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Max'sKansasCityQuote
Title5Take1
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P.S. A friend in high school as a standard thing took ear plugs to shows in case it turned out painfully loud. Sounded kind of "uncool" but it wasn't stupid.
To this day/night I feel uncool when I put my dumb old man ear plugs in, it does feel odd.... heck I skip putting them in unless I feel it getting too loud, but I always try to remember to take them with to every show. They are in my "concert kit".
I usually (probably because of the type of shows I attend these days) end up only putting one ear plug in at a time and then maybe alternate ears. If I am by the stack of speakers that ear will get one, and towards the end of a show if/when they start turning it up, I will put both in, but usually just one at a time, giving each ear a rest, while hearing live sound in the other.
Anyway... that is what works for me, and I havent had ringing ears for a long long time. Take care of yourself, you are too valuable not too.
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Shug
Alfonz, I can almost guarantee your hearing test would show high frequency hearing loss, even though you may not notice it. You can have normal hearing for low and middle frequencies and a lot of hearing loss in the high frequencies and you still may not be able to tell. That is why you should get a hearing test.
The insidious thing about noise induced hearing loss is that it creates a weak spot in your inner ear (the cochlea) at about 4000 Hz. So with continued noise exposure, you not only increase the damage at 4000 Hz, the damage can start to spread to adjacent frequenices. So its a big mistake to think "I've already done damage so its too late to start protecting my hearing." Good for you, Alfonz, for wearing hearing protection. Doing so will certainly reduce your risk for more damage.
The earplugs I recommended are specifically designed for listening to music. They have a relatively flat frequency response, meaning they take down the bass and the treble equally and only just enough to make it safe (I recommend 15 dB filters but even 9 dB filters would help). Disposable foam earplugs take out a lot more treble than bass which sounds crappy and they take things down more than needed for music listening (about 25 dB when making a tight seal, as they should). Musician's earplugs do take some getting used to (your own voice will be louder if you like to sing along and they will physically fill up your ears) but as Alfonz said they can actually make the music sound clearer due to less distortion.
If you go get musician's earplugs custom made, tell the audiologist you want a deep impression that goes all the way down to the bony part of the ear canal and have them use a soft silicone material. This will result in a better seal, less distortion, and more comfort.
owlbynite, your ear problem is totally different from noise-induced hearing loss. It would be highly unusual for someone to get dizziness from noise induced hearing loss. Your ear issue is definitely a medical problem that is commonly seen in Otology/Audiology clinics and from what you described, you received the commonly accepted and appropriate care. But its still a good idea for you to use hearing protection, too.
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mgshorr
I was right next to the stage when Dave Grohl soloed on Bitch. My left ear has been ringing since then. (3rd day today)
Figure about 90% of you will joke me, but seriously, how long could this last?
The ringing is not noticeable in a normal setting of conversation etc...but very noticeable in a quiet room and when trying to sleep.
History = No prior ear damage/ringing etc....
Any help/experience appreciated.
MGS
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dcba
Deafness is bad... a constant loud tinnitus in your ear is torture.
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Rollin' Stoner
my ear's still ringing from walking in front of Johnny Ramones's marshall stack in 1984
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Bliss
It isn't only loud noise that can cause tinnitus; there is a range of other potential catalysts - infection, viruses, dental work, medications, head injury; however, noise-induced tinnitus and hearing loss is probably the most preventable.
I woke up one morning 7 years ago with loud tinnitus in one ear. I hadn't had any dental work, illness, medication, head injury or noise exposure. I have had numerous hearing tests since and my hearing is completely normal for my age. We all lose some of the high range as we get older.
I was very, very upset about this initially, and spent a lot of time researching on the net. I no longer do, although I have a Google alert for "tinnitus breakthrough". There is no cure at the moment, although a lot of research is being done on it because so many sickness benefits are being paid to ex-soldiers who now have tinnitus as a result of army noise exposure. Especially I avoid tinnitus forums because they are like a black hole full of traumatised, bitter people. It seems the more you focus on tinnitus, the louder it seems and the more stressed and depressed you become about it.
I have definitely become very protective of my hearing since, and wear earplugs at the movies as well as concerts. I also had the internal siren disconnected from my burglar alarm at home as I think they are useless as well as very dangerous to anyone in the house when it goes off. Chances are, a burglar would have earplugs!
If it turns out to be permanent, I can tell you that you do get used to it and just get on with your life.
ps, owlbynite, that sounds like Menière's syndrome.
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mgshorr
Ok round 1 seeing the doctor. He told me to wait another week and then see an audiologist. Then said it will either go away or be permanent and I'll learn to deal with it.
Lesson: Save your co-pay and listen to your fellow IORR-ers!! They are the real experts! (Shug/BV/Others)
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Bliss
It isn't only loud noise that can cause tinnitus; there is a range of other potential catalysts - infection, viruses, dental work, medications, head injury; however, noise-induced tinnitus and hearing loss is probably the most preventable.
I woke up one morning 7 years ago with loud tinnitus in one ear. I hadn't had any dental work, illness, medication, head injury or noise exposure. I have had numerous hearing tests since and my hearing is completely normal for my age. We all lose some of the high range as we get older.
I was very, very upset about this initially, and spent a lot of time researching on the net. I no longer do, although I have a Google alert for "tinnitus breakthrough". There is no cure at the moment, although a lot of research is being done on it because so many sickness benefits are being paid to ex-soldiers who now have tinnitus as a result of army noise exposure. Especially I avoid tinnitus forums because they are like a black hole full of traumatised, bitter people. It seems the more you focus on tinnitus, the louder it seems and the more stressed and depressed you become about it.
I have definitely become very protective of my hearing since, and wear earplugs at the movies as well as concerts. I also had the internal siren disconnected from my burglar alarm at home as I think they are useless as well as very dangerous to anyone in the house when it goes off. Chances are, a burglar would have earplugs!
If it turns out to be permanent, I can tell you that you do get used to it and just get on with your life.
ps, owlbynite, that sounds like Menière's syndrome.
There has been some success recently with using Cognitive Behavioral Therepy for tinitis. As well as using sound therapy. Here is a resource for you:
[www.nhs.uk]
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dcba
Deafness is bad... a constant loud tinnitus in your ear is torture.
Yes but you can still enjoy music with tinnitus (although I know there are different levels of it).
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Bliss
owlbynite, that sounds like Menière's syndrome.
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WindyHorsesQuote
mgshorr
Ok round 1 seeing the doctor. He told me to wait another week and then see an audiologist. Then said it will either go away or be permanent and I'll learn to deal with it.
Lesson: Save your co-pay and listen to your fellow IORR-ers!! They are the real experts! (Shug/BV/Others)
It must be hard to be patient when dealing with something like this.
Awaiting round 2.
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Alfonz
Thanks for the advice Shug. Though even if I get a proper hearing test, I'm not sure what help it would be? I'm sure it would show some hearing loss, as you suggest ... but once the damage is done, it can't be undone, can it? As long as I continue to protect my ears as much as I can for the future, I'm not sure what else I can do.