Sudden hearing issues...

[nbarts]

I haven't read any of the posts, but I thought I'd share my 2c. Take it from a guy who's most likely going to lose his hearing soon.

If you use headphones, STOP RIGHT NOW!!!!
Using headphones is miles worse for your hearing than loud amps. Another thing that is very bad is traffic noise, drive with your car windows closed. Did I mention the compute fan noise? Keep that shit away from your ears as far as you can.
More important than anything - headphones & any other in/on ear stuff.

Good luck!

 

[marvcus]

Had tinnitus since age 12. Had a firecracker blow in my open hand. Heard the ringing ever since. It got a little better
soon afterward, but the ringing is always there if I want to hear it. You get used to it, actually, and forget about it.

I hope your "seashell" sound goes away. That's horrible. I'll throw some prayer your way.

 

[itsme]

Not to sound sick, but it's nice to know that others of you are dealing with this too. It makes things easier to deal with when you know you're not alone. I guess that's why they have support groups for everything. I still can't hear fully in my right ear from the gig Fri night. It's come back a little, but when I lay down at night I hear the ringing. I just don't see any way around it. I can't play a live gig with earplugs. I'm gonna wear one in my right ear at rehearsals, and practice quietly at home. But like I tell my wife, when she gives me shit, I'm gonna enjoy my ears while I've got 'em. No doubt when I get older, I'll have hearing aids, but when you see how far they've come, that might not be that bad. In 20 yrs they might have little chips that they insert in there that give you killer hearing.

 

[itsme]

One more thing, maybe Marshall will branch out into hearing aid research. They can cause and then cure the problem.

 

[ZachMN]

I'm gonna be a jerk- use friggin ear protection!! I like it loud too but come on be smart. Everyone here seems to have stupid loud stuff 100 watt amps up the ass, playing with drummers- all those cymbals--- dial in your sound and then put some protection on/in whatever.
The one guy is right too- headphones are bad bad bad and the car window being open- same for motorcycle riding. I got used to people making fun of me for having ear plugs literally everywhere I go fifteen years ago. I dial in my sound and then I put on protection and relax knowing it's 'there'
I work in a wind tunnel facility as a toolmaker- I got machines screaming and the equivalent of a jet engine on a test stand 50 feet from me all day long, I get checked every year ( 12 years) and I have almost perfect test numbers.
PROTECT YOUR HEARING BROTHERS!

 

[mrhiwatt]

I had the muffled shell ear this winter. Dr gave me spray and anti biotic. Did nothing went to ENT DR looked at ear with scope scraped wax that was on the ear drum its self and hearing returned to normal in a few days. I always wear my eyotmic ear plugs while jamming or at clubs listening now. I have Tinnutis from playing a super lead and a Hiwatt back in the day. I would see the ENT as ears are their specialty and invest in the custom molded ear plugs. I wish I did back in 1976 when I got my SUperlead. Now i hear a constant ringing in any quiet place or trying to fall asleep.


Mrhiwatt

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Update: my hearing went from bad to worse on Tuesday of last week. My ear was feeling great on Monday afternoon, so I decided to play reasonably loud for 20 or so minutes. When I woke up on Tuesday everything sounded incredibly muffled and even distorted. It got worse as the day went on, but it finally got better later that night (maybe the Crown and Coke's i drank helped...lol). Anyway, it's been fine ever since (except for the constant faint ringing noise...which I can deal with) and I've only been playing at VERY low volumes.

I've got an appointment with a ENT Dr at 2:00 today. Hopefully he'll be able to fix/help my ear

 

[defpearlpilot]

That sounds pretty scary. I hope that it works out. I have mild tinnitus. I don't really notice it much at all actually. But it's there. And I try to be careful with my hearing these days. I'm sure I could be even more careful.

 

[michaelwestv]

There are several causes behind sudden hearing loss such as high platelet count or block in cochlear artery, overuse of drugs etc. So seek the advice of an audiologist and which helps to find the cause and treat soon.

 

[TrueTone500]

Update: My hearing went from bad to worse on Tuesday of last week. My ear was feeling great on Monday afternoon, so I decided to play reasonably loud for 20 or so minutes...

I began having similar issues myself about 6 months ago. Not only have I stopped playing through my loud rigs, I've put them up for sale. I picked up a 20 watt tube amp, and am just as happy with it. If you've damaged your middle/inner ear due to excessive volume... Monitor yourself for episodes of vertigo. I use a few drops of pure grain into my ear, which clears the problem within 15 minutes.

"Unless you're playing Wembley, you have no business playing through a 100 watt tube rig..."
- Bruce Zinky

 

[glassjaw7]

I've been going through the same thing for a couple years. It gets really bad after a long jam or gig. Comes out of nowhere and my hearing just completely shuts down in one ear for 30-60 seconds and I get that muffled effect with the high pitch ringing. Also had my ears checked and it's not wax..

I should have bought good plugs a long time ago. Anyone use these with good results?
https://www.amazon.com/Surefire-Sonic-De ... +ear+plugs