Account Closed Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 9 minutes ago, GregWormald said: My tinnitus is also elevated by headphone listening--so I rarely do it any more. Digital sources also seem to elevate it more than analog. I have had some relief by using a technique found online--finger whacking on the bottom of the skull. (Sorry, can't remember what it's called. A youtube search should find something, there are lots of treatment videos.) Sounds like something from a SNL skit. Seriously, Headphone listening can be very dangerous from a hearing loss point of view. I rarely use mine anymore. The tendency is to listen at too high a level for way too long. The proximity to the eardrum makes any high frequency transients potentially damaging. If you are getting tinnitus after headphone listening, your body is trying to tell you something (like please stop). Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 16, 2020 12 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: I normally listen at -50 to -60db, it really doesn't seem too loud at all. However, if I have to I will go back to speaker listening and say goodbye to my wonderful headphone system... In fact, in the lower right you can see my volume setting in Roon/HQPlayer -55db To measure the actual dB sound pressure, get a SPL meter and put in the middle of the two cups and close the gap. Then compare to safe v dangerous levels. 4est and AudioDoctor 1 1 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 1 hour ago, AudioDoctor said: Well, the ringing ear has even less wax in it than the non ringing ear, so that wasn't it... shit. Lay off the headphones until it stops! You could be risking permanent hearing loss. Consider taking a magnesium supplement daily. I have taken one for years and it slowly has gotten rid of the high pitch ringing I used to have. Also, I had to be on an IV antibiotic for three months several years ago for a severe staph infection and my doctor said then that the ringing could have been related to that treatment. Have you been on one for anything? Some antibiotics but not others may cause it. Please see a specialist if it worsens. I don't mean to sound draconian but this is serious stuff. sandyk 1 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 16 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: yeah, there is no headphone listening at the moment... That makes me very sad. My friend was able to get me in to see an ENT this coming week, so we'll get to the bottom of this. There has been zero trauma, zero medication changes, nothing at all that would have precipitated this. Which is exactly why I had a small hope it was just wax build up, as that was a problem in the past. Good luck. Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said: -55 can be extremely low in HQP on my systems. Please see my post above about measuring actual sound pressure level as that is what causes the damage. Software numbers are not relevant as gain and sensitivity will determine the actual SPL. sandyk 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 17, 2020 55 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: As you say, software number don’t mean much. But, when one is listening and it’s barely audible, and the number on the volume dial is -55, that’s what one reports. Of course. I just wish that more people would measure actual SPL because there is so much potential for permanent hearing loss with headphones. And, don't get me started on IEMs! Both put high frequency energy so very close to the eardrum. I got religion about this after reading some medical literature about people who suffered permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus after just one exposure to high energy high frequency sound via headphones. One was an Air Traffic Controller who got a blast when a piece of equipment malfunctioned and she became virtually deaf in that ear and had tinnitus as well. We all tend to think that it is long term exposure to high SPL (the Rock Concert effect) that will degrade our hearing but even one time can do it. This hobby is not much fun if you are partially deaf. The Computer Audiophile, AudioDoctor and sandyk 2 1 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 29 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: Do you have a recommendation of SPL meters? I have a Radio Shack digital one that I bought several years ago that was recommended then. I don't know if it is still available or not. I just did a google search and there is a lot of info available on them so just try to find an accurate one that does "a weighted" and "c weighted" reading and allows an instant read and continuous readout. There also is a lot out there as to what is a safe SPL at different time intervals for both a and c weighted readings. You should not have any problem getting what you need to be safe. Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Just now, The Computer Audiophile said: The trick is getting a meter for headphones. Not really, what you have to do is put the probe between the two ear cups and then using your hands close the gap between the cups so the probe is isolated between the two cups and no outside sound is measured. This is the quickest and easiest method. Some folks have crafted devices to get more accurate readings but I am not sure how available they are. A good place to check would be head-fi. Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 18, 2020 53 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: I am seeing the ENT on Thursday morning. Having been a Physician here in town still has its perks. I remember that you said that you were a battlefield doc. If you were exposed to extremely load noise from say nearby gunfire and/or concussive energy from an explosion, then remember to tell the ENT that. I have read that sometimes these incidents can cause problems later in life. And, Thank You for Your Service. Please let us know what the outcome of your visit is to the extent that you are comfortable. AudioDoctor, sandyk and Audiophile Neuroscience 1 1 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 18, 2020 31 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: Yep, that's what caused the initial tinnitus that I have been dealing with ever since. What led to the sudden massive increase though, I have no idea. I have some guesses, but right now I don't know for sure. I appreciate the sentiment of thanking me, but I really don't need it and don't really feel comfortable accepting it. I know, I always feel a little uncomfortable when people thank me for my time when all I did was baby sit some big ass bombs (nukes). Even so I always thank my fellow vets especially as there are fewer and fewer of us every year. Looking forward to hearing what the ENT has to say. Audiophile Neuroscience and AudioDoctor 2 Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 21, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 21, 2020 On 5/18/2020 at 5:24 PM, AudioDoctor said: I am seeing the ENT on Thursday morning. Having been a Physician here in town still has its perks. Hope your visit goes well today. bluesman and AudioDoctor 2 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 32 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said: If he's right, it's good news. Not only can I turn the speakers on and keep the volume down, but it means my hearing is likely to return to normal. I hope it does! Mine was really bad during and after the staph infection I had (septic arthritis in right shoulder). The months on IV antibiotics probably didn't help either. Thanks for the update. Consider the magnesium supplement. I don't think there is any danger with that but you would know best Doc. AudioDoctor 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted May 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 22, 2020 5 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Huh? Transient attack. AudioDoctor and lucretius 2 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 5 hours ago, sandyk said: Chris I am basing this on my own experience with Tinnitus, which the OP already has due to exposure to Occupation related high level sound exposure. I am not suggesting that this should be a problem for those not suffering from Tinnitus. However, very clean sounding Audio on headphones may sometimes result in extended listening sessions at higher than desirable levels without some kind of SPL guide. Well said. Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 On 5/21/2020 at 11:46 AM, bobflood said: Hope your visit goes well today. Any relief yet? Have a good Memorial Day weekend. AudioDoctor 1 Link to comment
Account Closed Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 12 hours ago, AudioDoctor said: Well, I made a discovery tonight... First, the ringing has gone down some. My ear clearly has an infection and that is causing some of the problem and it is getting better, slowly... However... I was futzing with my new amp and as soon as I played music through it, without having the headphones on my head, I could hear a very high pitched ringing. I stopped the music, it stopped with the ringing. Start the music, the ringing started back up. SO I called my SO in the room and asked her if she could hear it too. She did. SO now my brand spanking new crazy expensive headphone amp has to go back for repair of some sort. I'm not listening to it right now anyway, but man, this is a bummer. Sadly, sometimes "crazy expensive" can also mean just plain crazy. Link to comment
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