Is high frequency noise causing me to have hearing problems?

[Giubanix]

I've had tinnitus for 25 years. In all that time it's been very mild - I could hear it if I deliberately listened to it, otherwise I wouldn't even notice it.

Early this year it suddenly got much more noticable, bad enough to be a distraction if I was listening to quiet music. The obvious culprit was the blood pressure tablets I'd started on a couple of months before. Ringing in the ears was listed as a possibe (though very rare) side effect. I got the doc to switch me onto a different type of meds, but no improvement. My brain still insists that there's a constant high pitched shimmering noise going on non stop.

I started trying to think what else might have changed to cause the tinnitus to worsen dramatically after sitting idle for 25 years? Well, I'd just bought quite a few new bits and pieces all powered by these bloody smps. I had 5 or 6 of them powered up 24/7. So, I switched all of them off to see what happened. After 2 weeks of living without my new toys there was absolutely no improvement, so it looked like the power supplies weren't the answer in my case.

I replaced most of the cheap switch mode supplies with upgraded linear ones out of desperation, but I'm still suffering with the tinnitus and have pretty much given up on listening over the speakers. At least on headphones, even fairly quietly, because the music is close up too, the tinnitus is much less intrusive. Seems like something some of us just have to put up with.

[The Black Adder]

I have heard that some people sleep with a de-tuned tv signal, snow / static on low volume. It apparently cancels out certain frequencies and help you sleep.

[dave2010]

Joe,

I suggest you get yourself referred to an audiologist as you may well be experiencing tinnitus. I don't know if it can be caused or correlated with your use of particular bits of kit, but you should really get it checked professionally to see if there is a medical issue requiring treatment.

Regards and good luck!.
Alex

I am interested in this, as I'm curious as to whether there is really any treatment for tinnitus. I sometimes get similar problems to the our OP here.

I'm not sure if what I experience is really tinnitus - it seems more like a sort of rushing noise, or high frequency white/pink noise. Occasionally, but not too often, I do hear whistles - which usually only last for a few seconds. I believe that "real" tinnitus sufferers hear whistles of fairly definite pitch, though this may vary (swoops up and down?) and that these may go on for a long while. Think Smetana - string quartet - for high pitched whistles.

In my case I think that continued exposure to certain noises makes things worse - such as going on aircraft (I always try to wear earplugs, or use noise cancelling headphones), and even driving. Sometimes things get worse if I use headphones a lot - I find that after a few hours I need a rest - and I don't have the levels very high - I'm aware of the potential hearing damage.

If I relax, and don't worry about things, then these noise effects which I hear often just disappear.

So - my final question - which is really the same as the opening - is there any point in having one's ears checked as I doubt that there is a "cure" anyway?

[joethebus]

The symptoms I have been trying to describe are like yours, Dave - only you have made a better job of describing them. It's a relief to be not the only one suffering thus, also to hear that for you too the effect seems to come and go; implying that getting a better understanding of what's going on and what are the causes should make it possible to devise a management strategy for mitigation and so live happily ever after.

Which is what I'm after!

Thinking back I remember I used to get similar symptoms when I was doing lighting in a film and television studio the late 80s; I'd routinely spend all day, they were long days at that, sitting in front of and close to a 20" grade 1 CRT Sony vision monitor (not to mention right next to the lighting fader rack!) studying the images very carefully trying to notice any lighting anomalies. I don't watch much TV these days - Formula 1 on BBC only (can't bring myself to support anything Murdoch's involved with) and Downton Abbey (which is more about sharing with 'er indoors than the actual programme) though we do still have a CRT telly 'cos I don't think the flat screen jobbies are any better yet. Maybe the effects that occurred way back then were due to the CRT I was working with (thanks for suggesting that Chris) rather than the combination of wind-noise from the old Mk II Jaguar I was hammering up and down the M3/A303 in every weekend and the pressure of having one, then two, then three, then four kids to provide for. As now the effect came and went; when we were all able to get away as a family for a few days relaxation the imagined high pitched whistling gradually calmed down and then went away completely.

I worry now though because the noise doesn't calm down very quickly at all when I'm out of my room, and I don't like this assertion that tinnitus is incurable; the last thing I want is an intolerance to being in a room with a computer or sound equipment in it that, like an intolerance to wheat, say, caused by years of slightly excessive wheat consumption at every meal ends up with an inability to tolerate any foods with gluten in them and thus great inconvenience. I greatly fear such a phenomenon, as I'm devoting more and more time to getting my music playback systems and library sorted out and listening to music!

So back to where I was in the OP. I have a Behringer ECM8000 mic I bought because I want to get to grips with room correction - but haven't used yet; and I have a Mackie Onyx 820i that does great digital file playback through firewire but again have not yet really got to grips with. I allow my kids and their friends to do all that! I also have a Korg MR2 portable recorder I don't know how to use either - all were bought fairly recently and I'm planning to get competent in their use later in the winter, my off season, when I'll have some time to spare.

I'm after a little encouragement please, peeps, and some pragmatic help fixing this kit up so I can use it, especially comments from folk who maybe have experience of these effects and have found ways to mitigate them on themselves and can offer me practical help and technical guidance.

What are the frequencies that cause these symptoms (Mark, Chris)? At what kind of level do the ultrasonic signals have to be for the symptoms to kick in, how do I measure the those levels? Would I be able to measure particular pieces of equipment on my shelves with the kit I have and confirm it's likely those particular bits having the undesirable effect (so I can attenuate or remove them)? What software should I be using so I can see what's happening? Does anyone out there have experience of using the software for this purpose and can they tell me how to use it?

I would attempt to find all this out for myself - except that it would take me forever and I suspect much of the groundwork has already been done by someone somewhere who would willingly share their experiences; and also I have quite a busy schedule with work I have to get done before the end of December and don't have the time to go off at a tangent right now. On the other hand I don't like the idea of spending any more time damaging myself than I absolutely need to, I feel I gotta do something!

So thank you, guys, for the contributions so far. A bit of hardcore, detailed advice would be handy now if anyone out there can spare it.

Joe

[Firebottle]

You can download various free s/w to turn your PC into an oscilloscope, using the sound card as the source.
I tried http://www.zeitnitz.de/Christian/scope_en

This can also give you a frequency spectrum display up to 20KHz;

Cheers, Alan

[AlanS]

Unfortunately OP is needing to look above 20kHz which neither his microphone nor your software do. Most non professional audio kit doesnt.

OP please seek professional help in stead of playing with your new friends maybe wasting your time on an area you have low understanding in (acoustics). Qu how many Hz are there in an octave?

[joethebus]

Thank you for the advice about where to find oscilloscope software, Alan (Firebottle). It won't help me with this quest, though; according to AlanS, apparently the guilty frequencies are 20kHz+ which my microphone and that software won't detect. I'm sure it will be useful when I get to spending a bit of time with my new toys later in the winter, so I am grateful to you.

So what exactly is the kind of professional help you are suggesting I seek then, AlanS?

I go to my doctor, tell him my ears are ringing in one particular room and persuade him to refer me to an audiologist because I think there's something going on in that room, maybe a piece or pieces of kit are emitting excessive noise at ultrasonic frequencies? Then I go see a guy in a white coat who pokes about in my ears a bit and does some tests. Then what?

Or do I seek out a professional acoustician, one who knows how many octaves there are in a Hz obviously, with the skills, kit and abilities to wave a magic wand in my room and tell me where my problem lies?

My OP might seem to one as infinitely knowledgeable as you to be a huge waste of time - but why? There are several replies already that show folk on here think it a reasonable question, maybe deserving a civil response. You on the other hand think it appropriate to characterise my query in a derogatory way as 'playing with my new friends' and criticise me for 'maybe wasting your time on an area you have low understanding in (acoustics)'. This forum's called 'The Art of Sound' and this is the blank canvas section - what exactly would you expect people to be discussing here?

Perhaps you're just a troll and not worthy of this much attention; or maybe you just aren't aware what you've written might have given offence. If that's the case and there's no malice I apologise for my tone.

For anyone out there who might be able and willing to help me - and knows of an audiologist or acoustician who can help me, names and contact info will be most gratefully received.

Joe

[dave2010]

Hz in an octave! Dpends, of course!

PS: that Laugh smiley is a bit loud!

[Reffc]

I'm a tinnitus sufferer and have some hearing loss in my left ear. To the OP, you need to get yourself to a professional hearing consultant or GP and have a proper ear test. I lost part of my hearing and got tinnitus through shooting. It isn't high frequency noises that give you tinnitus, its LOUD noises within the hearing spectrum (which is what my GP advised to me). There's no cure for tinnitus, but in many cases it can be temporary. (some people just experience it for short periods)

[Pete The Cat]

I certainly have no professional qualification in this field. However University of Life gave me hyperacusis and tinnitus as a result of attending a gig two years ago. Things I've found are ;

1) Exposure to white noise generators for over 6 hours a day for a year as part of the treatment has calmed my H and taken the edge off my T. The T is a little better and certainly no worse.
2) Shifting from an environment with background noise such as aircon / car journey to silence serves to highlight T due to the contrast. I doubt aircon or car journeys are actually harmful though.
3) Focusing on T makes it louder. I can make it deafening if I choose, or I can get on with life and make it silent. Part of the challenge is with oneself. Seeing a specialist (ie not a GP) helps you keep perspective if nothing else.

Earlier this year a trial on an in-ear electronic device was being hailed as a breakthrough cure against T but it's early days and for now distraction / masking techniques are what we have.

Pete