<p>So, for the past approximately three years, I've been listening to my iPod for at least an hour and a half to two hours per day. I use the standard Apple earbud headphones, usually at the maximum volume, or close to it.</p>
<p>I am involved in a research project at a local university, and I frequently use a piece of equipment called an ultrasonic probe for a variety of purposes. This machine produces a very, very high-pitched and ear-piercing noise, and people who use it are required to wear soundproof earmuffs (similar to the ones worn by airport staff) so as to avoid hearing the noise. However, a couple of days ago, someone turned on the machine and didn't realize I was in the room (i.e. I wasn't wearing the earmuffs) and I couldn't hear the noise produced by the machine. In the past, I have made the same mistake, turning the machine on while others were present, and they were all shocked by how loud and uncomfortable the noise was.</p>
<p>After having done some research, I've found that the inability to hear high-pitched sounds is something that typically accompanies the early stages of hearing loss. I think this could be caused by the stress listening to music places on my ears. </p>
<p>Has anyone experienced anything like this? I'm contemplating buying new headphones (non-earbud ones) but I'm not sure if that would actually make a difference. Any suggestions on different types of headphones that might be better? I have lowered the maximum volume on my iPod, but listening to music with it simply isn't satisfying when there's background noise. I have a feeling that if I have bigger headphones that, in them selves, block out background noise, I won't need to turn my music on as loud to hear it at the same level, but I'm not sure if such logic is legit.</p>
<p>Sorry for the lengthy post, but this can really be a discussion of anything related to headphones and hearing loss.</p>
<p>I have tinnitus–high-pitched, piercing ringing–in my ears all the time as a result of medicinal toxicity, and I listen to my iPod two to four hours a day as well, during my commute, when I’m exercising, browsing the internet, etc.</p>
<p>You could look at in-ear canal buds that would allow you to continue enjoying your listening experience while turning the volume down to a reasonable level.</p>
<p>From what little I’ve read on this subject from various newspaper articles, I’ve gathered that bringing the source of the sound closer to the eardrum increases the stress regardless of whether or not the volume is high. I’m not sure of how accurate that is, but that’s mainly why was looking at headphones rather than earbuds, although I definitely prefer the latter. Hmm.</p>
<p>So, I haven’t quite gotten to the level where I can’t hear high-pitched noises anymore, however I do listen to my iPod on almost the loudest level and with the standard apple ear buds and I have to say that over time I have noticed that I must increase my volume to get the same effect that I used to get from a lower volume, which is leading me to believe that I too am experiencing some kind of hearing loss. I TOTALLY agree that it sucks not to listen to music extremely loudly because sometimes to just want to be completely absorbed in the bounding bass, or definitely to block out noise.
You might, however, have to sacrifice some of this joy by getting non-in-ear buds because you’re right, the close proximity to your ear canal is much more dangerous than using other types of headphones.
Try using other headphones to minimize damage, also spend a few months listening to your music at a quieter level and see if that helps you acclimate back to hearing music at a lower level, if it doesn’t, you might have to just reserve loud, thumbing bass for non-headphone music (i.e. dancing around your room in your underwear at night…you know you do it) and when you’re using headphones just listen to it softer. </p>
<p>Another test you can use to see if you have in fact lost hearing to high-pitches is this mosquito buzz that I’m sure you can find online somewhere. It’s a noise that usually adults can’t hear, but is painful and loud to younger children. This is because as you age (or as you listen to really loud music) the cilia in your ear canals wear down giving you fewer sensory preceptors in your ear making it harder to hear high-pitches. Once the cilia wear down they don’t generally grow back which is why hearing loss is so often permanent. SO, if this has happened to you, you won’t be able to hear this mosquito noise. Have someone without suspected hearing loss in the room with you when you play it to see if they can in hear it and you can’t. </p>
<p>Good luck! </p>
<p>(I found a source for you. As a comparison, the highest one I could hear was 15 khz…although my ears are still ringing…haha)</p>
<p>I have some hearing loss in my left ear that was discovered during a routine hearing exam when I was in 3rd grade. Since then I’ve periodically met with audiologists to test my hearing. They have always told me not to use headphones/earphones because of how harmful it - this applies as well to people who haven’t been diagnosed with hearing loss.</p>
<p>I don’t remember exactly the explanation I got but from what I remember there’s hair inside your ear that protect your eardrum, and when you listen to sounds at loud volumes the hair falls off. Generally, audiologists suggest people not to use headphones at all, but with the popularity of iPods today the least you can do is listen at very moderate volumes.</p>
<p>yeah, definitely try to lower the volume first. I think you’ll find that after listening to music maybe 3/4 of the volume to max, you’ll become accustomed to it and build a new, lower tolerance, and you’ll be satisfied with your listening experience :)</p>
<p>Easton—you’re correct, the hairs are called cilia and they contain nerve endings with sensory preceptors and neurotransmitter. The the sensory preceptors send an electrical impulse through a synapse (or junction) to the neurotransmitters that are imbedded at the root of the cilia, these neurotransmitters send messages that go straight to your brain eliciting the experience of hearing. When the hairs fall off this entire process does not occur, thus resulting in hearing loss. VOILA. </p>
<p>So to keep your remaining cilia intact, listen to your music quieter, as much as that sucks :(</p>
<p>If you really work at it, you can consciously tune out extraneous noises and just focus on your music, even if it’s quite a bit quieter than the background noise. It’s a skill that I’ve had to learn, and it’s very useful. Takes active concentration though, not too great for just relaxing.</p>
<p>I listen to music for about 4+ hours a day at pretty high volumes and have been to several very loud shows but I can still hear sound up to about 18 khz, which is in the above average range</p>
<p>When I used to play Xbox Live, the mic was always on my left ear, and I do feel a little bit that it is not as strong as my right. Now I’ve put it on my right ear and turned it down to about 1/2 and I can hear just as fine as when it’s high. The way I look at it, you might as well put the volume lower on your iPod, but I only say this because most people have that intuition that the music has to be high in order to enjoy it. Well would you be sitting in some other seat in your city if your music was “X” number of decibels lower? It doesn’t make a drastic difference in in your life, if you listen to a song and it’s not as loud, it won’t affect you as a person or make you feel emotionally bad or anything of that sort. So put it loud enough to where you can hear the lyrics and you’ll be fine, you don’t need to put it so loud that you cut out the background noise around you, and if you keep up this thinking and do it consistently, you’ll never have major hearing problems again related to the iPod.</p>
<p>I have never had an ipod, never used earphones. I hardly ever listen to music, and when I do I never blast it. However I began to lose my hearing in my left ear. My doctor looked in it and said I might have nerve damage. In the end they found out it was just a massive buildup of wax in my ear. They cleaned it out and now I can hear perfectly. So if you’re having hearing problems, wax could be the issue.</p>
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