess this is genetic or simply age - my mother has quite dramatic hearing loss and I guess I will go the same way. The irony is that I have always been very careful with my hearing and didn't do the loud concert thing once I got out of my teens. There are indeed drug treatments for Tinnitus - I will investigate these with my ENT specialist. In the meantime my hearing loss is currently managable. Playing an 8000 Hz test tone over the stax headphones I can readily hear it in my right ear but not my left till I get to about 50 dB. Thereafter - very quickly - I get to hear in balance. In other words the sound appears to be equally strong in both ears. Whether this is real - or merely my brain compensating I do not know but it does mean that listening to my stereo system (which is never less than about 75 dB) appears to be relatively unaffected. As it happen my hearing test was only up to 8000 Hz - from testing at home with a signal generator on the computer over the headphones I can hear quite high still - say 16 KHz or thereabouts as long as the volume is sufficient. I expect this will steadily worsen as I get older. In the meantime both my wife and daughter go beyond the limits of the software - 20 KHz. Oh the bitter irony - at least I can still hear the music - just not going to pretend to be an audiophile anymore - and no that does not mean I will resort to little silver disks a while yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted May 7, 2009 Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2009 Sorry to hear that Maxg, I know how you feel, I have almost exactly what you described and it probably more common than you would think. You said it comes and goes, for me it's always there just the volume is sometimes louder, or I am just paying attention to it more like right now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Never a fun thing for an audiophile to discover. Sorry. My older sister has had this for years and she's uses white noise to help her deal with it. For example, at night she has to have a small fan on to allow her to sleep. Not surprised it doesn't affect your listening. After all what are horns but glorified speaking trumpets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 My uncle with the cocklear ear implant says that the "brain learning to hear sound" is total bullshit. All he hears is random noise. He also says the 110 grand was a waste. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I can't hear for SH*T but I can still hear the differences in cables! Thanx, Russ P.S. Even if you have an extreme hearing loss you can still enjoy HI-FI. A good HI-FI will still sound better than a bad one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Even if you have an extreme hearing loss you can still enjoy HI-FI. A good HI-FI will still sound better than a bad one. True! And, even more important IMO, if your ear is damaged and irritated by aggravating types of sounds, a good hi-fi will be much easier to listen to and enjoy than a bad one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloceleste Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Max, Ahhhh buck up my freind...plenty of deaf audiophiles in the world! Heck many of them get paid to author articles in well know audiophile rags [] Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Nobody seems to have commented on this... The granularity of your hear has nothing to do with your ability to tell a crappy performance from a transcendent one. Since when has it been more important to be able to tell what year a Strad was made as opposed to whether the music creates tears of joy? For in excess of 5 thousand posts I have maintained one constant thread: It's about the SOURCE material. I'd rather listen to Virgil Fox on a boom box than myself on that Hong Kong guys finest system. That's the facts! The rest is just a box with lights. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 Can't say I got that one Dave. Right now I am listening to a superb - as I remember - Saint Saens Piano Concerto No.2 on Decca. Its not being helped by the test tone.....I still get the music but its quite distracting at times. The hearing loss is neither here (hear?) nor there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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