Duck Tape
Platinum Member
This is just a FYI for anyone or if you want to comment, compare notes/hearing. Although I'll be talking about myself, I was told that my case will be similar to other muso's so you might like to read.
So anyway, I expected hearing loss but the result was good... I have normal hearing. The hearing specialist charted out my test results and I was above the "normal" threshold, although I do have a dip in my ability to hear high frequencies.
Why did I think my hearing was bad? Well I'm a bit of a hypochondriac I guess but when I go to clubs I have really hard time hearing people speak and being heard, and in restaurants with bad acoustics, sometimes it gets to me and I want to get out of there. Same with watching live music, sometimes it feels like the loud volume is doing damage. The specialist said this just means I have good hearing and sensitive hearing, and sensitive ears are not a sign of hearing loss. I guess not being able to understand people is more of a social thing, and a comprehension thing.
I first started using proper ear protection (musicians earplugs and over ear headphones) in 2011, and using those made me realize how useless and potentially damaging it was for me to use regular earphones and cranking the music while I drummed along.
My hearing is very slightly better in the right ear. I don't know but my guess is it might have to do with my hi-hats abusing my left ear. The specialist noted that I have a dip in my hearing at 4000 (hertz?), and this is typical of musicians, there was a casual term for it, can't remember what it was.
She said because drums are generally low frequencies that whatever hearing loss I have suffered was probably because of the other loud noise in the music venues I was playing at, but the high cymbals of frequencies prob didn't cross her mind.
I actually went there to get new moulds made but I asked her if I should lose weight first (I've put on a bit of weight recently) and she said yes. It does change the shape of your ear canal and I remembered being told about this last time. The ears can change over time anyhow so I will work on not being a fat ass and then I'll go back and get new plugs made.
So anyway, I expected hearing loss but the result was good... I have normal hearing. The hearing specialist charted out my test results and I was above the "normal" threshold, although I do have a dip in my ability to hear high frequencies.
Why did I think my hearing was bad? Well I'm a bit of a hypochondriac I guess but when I go to clubs I have really hard time hearing people speak and being heard, and in restaurants with bad acoustics, sometimes it gets to me and I want to get out of there. Same with watching live music, sometimes it feels like the loud volume is doing damage. The specialist said this just means I have good hearing and sensitive hearing, and sensitive ears are not a sign of hearing loss. I guess not being able to understand people is more of a social thing, and a comprehension thing.
I first started using proper ear protection (musicians earplugs and over ear headphones) in 2011, and using those made me realize how useless and potentially damaging it was for me to use regular earphones and cranking the music while I drummed along.
My hearing is very slightly better in the right ear. I don't know but my guess is it might have to do with my hi-hats abusing my left ear. The specialist noted that I have a dip in my hearing at 4000 (hertz?), and this is typical of musicians, there was a casual term for it, can't remember what it was.
She said because drums are generally low frequencies that whatever hearing loss I have suffered was probably because of the other loud noise in the music venues I was playing at, but the high cymbals of frequencies prob didn't cross her mind.
I actually went there to get new moulds made but I asked her if I should lose weight first (I've put on a bit of weight recently) and she said yes. It does change the shape of your ear canal and I remembered being told about this last time. The ears can change over time anyhow so I will work on not being a fat ass and then I'll go back and get new plugs made.