Protect your ears!!!

[Johnst]

Hey DSF,

for the past couple of months i've started to slowly develop worse and worse tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears). I went to an audiologist and it looks like i've got permanent hearing damage to my left ear, despite immediately wearing earplugs to shows and decreasing the amount of time i've spent producing once i noticed any ringing at all.

now even when i wear ear plugs my ear starts ringing worse when i jam with my band, and it looks like i might be fucked, if not forever then at least for awhile.

Please please PLEASE be careful guys, and protect your most valuable and easily damaged asset as a musician. wear ear plugs, take constant breaks, and, unless you're eqing or building a sound, keep the volume low when you produce. you'll thank yourself later.

much love DSF, you've taught me almost everything i know about production, so hopefully this will cause some of you to make some changes that could have lifelong benefits.

[jrisreal]

I gotta get me some ear plugs!!! Thanks for the heads up man and I'll be praying for you bro. I think I might have some extremely mild tinnitus because I have a constant ringing but its so quiet its usually unnoticeable.

[dubesteppe]

as far back as i can remember in dead silence i could always hear a ringing sound. when i produce i usually have my master at 0db, and my computer volume at like 6%, btw jr nice track in your sig

[jrisreal]

Tanks! Lol thank you for being a part of it.

[Little Monster]

ah man thats no bueno...that sux man your definately spreading awareness as I've never paid much mind to it

[Jacob15728]

I have ringing in my ears sometimes. I notice it maybe a few times a week but it's usually mild. It"s only particularly loud and annoying for an average of maybe 5 minutes a week or so? That's not tinnitus since it's not constant, right? I never really thought much of it or worried about it.

[Johnst]

I have ringing in my ears sometimes. I notice it maybe a few times a week but it's usually mild. It"s only particularly loud and annoying for an average of maybe 5 minutes a week or so? That's not tinnitus since it's not constant, right? I never really thought much of it or worried about it.

according to my audiologist, any ringing is damage. i mean, obviously occasional loud sounds are a hazard of the trade, but if you're getting ringing it means that you should really be careful. that's how it started for me too, but now it's constant, and it's not even just when it's silent. i can still hear it during normal conversation.

some sound is normal, but ringing means damage. i don't want to scare anyone, i just want everyone to keep on top of protecting their future ability to enjoy music!

as far back as i can remember in dead silence i could always hear a ringing sound. when i produce i usually have my master at 0db, and my computer volume at like 6%, btw jr nice track in your sig

yeah, if it's dead silent, that might just be normal. regardless, it's good to be cautious. and thank you for the compliment! i'm lookin for a collab partner, if you use reason or ableton PM me.

[jrisreal]

as far back as i can remember in dead silence i could always hear a ringing sound. when i produce i usually have my master at 0db, and my computer volume at like 6%, btw jr nice track in your sig

yeah, if it's dead silent, that might just be normal. regardless, it's good to be cautious. and thank you for the compliment! i'm lookin for a collab partner, if you use reason or ableton PM me.

not to be mean or anything bro but his comment was directed towards me and it was a collab track between me him and mannyyyyy. but your sig track is definitely a nice one though!

[Johnst]

as far back as i can remember in dead silence i could always hear a ringing sound. when i produce i usually have my master at 0db, and my computer volume at like 6%, btw jr nice track in your sig

yeah, if it's dead silent, that might just be normal. regardless, it's good to be cautious. and thank you for the compliment! i'm lookin for a collab partner, if you use reason or ableton PM me.

not to be mean or anything bro but his comment was directed towards me and it was a collab track between me him and mannyyyyy. but your sig track is definitely a nice one though!

bahahaha didn't see the jr there. no offense taken!

[jrisreal]

and I'd be down for a collab sometime man! gotta be patient though because I'm in high school right now and have some real hard classes this semester. We can talk over aim, cuz the mods don't like us talking about collabs on here (collabo thread sticky) ... my aim is on the right of this post.

[Original Face]

Johnst, have you tried looking into your diet? I sometimes have mild tinnitus, but when I eat well and exercise it disappears. I've heard that this might have something to do with blood flow getting to the inner ear, but I'm no audiologist, so can't say for sure. All I can say is that it appears to work for me.

Also, it might be worth mentioning that worrying about tinnitus can cause it to increase in volume - because you are focussing on it - and contrariwise, forgetting about it can lead to it diminishing. I think there's a therapy based on this idea, actually, although I don't know much about it. Perhaps your audiologist will know more.

Good luck!

[Johnst]

Johnst, have you tried looking into your diet? I sometimes have mild tinnitus, but when I eat well and exercise it disappears. I've heard that this might have something to do with blood flow getting to the inner ear, but I'm no audiologist, so can't say for sure. All I can say is that it appears to work for me.

Also, it might be worth mentioning that worrying about tinnitus can cause it to increase in volume - because you are focussing on it - and contrariwise, forgetting about it can lead to it diminishing. I think there's a therapy based on this idea, actually, although I don't know much about it. Perhaps your audiologist will know more.

Good luck!

i had read about this stuff before a little, all good info, thank you for telling me! it could very well be linked to my lack of exercise or paying too much attention to it. regardless though, i gotta still be more careful

[ChadDub]

Dude my left ear has less hearing too, but no ringing that I can hear. It's just that my right ear seems to pick up more sound than my left when I'm wearing headphones (no it's not a panning issue lol).

That sucks though, but don't let it deter you man, I think Deadmau5 has said on his live stream that he can only hear up to 15Khz.

[Ayatollah]

yeah I have tinnitus too, it fucking sucks. I'm terrified of it getting any worse (I think it has during the last months) to the point that I'm kinda scared of going out to places with loud music nowadays...

[Sine69]

I'm slightly convinced that my ears are fucked, just because I constantly have that feeling you get from being on an airplane, when your ears pop or whatever.
Hopefully it's just allergies or something

[hifi]

i've gotten this ringing sound once but ive never gone to any festivals/events and i listen to my music or go anywhere where music is insanely loud.

[grooki]

def protect your ears! very good advice

[Raggles]

When I go to shows I can't hear clearly for a straight week afterwards. I reckon I should look into some. Anyone have recommendations?

[deadly_habit]

if you go out or perform frequently the best investments you can make is to go see an audiologist and get a set of custom ear plugs made
http://www.earplugstore.com/cusfitproc.html

[Johnst]

if you go out or perform frequently the best investments you can make is to go see an audiologist and get a set of custom ear plugs made
http://www.earplugstore.com/cusfitproc.html

agreed, precisely what i'm going to do today.

otherwise though, for shows foam earplugs are the best protection you can get. i've found that although they muffle the sounds, most raves in the US are so loud that it doesn't even matter.