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Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
3,173
30,732
France
A few years back I woke up nearly deaf in one ear. LIke it was full of water. I went to the Doc and had steriod treatments to no avail. One ear is shot....the nerve is damaged. Its like a speaker with a bad wire. The other is not so hot but its ok. This wasnt from abuse but the other one has loss from abuse. As a culture we are not very protective of our hearing.
 
Dec 10, 2013
2,619
3,370
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
I started playing bagpipes when I was 15 or 16. That was winter of 83. Stopped playing for competitions in 2012. I never used hearing protections. I can't feel the music with the damned things in my ears. It's almost impossible to tune the instrument also with them. And none of the older pipers wore one either. Most pipers my age don't care for them. But I remember hearing protections becoming popular and all the young ones using them.

So for the hell of it, looked up how loud GHB (Great Highland Bagpipes) is. They are saying it around 108 - 111 decibel. And any long term exposure of 85 decibel or louder can cause hearing issues. Per some information, that's as loud as pneumatic drill.

I can still hear things rather well. I mean, I did develop selective hearing from my job. Too many bullshit to filter out on daily basis. But per the safe level of noise, I should be deaf as a doorknob. And I'm sure many of those who worked in construction and stuff would be all deaf!

Is it that I'm lucky to have my hearing, or is the society too careful about every little things now days?
Come again ?
 

anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,865
31,620
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
I hate to say it but a lot of times people aren't really aware of their own hearing loss. I've met too many older gentlemen and gentleladies who have "zero hearing problems" yet a few minutes of shouting at them leaves one hoarse. Or that older gentleman who complained that all you youngsters whisper. Or that friend that has a whisper that can be heard across a busy barroom.
 
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Flatfish

Part of the Furniture Now
Jan 20, 2022
812
2,028
West Wales
I'm 46, my left ear has developed a hearing loss. Just genetic I think. I've been offered a hearing aid, but turned it down, much to the annoyance of my wife (an audiologist).
The world seems loud enough as it is without amplification.
I will probably end up with a hearing aid at some point though. Once I notice people shouting at me, like we shout at my dad.
 
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pauls456

Starting to Get Obsessed
Aug 19, 2020
251
506
60
Tucson, Arizona
Sudden partial loss of hearing in my left ear around ten years ago, and an additional sudden loss on that side around 5 years ago. The other ear is fine. I've had plenty of noise exposure, but its unclear how that figures in. I wear one hearing aid, but results have been mixed.
 
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JOHN72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2020
5,909
58,134
52
Spain - Europe
For mental issues, of extreme psychiatry, you can ask me. I am not licensed, but my methods of torture are natural, organic, without dyes, no artificial additives. You will come out as good as new, in a matter of hours, the cost of the baseball bat is paid by the patient. I don't speak English, so the final cure will be less painful.El-resplandor1-726x486.jpg
 
Last edited:
Aug 1, 2012
4,886
5,709
USA
There's a story there that begs to be told.
So, I was working in India and had the chance to work with a random dude on some school productions. He was pretty high up in the Bollywood scene but not top tier at the time. We worked a venue and there were major feedback problems that he couldn't track down. After a rehearsal I told him what frequencies were causing the problem. After some discussion about overtones and such he reprogrammed the board and amazingly the feedback was gone. He was surprised and said that only a "golden ears" could have heard what frequency was causing the problem. I had been developing a great sense of relative pitch and that helped me figure it out. I told him what I did and how. A while later he picked up a higher position and now is a big deal.

Interesting addendum, I was given a standing offer by one of Bollywood's top composers to use his studio anytime I wanted. Apparently teaching his child was a success.
 

woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
12,927
21,674
SE PA USA
So, I was working in India and had the chance to work with a random dude on some school productions. He was pretty high up in the Bollywood scene but not top tier at the time. We worked a venue and there were major feedback problems that he couldn't track down. After a rehearsal I told him what frequencies were causing the problem. After some discussion about overtones and such he reprogrammed the board and amazingly the feedback was gone. He was surprised and said that only a "golden ears" could have heard what frequency was causing the problem. I had been developing a great sense of relative pitch and that helped me figure it out. I told him what I did and how. A while later he picked up a higher position and now is a big deal.

Interesting addendum, I was given a standing offer by one of Bollywood's top composers to use his studio anytime I wanted. Apparently teaching his child was a success.
That’s fantastic!
 

bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,340
41,837
RTP, NC. USA
I have known few gents with hearing aids. First one was my college chemistry professor. It was stadium class with something like 200 students. First thing the professor does when he comes into the classroom was to turn off his hearing aids.

Then there were few WWII bombardiers. They were snare drummers in my first pipe band. As soon as the practice starts, they stub out the cig and turn off the hearing aids.

From those examples, I learned when something important is about to happen, you turn your hearing aids off.
 
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Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
3,173
30,732
France
Sudden partial loss of hearing in my left ear around ten years ago, and an additional sudden loss on that side around 5 years ago. The other ear is fine. I've had plenty of noise exposure, but its unclear how that figures in. I wear one hearing aid, but results have been mixed.
Sudden hearing loss is a pain. My right ear cannot understand words but it can register some sound. My audiologist who was really super understood my problems. It helped that her husband was a musician (I think). She insisted on high quality dual hearing aids. I dont remember the details but its able to take some sound from the right side and direct it to the left ear so hearing is more complete. She simply said no to one hearing aid.

I need to wear mine more often. I stopped during covid since masks and wires would tangle. Mine are the behind the ear type. I didnt like the little fidly ones that stick in your ear. They also reduce your natural hearing. A good audiologist will have you come back numerous times to get the eq right. Even with one ear your hearing can be of very high quality. Its pretty suprising.

I need to put mine on and get used to them again. I cant hear anything my wife says. High voice and very soft spoken. Its intersting, she is French (she also speaks Spanish). Her Spanish and French is resonant but her English voice is hard for me to hear.
 

MartyA

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jan 5, 2024
125
421
74
Iowa
I tell people that I inherited my deafness. Some from my grandfather on my mother's side, some from Mick Jagger, and some from Sam Colt.

Actually, John Browning had more to do with It. And then there are power tools...