Drum Soundz

[colterphoto1]

Pete Townsend from the Who is so deaf that when mixing albums today, he can only work a few hours, then has to take two days off to recuperate what little hearing he has left.

[DrWho]

They do make ear plugs that have a flat frequency response on their

reduction...so it doesn't affect the sound of the concert and protects

your hearing at the same time. I've even mixed concerts with a pair in

my ears (just gotta consciously avoid a creeping volume). I'm all for

enjoying life 'now' and have a blown knee, two clicky ankles, two

destroyed shoulders, a thrown out back and arthritus to show for it

(I'm only 22)...but when it comes to hearing that is something that

will drive you nuts. It messes with your balance, you can't sleep at

night, you can't hear people in loud public settings, etc etc...I don't

know anyone with hearing damage that doesn't regret not preventing it

(and many of these guys don't mind the other damage to their body).

But if one is fully aware of all the issues and wants to do it anyway,

then that is their decision. I just hope that person will continue to

enjoy whatever hearing they have left.

[lo123]

About a year ago, I woke up with a wonderful ringing tone in one ear. I've had slight ringing at times for years, but it would only last a couple minutes and sort of fade out, I'd usually not notice it was gone. But this was different. Followed several months of fairly loud music and movie enjoyment plus a kickin' sound system in my new car and wearing headphones at work. This time it was not ringing. The tone was around 2000 Hz (guestimate) and did not go away. It was there 24-7. Woke up with it. Tried to ignore it at work all day. And laying in a quiet bedroom trying to get to sleep with this signal generator at a constant volume was maddening. It was like a little tweeter in my ear.

Reading up on this I found the term tinitis (spelling?) and learned that many celebs have this problem. I freaked. Went to my doctor, his first approach was to get 50+ years of wax buildup flushed out of my ears. That helped - for about two hours, then my new friend was back. Went to a hearing specialist, his recommendation was to cut out the obvious problem (load sounds) and watch my diet. However, these were mitigating steps, damage had already been done. It might go away, it might go away and come back, it might get worse. Ouch.

On the doctor's advice, I reduced my sodium intake, and for a couple months listened to very, very low volumes of music, etc. Over the last eight or ten months I've noticed that diet can have an effect (for me at least) so I try to watch that, better for me anyway. Fortunately in my case, the 2000 Hz tone slowly subsided and after about a month it was no longer a 24 hour a day penetrating squeel. The phenomenon when present is not audible, it has to do with damage to the structures, and sometimes even to tiny hairs, making up the entire hearing structure. I have been lucky, and have tempered my loud volume listenting. I've started wearing ear plugs for lawn maintenance. Other exposures I do sort of like Colter mentioned, keep plugs available, in the car, in my laptop case, etc. One area that caught me unprepared once, our church is fairly large with contemporary worship and a lot of speakers, attempting to provide a uniform sound to all areas. Fairly impossible and we have some hot spots. Never noticed how hot some of these spots were until I had this problem. Now I wear ear plugs during all phases of the service involving music. At home I can adjust and limit my exposure, etc. In this "concert" type venue I need hearing protection. I can still hear everything - I just don't have that blasted ear drum feeling after church. I'd do the same for a concert.

Hope this helps anyone who still has their hearing to consider how to preserve it. Forty years of exposure to loudnesss is not fixable. In fortunate cases you can live with the damage or mitigate the results to some extent. The nursing home is not the problem. Waking up with the problem in your 40's or 50's is not fun and probably means you're on borrowed time.

[Marvel]

One area that caught me unprepared once, our church is fairly large with contemporary worship and a lot of speakers, attempting to provide a uniform sound to all areas. Fairly impossible and we have some hot spots. Never noticed how hot some of these spots were until I had this problem.

A co-worker now attends his church 45 minutes late every week, because he has a one year old with him (and his wife). He told me the music is way too loud (plus he doesn't like the all contemporary style of worship music). He is going to go and take an SPL meter some Sunday. It will be interesting to find out the actual levels. I also find it a sad commentary on worship practices.

We only have organ and unamplified choir at my church, so the volume is quite pleasant.

Bruce

[DrWho]

It's interesting some of the complaints about volume at church. 90% of

the time they think it's too loud I pull out the meter and realize it

needs to be 10dB louder. So I slowly crank it up and then they'll thank

me for making it quieter after the service...Doesn't matter if it's

just the preaching, full orchestra, guitars, drums, watever...it's

interesting how emotions play into the perception of volume. That said, I've had to hit quite a few trainees over the head for blasting the crap out of everything []

[colterphoto1]

Interesting points on volume. I've heard that children have not only exceptional hearing, but that it is also more easily damaged. So it angers me to see children without proper protection at concerts, racing events, inside cars with booming stereos etc. Ignorant parents are harming their children needlessly.

A movie theatre near me has a Mom's day out movie showing on Wednesday afternoons where they turn the levels way down so parents and small kids can come and enjoy without being scared into crying.