View Full Version : Odd hearing issue
usually I get back home from work about 1745, crack open a beer and put some sounds on for a couple of hours. For a while I'd thought that the sound improved over the course of the evening, but didn't pay too much attention. One day however I noticed that between tracks the SQ really improved quite obviously. I wondered if this could be the mains quality at work. Checking my watch I noticed that it was about 1900 hrs the change took place. There is still some reasonably heavy industry near me, and the effect only happens on weekday evenings so I figured this was a logical explanation - somewhere with a big power draw shut down at 1900.
This Friday night I got in but the system is somewhat dismantled as I had to send the Tisbury pre I was borrowing back to Jerry. So instead I watched a film I had taped (Gullivers Travels with Jack Black. Crap - but it has Emily Blunt in it to hold the interest..). Anyway at one point I noticed a whooshing sound, like water rushing through pipes in the plumbing system of an old house. This turned into a high pitched whine and then stopped altogether - and I could suddenly hear much more clearly. I checked my watch - 1901 hrs.
So not the mains at all but some sort of temporary Tinnitus? I work in a modern office block where the windows do not open so air-con on all the time. The office is open plan, not that noisy but obviously there is a constant background. It could be this or maybe the noise from the car ride home (about 30 minutes). Anyone any ideas about the cause or what to do about it?
It just may be a bit of both, but steady noise all (working) day really does fugg one's ears up for an hour or two after. Driving/travelling to a HiFi dem does the same and if you do have to do this, a quiet half an hour plus cuppa beforehand really does help a good deal to relax your ears.
I wonder if some discreet ear-plugs can help, ones that cut the mean hubub down rather than remove it?
I'm a bit concerned for you, since I'm now suffering the consequences of years of low-level abuse, the Tinnitus and bunged-up ear canals I now suffer from coming and going, but always there in the background now, even though I never play music loud these days. Look after your lugs PLEASE...
julesd68
26-08-2013, 22:29
First thing I would do Martin is a quick visit to your GP to see if there is any kind of obstruction the ear canal. Could possibly have been some wax working its way out of your ear but who knows? I have had the pleasure of dealing with excess ear wax for nearly 40 years ... Fortunately the methods of getting rid of it nowadays are far less invasive and damaging to the ear than they used to be.
Have you had a cold or something like that recently?
I think you could safely rule out your work environment which wouldn't exceed any dangerous decibel levels from what you describe. I saw some dude drilling the road outside our flat yesterday without any ear-protection. Bet he never wears any. I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to cause permanent and irreversible ear damage like that. :doh:
Have you had a cold or something like that recently?
I think you could safely rule out your work environment which wouldn't exceed any dangerous decibel levels from what you describe. I saw some dude drilling the road outside our flat yesterday without any ear-protection. Bet he never wears any. I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to cause permanent and irreversible ear damage like that. :doh:
Maybe he's deaf already?
I can't recall the last time I had a cold. Years ago, certainly. I'm almost positive it is the air con at work, it is the only explanation as on weekends I am fine. It does explain why I make some changes over the weekend, like what I hear, then on Monday night I am puzzled as to why everything now sounds dull and uninvolving until the magic 1900 hrs comes around. I can't wear ear plugs at work as I'm on the telephone quite a bit. I'm back in tomorrow so I will see if it happens again.
I definately experience Tinnitus , and have for a few years. it is worse after driving in the car, or if i have been somewhere with loud background noise like a pub or restaurant. Loud noises like a passing police car are quite painful in fact. I wear earplugs every time i fly.
Also my old B&Ws can cause it too if turned up, hence their imminent exit, and the new speakers on delivery
Interesting though that it stops at 1700 - so precisely, curious! Clearly your music system has clean sound and your apt is a good sound environment, as it does not add to the problem - you can be happy about that!
The car ride might be a key suspect - Here is an idea, wear earplugs in the car on the way home, and see if anything changes, it might also allow your ears to recover quicker from work - if that is the culprit
My neighbourhood is very quiet and the house is double glazed. You don't hear a sound after about six in the evening in the winter, especially. I wonder if my hearing had got a bit sensitized due to the quiet. I will try the earplugs in the car, see what happens. No way am I going to the vet over this, it's too trivial.
julesd68
26-08-2013, 22:54
Nothing wrong with getting a check-up on your ears IMO. They're such delicate organs and worth looking after. The air-con could well be chucking out unpleasant vibrations and high-pitched frequencies that you have got used to at work ...
Stratmangler
26-08-2013, 22:56
I'd be quite cautious about wearing earplugs when driving - there are lot's of audible clues as to what's going on out there on the roads, and putting a barrier between you and the cause of those sounds could quite literally be the difference between being in an accident or not.
I'd agree but I'm a passenger :) I last drove a motor vehicle in 1987 and I've never had a license.
Stratmangler
26-08-2013, 23:00
I'd agree but I'm a passenger :) I last drove a motor vehicle in 1987 and I've never had a license.
In which case go for it :)
I'd guess your ears are in very good shape! There's no good explanation for hearing issues appearing at 1900 hours each night on weekdays. I'm convinced the reasons are to be found in your habitat!
Can it be that you have refined your hearing to the degree that these disturbances all pf a sudden have become audible? Music listening is a way of exercising your lugs, isnt it?
Regards Mike
Rare Bird
27-08-2013, 11:51
You hearing changes anyway imho.. 25+ years ago i could not listern to records, i favoured the new CD format, these days im the reverse, records sound good to my ears! it's not the equipment change as i use the same equipment i bought back then.
After a week or so with no issues I had the same problem again the other night. Listened to Santana Abraxas, bit ho-hum. Swapped to soem SRV - couldn't stand the weather, again my attention wandering. Then I became aware, about halfway through Tin Pan Alley, that it was soundign pretty damn good, pulling my attention back to the sound. Looked at my watch, 1855. There is no way this is concidental, however I think I have the solution - the car journey is along very busy dual carriagways and the hearing issue only manifests itself on warm days when the windows are rolled down.
So ther you go, worth bearing in mind if you travel by car to go and dem some equipment - if it is hot use the AC and keep those windows shut.
Martin
Yes interesting - I have the a similar issue the I drive the convet able with the top down too
convegetable
I'm sorry but i'm lost! ;)
Top down, you say, old chap? :D
I'm sorry but i'm lost! ;)
Top down, you say, old chap? :D
:LOL:
Oh, well, I suppose i cant hear myself (typing) either! ;) convegetable - did i really type that! :LOL:
I use these when i fly, it makes the noise much easier to bear. They are also comfortable enough to sleep with - im a light sleeper and sometimes the neighbors are noisy
If someone is looking for earplugs i can recommend these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hearos-Ultimate-Softness-Ear-Plugs/dp/B0002CZXQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378498556&sr=8-1&keywords=heros+ear+plugs
:LOL:
convegetable - did i really type that! :LOL:
Nah, actually you didn't... I just read it like that :)
And i had a laugh, so i just wanted to cement the word, so to speak!
No offence meant, just having a laugh! ;)
walpurgis
06-09-2013, 22:15
the hearing issue only manifests itself on warm days when the windows are rolled down.
Sounds like the buffeting from the air is affecting you. You are being subjected to considerable and repeated, raising and lowering of air pressure. I guess your eardrums are rebelling!
Sounds like the buffeting from the air is affecting you. You are being subjected to considerable and repeated, raising and lowering of air pressure. I guess your eardrums are rebelling!
Yes, there is little doubt now that this is the cause and that it seems to take my ears almost exactly the same amount of time to recover on each occasion. What's worse is that I have made decisions on equipment whilst under these detrimental effects. Most recently on my XTZ amp thread where I came to the conclusion that the XTZ pre amp was a little bit 'bland' in it's sound. It's not, it was just that my ears were less than golden that evening :)
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