Hearing loss and the music lover

[Guest]

Every now and then a member writes mentioning their hearing loss, deafness, tinnitus call it what you will. I have had hearing loss and tinnitus since I was a child, so I don't really know what 'good' hearing is - what I have is 'normal'. But I know that on occasion listening to headphones I'm transported by the improvement to detail, be it by enhanced bass or treble or both, and the ensuing greater 'involvement' is often miraculous.

I've just found two articles, the second an addition to the first, addressing these issues and offering some practical solutions and recommendations.

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing.pdf

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing2.pdf

My thanks to Richard Freed, the author and to CRQ for loading them on to their website.

I'd be interested to read members' experiences of adapting their listening methods to their changing aural circumstances.

[salymap]

I haven't read them yet ams51, but my experience echoes yours. I find I have to use headphones for even listening on line to iPlayer and as apart from tinnitus any hearing loss I have is in my left ear, I get a better result bylistening with the the headphones set on Mono, rather than Stereo.
Don't know why but it works.

Thanks for highlighting this problem.

[Serial_Apologist]

Every now and then a member writes mentioning their hearing loss, deafness, tinnitus call it what you will. I have had hearing loss and tinnitus since I was a child, so I don't really know what 'good' hearing is - what I have is 'normal'. But I know that on occasion listening to headphones I'm transported by the improvement to detail, be it by enhanced bass or treble or both, and the ensuing greater 'involvement' is often miraculous.

I've just found two articles, the second an addition to the first, addressing these issues and offering some practical solutions and recommendations.

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing.pdf

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing2.pdf

My thanks to Richard Freed, the author and to CRQ for loading them on to their website.

I'd be interested to read members' experiences of adapting their listening methods to their changing aural circumstances.

Thanks for posting these links, from a fellow tinnitusist, Ams! I shall take a look.

[Hitch]

Adjusting equaliser settings can make an enormous difference to audio clarity. Some stereo systems accentuate the bass register, yet hearing loss often occurs in the higher frequencies. The effect is very noticeable in news broadcasts where the newsreaders' voices boom because of the needless inclusion of low frequencies. It's akin to placing a hand over your mouth when speaking. A crude tip for listening to speech (and some music): instead of raising the volume, lower the bass and raise the treble.

[Ferretfancy]

A couple of years ago, I went to my Boots opticians to collect some glasses and discovered that they were offering free hearing tests as a franchise operation with a hearing aid company. I was curious, and booked a test. Naturally, I assumed that I would have the usual age related hearing loss, and so it proved although it was not severe.
I was prescribed some very sophisticated aids which were also very pricey, and agreed to do a trial.

I found the hearing aids gave very exaggerated results, voices were very sibilant and background sounds were too high for comfort. After a couple of weeks I returned them for a refund.
Unfortunately, after abandoning the aids, my hearing remained affected, and I found I had hyperacusis. This is a condition related to tinnitus in which certain frequencies are raised in comparison with the rest of the spectrum giving a harsh sibilant quality to everyday sounds. Dropping a teaspoon onto a saucer was like scaffolding collapsing, and listening to my sound system was very uncomfortable.
I tried where possible to avoid exposure to certain sounds, and stopped using the tube because I could hear loud and penetrating conversations from the other end of the carriage. Station announcements were unbearable.
I was advised that the problem would gradually disappear, but it was months before my familiar hearing returned to normal.

This is probably an unusual case, but potential users of hearing aids should perhaps exercise caution with commercial retailers. I did have an NHS audiologist check my hearing, and wish that I had followed that path in the first place. All is now OK.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hearing loss is something I treat seriously, both for personal protection and for the protection of the pupils I teach.
When teaching the saxophone, I always wear suitable earplugs, and recommend pupils do the same. (Some do; some don't.) I keep them handy when I'm playing in an orchestra too. I always need them for Sibelius 5.

I find it very sad when young people in their 20's who do "gigs" are already showing signs of hearing degradation, but don't seem concerned enough to use ear protection when in noisy environments.

[Beef Oven]

Every now and then a member writes mentioning their hearing loss, deafness, tinnitus call it what you will. I have had hearing loss and tinnitus since I was a child, so I don't really know what 'good' hearing is - what I have is 'normal'. But I know that on occasion listening to headphones I'm transported by the improvement to detail, be it by enhanced bass or treble or both, and the ensuing greater 'involvement' is often miraculous.

I've just found two articles, the second an addition to the first, addressing these issues and offering some practical solutions and recommendations.

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing.pdf

http://crq.org.uk/Files/File/hearing2.pdf

My thanks to Richard Freed, the author and to CRQ for loading them on to their website.

I'd be interested to read members' experiences of adapting their listening methods to their changing aural circumstances.

I have suffered from tinnitus for about 25 years now, getting progressively worse. Caused by too loud gigs and headphone volumes too high.

Quite significant hearing loss identified at local hospital audiology dept.

Headphones help, but I still cant hear ppp. I find reducing bass and increasing treble helps.

It affects my listening choices too. When I listen to Rock, I'm hardly aware of the problem, but classical is a real issue.

Thanks for the interesting articles Amsy

P.S. I read an article last year that was optimistic that a tinnitus cure would be available in about 25 years.

[Serial_Apologist]

I have suffered from tinnitus for about 25 years now, getting progressively worse. Caused by too loud gigs and headphone volumes too high.

Likewise - in my case using a walkman to try and drown out the awful Radio 2 broadcast at high volume on the works bus every morning

Actually, the problem could date back as far as my schoodays, when CCF field days, involving a lot of firing off blanks without ear muffs provided, always caused hearing impairment for several days.

Quite significant hearing loss identified at local hospital audiology dept.

Really sorry to hear that. I reckon I've probably lost roughly half the hearing capacity in my right ear - all upper frequencies replaced by a prolonged high-pitched whistle, worse some times than others, and occasionally two simultaneous whistles oscillating a microtone apart - and a quarter in my left - though it's difficult to make subjective assessments apart from other people's evident irritation when they have to repeat things, and I really should get professionally assessed.

Headphones help, but I still cant hear ppp. I find reducing bass and increasing treble helps.

Ditto again here...

It affects my listening choices too. When I listen to Rock, I'm hardly aware of the problem, but classical is a real issue.

First really noticed in my case when I found I could no longer hear the high sustained string passage in the last movement of Debussy's "La Mer", on the recording I've had for many years.

Thanks for the interesting articles Amsy

P.S. I read an article last year that was optimistic that a tinnitus cure would be available in about 25 years.

I'll be 92 by then...

[umslopogaas]

I have what I think is a fairly mild version of tinnitus, a sort of continuous, high pitched hissing noise. I'm interested in the comments on headphones, because I did not always suffer, but for a long period of my life I lived in a very small flat surrounded on all sides by neighbours, and if I wanted to listen to loud music I had to use headphones. I suspect that blasting my ears through headphones was responsible for causing my tinnitus. If I'm right, I'd warn others to be careful with them.

A cure would be great, but like S_A, its likely to come too late for me if its 25 years off!

[Beef Oven]

Likewise - in my case using a walkman to try and drown out the awful Radio 2 broadcast at high volume on the works bus every morning

Actually, the problem could date back as far as my schoodays, when CCF field days, involving a lot of firing off blanks without ear muffs provided, always caused hearing impairment for several days.



Really sorry to hear that. I reckon I've probably lost roughly half the hearing capacity in my right ear - all upper frequencies replaced by a prolonged high-pitched whistle, worse some times than others, and occasionally two simultaneous whistles oscillating a microtone apart - and a quarter in my left - though it's difficult to make subjective assessments apart from other people's evident irritation when they have to repeat things, and I really should get professionally assessed.



Ditto again here...



First really noticed in my case when I found I could no longer hear the high sustained string passage in the last movement of Debussy's "La Mer", on the recording I've had for many years.



I'll be 92 by then...

You might want your get your GP to refer you to your local hospital's audiology department because there may be a solution or part solution that you are not aware of.

I was prescribed hearing-aids about 10 years ago, but never got on with them. Combination of sibilance and vanity.

People seem to be getting more frustrated when I repeatedly ask them to repeat what they have said.

Also, I'm partially reliant on lip-reading. Being short on social-skills in the first place, people are often offended when I abruptly tell them to take their hand away from their gob when they are speaking to me.

And, with roaring tinnitus, I can no longer hear 4'33

[salymap]

I find a roomful of people difficult to cope with. I can hear my friends and relatives singly,a room of seven or eight is just a noise to me.

I just hope to make the right responses.

[amateur51]

You might want your get your GP to refer you to your local hospital's audiology department because there may be a solution or part solution that you are not aware of.

I was prescribed hearing-aids about 10 years ago, but never got on with them. Combination of sibilance and vanity.

People seem to be getting more frustrated when I repeatedly ask them to repeat what they have said.

Also, I'm partially reliant on lip-reading. Being short on social-skills in the first place, people are often offended when I abruptly tell them to take their hand away from their gob when they are speaking to me.

Sound advice, Beefy tho I'm sorry to read that you didn't get on with digi-hearing aids.

Like you I've relied at work and in social situations on lip-reading and I agree that those who put their hands in front of their mouth are a blooming nuisance. I first realised that I needed to do something else when I was at a Proms concert in the RAH a few years back. The orchestra started playing Britten Sinfonia da Requiem but while I could see string players moving their bows, I could hear nothing My GP referred me to St Mary's hospital and the audiology department have been brilliant.

I'm now on my second set which are even smaller and lighter than the first ones. I use them mainly for conversations in noisy rooms, concerts, and theatre/cinema. Having said that, I try to wear them every day so that my brain gets used to filtering out the sibilants and other extraneous noises. It is very reassuring to hear my hearing going back to 'normal' when I remove my hearing aids at the end of the day - the world becomes a much quieter, less dazzling place, especially in the higher frequencies.

[Beef Oven]

Sound advice, Beefy tho I'm sorry to read that you didn't get on with digi-hearing aids.

Like you I've relied at work and in social situations on lip-reading and I agree that those who put their hands in front of their mouth are a blooming nuisance. I first realised that I needed to do something else when I was at a Proms concert in the RAH a few years back. The orchestra started playing Britten Sinfonia da Requiem but while I could see string players moving their bows, I could hear nothing My GP referred me to St Mary's hospital and the audiology department have been brilliant.

I'm now on my second set which are even smaller and lighter than the first ones. I use them mainly for conversations in noisy rooms, concerts, and theatre/cinema. Having said that, I try to wear them every day so that my brain gets used to filtering out the sibilants and other extraneous noises. It is very reassuring to hear my hearing going back to 'normal' when I remove my hearing aids at the end of the day - the world becomes a much quieter, less dazzling place, especially in the higher frequencies.

Maybe I should go back and check out how hearing aids have improved.

Mine are a big pair of beige plastic gits. I am far too gorgeous for them.

[amateur51]

Maybe I should go back and check out how hearing aids have improved.

Mine are a big pair of beige plastic gits. I am far too gorgeous for them.

My new ones are silvery-grey. Fortunately I've inherited my father's Dumbo ear genes, so my digi-aids are undetectable from the front

[ardcarp]

I hesitate to chip in to this debate because I have neither tinnitus nor (noticeable) hearing loss. For those dealing with loud music on a daily basis (including session musicians in studios) there are some specially designed 'ear plugs' which somehow reduce the volume without attenuating (is that the right word?) the frequencies you want to hear. They are called Elastin ER15s and are designed for musicians wishing to protect their hearing. One has to find a centre which can supply them, and it involves having an impression taken of your ear.

On the subject of hearing aids, many musicians I come across, especially pianists, prefer to practise with their aids removed. So many unwanted upper harmonics are boosted by modern digital devices that the perceived tone of the instrument is unpleasant.

I gather it is possible to re-programme the tiny computers in modern hearing aids to customise them to the sort of music you want to hear. However the experts who are capable of (a) understanding the problem and (b) doing the adjustments are vanishingly rare.