Ear Fatigue & Threshold Shifting

[promo]

Currently I'm suffering from Threshold Shifting and in my case the lower frequencies aren't as powerful as they were so in otherwords the mid & higher frequencies have become more pronounced. I've had this for a day now so I'm probably gonna give my ears a good rest for a week or two now due to excessive bass exposure at fairly loud but enjoyable levels!!

Anyways I just wondered if anyone has experienced this for more than a day or so and if they recovered?

Cheers.

[promo]

Surely some folks out there must have had this issue no?

[elibomyekip]

Years of listening to my mp3 player back in the school and college days @ max volume, plus standing next to too many subs and having my monitors near breaking point when listening to vinyl = early tinnitus and threshold shifting. Can't hear bass as well as I used to and have a constant incredibly high pitch tone in both my ears (it's only audible if I focus on it, and it's not distracting at all yet). Started wearing earplugs in loud situations and it's helped massively. When I was 18 I always used wonder why so many people wore ear plugs at events
The shifting used to be temporary (lasting a few hours), but I think it's permanent now.

[jsml]

I've only had a noticeable change after going to illegal/free parties where they have a tendency to turn the rig up wayyyy too fucking loud!

Also, N-Type at the Big Chill this year. That was fucking loud at the front.

[promo]

Years of listening to my mp3 player back in the school and college days @ max volume, plus standing next to too many subs and having my monitors near breaking point when listening to vinyl = early tinnitus and threshold shifting. Can't hear bass as well as I used to and have a constant incredibly high pitch tone in both my ears (it's only audible if I focus on it, and it's not distracting at all yet). Started wearing earplugs in loud situations and it's helped massively. When I was 18 I always used wonder why so many people wore ear plugs at events
The shifting used to be temporary (lasting a few hours), but I think it's permanent now.

Don't worry there me be hope!

http://cirmresearch.blogspot.com/2010/0 ... -roll.html

[pompende]

Your thresholds should return fairly quickly.

What you're describing doesn't sound like its neccessarily a physiological problem as you generally lose sensitivity to high frequencies first after excessive noise exposure.

Do you wear earplugs to the dance? If so what kind?

Are there any physical symptoms accompanying this problem? A reduction of sensitivity in the lower frequencies can be caused by abnormal middle ear pressure.

And don't get your hopes up about having your cochlear hair cells replaced anytime soon...esp as stem cell research continues to be frowned upon...

[deadly_habit]

best investment you can make is going to an audiologist and getting a set of fitted ear plugs

[promo]

Your thresholds should return fairly quickly.

What you're describing doesn't sound like its neccessarily a physiological problem as you generally lose sensitivity to high frequencies first after excessive noise exposure.

Do you wear earplugs to the dance? If so what kind?

Are there any physical symptoms accompanying this problem? A reduction of sensitivity in the lower frequencies can be caused by abnormal middle ear pressure.

And don't get your hopes up about having your cochlear hair cells replaced anytime soon...esp as stem cell research continues to be frowned upon...

Basically I have a very very faint pain in my ears. Superficially the lower frequencies don't seem as full on as a few days ago where as the mids & hi freqs are. I tend to make music and crank it up to a certain level and I like to hear and feel the bass. I guess I've probably just been a little excessive with the levels recently. I know what you're saying about it returning fairly quickly and it often has but it can take as long as a week I understand. I'm seeing the Doctor on Sunday and am gonna ask him to refer me to a specialist.

[Basic A]

The faint pain makes me wonder if you might not be gettin a bit of an ear infection honestly man, they always start out small n grow, grow, grow

If you notice any sinus pressure or anything it might be time to take a few antibiotics and get some nice hot showers in!!!

[MUT3]

Freaking out about ear problems is easy to do... It kinda makes your symptoms seem worse.

I still have tinnitus and probably have frequency shifting as im a DJ but ive never heard of the latter.

Tinnitus doesnt bother me too bad anymore, i just ignore it, it used to be bad though.


earplugs

[test_recordings]

best investment you can make is going to an audiologist and getting a set of fitted ear plugs

Less expensive intermediate options are to go to places with good sound systems (not PAs!) and not stand in front of the speakers. Also, no in-ear headphones (i.e. ear-covers only) and leave the volume so you can hear background noise

[elibomyekip]

best investment you can make is going to an audiologist and getting a set of fitted ear plugs

Also, no in-ear headphones (i.e. ear-covers only) and leave the volume so you can hear background noise

This is what ruined me. Earphones fucked my hearing up more than any soundsystem could ever hope to. I just wear sennheisers when listening to the mp3 player when out and about now, but have my hood up covering them so I don't look like Elements a hipster

[pompende]

Basically I have a very very faint pain in my ears. Superficially the lower frequencies don't seem as full on as a few days ago where as the mids & hi freqs are. I tend to make music and crank it up to a certain level and I like to hear and feel the bass. I guess I've probably just been a little excessive with the levels recently. I know what you're saying about it returning fairly quickly and it often has but it can take as long as a week I understand. I'm seeing the Doctor on Sunday and am gonna ask him to refer me to a specialist.

hopefully its just a small middle ear problem or sinus infection as basic a says.

anyway, yeeah go get refered to an audiologist, make sure they test your threshold at 125 Hz and explain your tympanogram to you.
let us know what they say. I'm pretty interested as i'm working on my degree right now.

[promo]

Looking fwd to seeing the Doc on Sunday. I can still register bass and I've done the online tests and can hear 30hz to about 16-17khz but it seems to just to lack the punch and impact as before and some highs appear distorted at times. Its kinda doing my head in. The onset certainly seemed to occur while I was listening to one of my tunes at fairly loud volume.

Anyhow be nice for them to categorically say everything is fine and then I can crack on. Also I'm wondering if its possibly even a bone conduction thing ... who knows. Anyhow I've been playing music really quietly at the mo for fear of fucking it up even more lol!!

[promo]

I think its time to invest in some earplugs because I want to be able to 'feel' the bass still but not kill my ears in the same process. What custom made pro earplugs do you guys recommend for both studio and club?

[The Phantom Banger]

Looking fwd to seeing the Doc on Sunday. I can still register bass and I've done the online tests and can hear 30hz to about 16-17khz but it seems to just to lack the punch and impact as before and some highs appear distorted at times. Its kinda doing my head in. The onset certainly seemed to occur while I was listening to one of my tunes at fairly loud volume.

Anyhow be nice for them to categorically say everything is fine and then I can crack on. Also I'm wondering if its possibly even a bone conduction thing ... who knows. Anyhow I've been playing music really quietly at the mo for fear of fucking it up even more lol!!

maybe your speakers are fucked?

[promo]

Looking fwd to seeing the Doc on Sunday. I can still register bass and I've done the online tests and can hear 30hz to about 16-17khz but it seems to just to lack the punch and impact as before and some highs appear distorted at times. Its kinda doing my head in. The onset certainly seemed to occur while I was listening to one of my tunes at fairly loud volume.

Anyhow be nice for them to categorically say everything is fine and then I can crack on. Also I'm wondering if its possibly even a bone conduction thing ... who knows. Anyhow I've been playing music really quietly at the mo for fear of fucking it up even more lol!!

maybe your speakers are fucked?

Mm the thought crossed my mind and its certainly possible however when I stuck my hand in the vent at the bottom it certainly seemed to be sucking in the usual amount of air I'd expect when playing supa subby tunes. Also I listened to some tunes on my ipod and superficially they seemed to be lacking fidelity in the highs. I think the only thing I can do when I'm not sure is to get my ears tested. And whatever the result is I'm definitely gonna being investing in some pro custom earplugs!!

[pompende]

I think its time to invest in some earplugs because I want to be able to 'feel' the bass still but not kill my ears in the same process. What custom made pro earplugs do you guys recommend for both studio and club?

etymotics research does a good job
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx

if you need a short term solution: the foam earplugs you can buy out of a drug store actually cut out significantly more of the high freqs than low and so can be nice in a rave. Way harder to get in than a molded plug tho.

[Omega Dub]

The Etymotic ER20s are a decent intermediate between the disposable foam ones and the expensive custom molded ones. Much clearer sound than the foam ones, and easier to get in and out... but they are a sorta one size fits all thing, and i definitely know some people who find them intolerably uncomfortable.

[deadly_habit]

I think its time to invest in some earplugs because I want to be able to 'feel' the bass still but not kill my ears in the same process. What custom made pro earplugs do you guys recommend for both studio and club?

you really shouldn't need plugs for studio use man
just monitor at reasonable levels and you'll be fine
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx
http://www.hear-more.com/musician.htm