Hearing problems

[BigPigPeaches]

I've tried to ignore it for a while, but it's become obvious that I'm losing some of the hearing in both ears, particularly my right. This is giving me real problems hearing myself in a live situation, and I find that I'm grinding my fingers too hard to try to make myself louder. The soundmen I work with can't do anything, because sometimes I ask them to turn me up in the monitors so loud that it's louder than the mains.

All advice on how to protect my hearing aside (i.e. turn it down, get some custom earplugs, yadda yadda), here's what I really want advice on: Do you think that a wireless in-ear monitor would work in this situation? Anyone have experience/advice on this? Thanks for your input.

[Clatter]

I use an in-ear monitor in one ear and a custom earplug in the other. That way, I can monitor anything I want up-close and personal in one ear without having to rely on an iffy sound guy (always crucial!!), while in the other ear I'm hearing stage volume and the crowd but at a lower decibel level. It's obvious you know you need to work harder at protecting your hearing, so this might be a good solution for you. All the people I know who use in-ears are really happy with them. It's crazy to actually hear yourself! It can be unsettling at first, though, because you'll hear every mistake, too. So practice with it a lot to get used to it. Also, if you use the monitors in both ears, remember that you won't be able to hear much around you in between songs.

[Gruven]

The Sure E5's are the only ones, that I've tried, that work to produce bass well.

 

Have you gone to a doctor about your hearing loss?

 

I once had a situation where my ears were virtually plugged with wax buildup and after the doc flushed them, I was good as gold. I still ended up with TINNITUS after so many years of playing live. My ears ring constantly but not severely.

[JacieFB]

All good advice. Have the doc diagnose you.

 

The in-ear may be your only shot, because if you keep going louder and louder, then everyone else is going to have to do the same and pretty soon it's just feedback city. Then everyone goes deaf.

 

Here's a question that could be a bit of a reach, but here goes...is it a particular frequency band that you're having trouble hearing? I have a friend who is particularly bass-deaf. He plays guitar, so it isn't THAT big of a deal. He's over-all kinda deaf, too. That is a problem. But anyways...what about your setup? Are you using loud subwoofers? Can you put a 2x10 or a 4x10 up there directly pointed at your ear? Do you use a pick? The reason I ask is sometimes when I play in a room that soaks up low-end, the higher frequencies are sometimes all I can hear. I do play with a pick and I have a 4x10 in my setup. And my Jazz has all kindsa high's. Even if I can't hear the thump, I can typically hear the highs. Might change your setup and playing style...but it is enjoyable to play like that and expand the frequency band.

[1tallbassguy]

Have you ever had an audiometric test done?

Thats when you sit in the small sound-booth and press the button when you hear the series of beeps in either ear.

 

It is common in the construction industry for the company to establish a baseline when hiring an employee, then with their hearing conservation program, protect the employees hearing. This way they know from where they started to where they are now.

 

What really sucks about hearing loss, is that once it's gone, it does not come back.

 

 

Firearms can be a serious source of hearing loss. Also even things such as lawnmowers.

[boseengineer]

+1 on the doc. DON'T PROCRASTINATE, DO IT.

 

+1 with a good sealing IEM with a custom ear plug on the other side.

 

Another option is use noise cancelling headsets. I've used these a lot in recording sessions with a very loud drummer in a very small studio. Good consumer headsets get you about 20 dB broad band attenuation plus a convenient way to feed you a monitor mix. Looks a little goofy though and they can't handle really high stage levels. Active off-the-shelf aviation headsets can handle higher ambient SPL and have even better noise reduction, but they look even goofier and aren't cheap.

 

Some more yada, yada (I know you don't want to hear it):

 

This is a serious condition. Unless you get regular medical attention to monitor it and get your noise exposure under control, chances are you will become serisouly hearing impaired before too long. Excessive noise destroys hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear). The damage is permanent and cannot be reversed. Even with plenty of protection you may have to stop playing live (or change styles). That sucks, but going deaf sucks even more.

 

Sorry for lecturing, but the consequences of not tackling this heads-on can be really bad.

[78pbass]

Originally posted by 1tallbassguy Also even things such as lawnmowers.

 

here's a success story for those who need one...

I use earplugs with ANYTHING loud - mowing and weedeating, using the Compressor in the garage, hammering, etc.

 

NOW, my hearing is more acute than it used to be. Yeah, I've lost some frequencies from abuse, but now, into my 30s, i have greater ability to hear the detail I used to not be able to hear. In a way, I readjusted my hearings' 'gain'; and reestablished a new baseline for low levels.

 

Don't believe me? put in earplugs for a whole day. See how much clearer you hear when you take them out.

 

PS: I use these for drums:

NRR - 26

 

these for bass and singing:

NRR - 20

 

these for mowing and working on stuff:

NRR - 36

[Craig Vecchione]

Yeah I've used a pair of 29dB earmuffs for mowing, compressor, shop vac, and any and all workshop tool use. And earplugs for concerts, loud shows, etc. Hearing is way too important to lose.

[JacieFB]

huh?

[BigPigPeaches]

Good advice from all. I plan on seeing an audiologist next week to get fitted for custom plugs. I do use muffs when weedeating, using power tools, etc, but no plugs when practicing because over-the-counter ones just cut out too many frequencies.

I'll also look at some in-ear monitors - anyone got some recommendations? I know that most of them have crappy earphones and the E5's seem to be the best replacements for them.

 

Jacie, my setup is an Ampeg B4R into an Ampeg 410HLF, with a Sansamp RBI. I don't tune in many highs, so most of the time I feel myself rather than hear myself. I alternate between pick and fingers depending on the song and how much meth I popped on that day.

 

Gruven, I've had another veterinarian here perform a tympanic exam on me (I know, get a real doctor...) and my canals are clear. The ear mites and head lice are a different story, though.

 

Thanks all for the advice and the concern.

[Billy-B]

Ask you Dr. about "musician's plugs". I had a custom set made and they are the best I've ever had. This particular model comes with small removable disk filters. I have 2 sets of filters, one for a 15db cut and one for a 25db cut. The 15 should be fine for all but the loudest of gigs. You can still hear what everyone is doing, it just takes the sound level down 15 (or 25) db's. There is no comparison between these plugs and anything I have used over-the-counter.

 

Billy-B

[L-1329]

Originally posted by boseengineer Active off-the-shelf aviation headsets can handle higher ambient SPL and have even better noise reduction, but they look even goofier and aren't cheap.

 

 

Sorry to derail for a minute, but Bose noise cancelling headsets are the greatest creation ever! I use one in every loud ass plane I fly, and the difference it makes is remarkable. Boseengineer, if you had anything to do with that product line the beers are definetly on me if you ever swing through Chicago!

[BigPigPeaches]

 

Originally posted by Billy-B Ask you Dr. about "musician's plugs". I had a custom set made and they are the best I've ever had. This particular model comes with small removable disk filters. I have 2 sets of filters, one for a 15db cut and one for a 25db cut. The 15 should be fine for all but the loudest of gigs. You can still hear what everyone is doing, it just takes the sound level down 15 (or 25) db's. There is no comparison between these plugs and anything I have used over-the-counter. Billy-B

 

 

Thanks for the advice. New to the forum? If so, welcome!

[Billy-B]

Thanks BPP.

 

If you want something right now to help, the best store bought (and relatively cheap) hearing protection I have found is made by Hearos. Their solid foam plugs block too much sound, but the slightly more expensive fitted model works acceptably. These also come in different db cuts.

 

Bill-B

[boseengineer]

Originally posted by L-1329 Sorry to derail for a minute, but Bose noise cancelling headsets are the greatest creation ever! I use one in every loud ass plane I fly, and the difference it makes is remarkable. Boseengineer, if you had anything to do with that product line the beers are definetly on me if you ever swing through Chicago!

 

Glad you like them. I haven't worked on that particular product, but I did SPL measurements in the ear canals of personel in various small planes and helicopters. The worst was a rescue helicopter. The winch operator has to stick his head out the door and his ears are less than 3 feet away from the rotor blades. Oouch.

Maybe that qualifies for a beer or two

[L-1329]

Originally posted by boseengineer Maybe that qualifies for a beer or two

 

I'd say it does! Those headsets are the best money I have ever spent on anything, and worth every cent!

[james on bass]

I've always worn, and still do, earplugs. Used to be just the cheap foamies. They do cut down a bit of the presense, but better that, than go deaf and not be able to play/listen anymore.

 

I now use my custom earplugs that I got through work. They work very well and look like in-ear monitors. A lot more of the presense comes through, but it knocks back a lot of the harmful dBs.