Hearing Protection and Listening Safety

[gene]

If you are an Audiophile, then you are probably familiar with the years of hard work and stress your ears go through. The goal for every audiophile should be to enjoy hi-fi for a lifetime. But, in order to do that, care must be taken to not over stress or abuse your ears with sustained excessively loud sounds.

This article talks about the importance of hearing safety and how to combat tinnitus using active hearing aids and soundscapes.

Read: Hearing Protection and Listening Safety

 

[shadyJ]

This is a subject which needs more attention from the audio community. I see people who abuse their hearing terribly on a regular basis, and it is like nothing to them. Probably some of them don't care about the future, but I am sure quite a few of them are just ignorant as to how easily noise-induced hearing damage can occur. Musicians are just as dumb here as anyone, and I am glad the article mentioned this. Hearing loss is very prevalent among classical instrumentalists; it's not just bone-headed rock bands who lose their hearing. We also get lots of posts around here like "My speakers do not get loud enough- recommend me a louder speaker!" and they turn out to be using some tower speakers. The thing is, most speakers, in a normal setting, can get more than loud enough to cause hearing damage. I can understand the argument for speakers with a greater dynamic range, but plain old loudness is not a problem for most mid range speakers. Anyone who gives a damn about their long-term hearing should, at the very least, have an SPL meter, and a knowledge of safe noise exposure. It doesn't take that much to cause hearing loss. If you getting hearing fatigue on a regular basis, you need to step back from whatever it is you are doing and rethink it. Hearing loss can have a profound effect on your quality of life, much greater than most people realize, and they treat their ability to hear so casually. I could go on and on about this subject...

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I see people who abuse their hearing terribly on a regular basis, and it is like nothing to them. Probably some of them don't care about the future, but I am sure quite a few of them are just ignorant as to how easily noise-induced hearing damage can occur. Musicians are just as dumb here as anyone, and I am glad the article mentioned this. Hearing loss is very prevalent among classical instrumentalists; it's not just bone-headed rock bands who lose their hearing. ...

Yep, people many really don't think much into the future. Perhaps that is how we have evolved in the last century, only now matters. Don't have to look too far for examples. Profits now, hell with the future consequences.
No amount education will help most people as they just don't see a consequence right now or tomorrow when the buzzing went away after a night at the clubs.

And why wouldn't musicians, conductors, recording engineers be immune to this?
After all, in a large venue, physics dictates how loud it has to be at the delivery location for the audience to hear it reasonably well.

 

[herbu]

I can offer a word of advice. When you get an MRI, take their headphones. They're useless for listening to their music, but they help block the inherent MRI noises. On this matter, I can speak with some authority.

 

[highfigh]

It's not just listening to/playing music or working in a loud environment, just driving at normal speeds with the windows open is loud enough to cause damage. I carry ear plugs all the time, but on work sites, I constantly see people using rotary hammers, impact drivers and hammering nails without any hearing protection. This Old House had an episode with someone from OSHA, who measured the sound from a hammer driving nails- 135dB with the mic 3' away. Transient noise sources are some of the worst, for the hearing mechanism. I know a builder who is profoundly deaf- he said it's from decades of cutting wood with a circular saw without hearing protection. He also said that he used to do this with his head close to the saw- I don't know why he would do that, since being closer adds to the problem and increases the chance of particles getting into his eyes, even with safety glasses.

 

[Pogre]

I learned a few things watching the video. I played drums for years and worked in a noisy butcher shop for 3 decades with no ear protection. I do have tinnitus and always blamed the drums and loud music, which I'm sure didn't help, but there was a lot more going on accumulatively than I realized or even thought about.

It's been a very long time since I've had my hearing checked. I keep telling myself I should but I'm half afraid of the results. I don't think I'm annoyingly hard of hearing yet, but I do have to ask people to repeat themselves sometimes, especially in a noisy environment. So yeah, I really don't want to end up with hearing aids, but might be a candidate. I'm a lot more careful now than I used to be. I do still like cranking it up sometimes, but I set the rev limiter on my receiver at "0" and have yet to go beyond it, the thinking being I'm safe due to some misleading OSHA data.

On hearing aids, the way I think of them are that they're basically little tiny speakers that amplify incoming sound waves entering your ear. If so they'd be reproducing what's being reproduced by my (or any other) system and would most certainly color the sound, right? Or is that not how they work? Anyone here have any experience with hearing aids?

 

[GO-NAD!]

I learned a few things watching the video. I played drums for years and worked in a noisy butcher shop for 3 decades with no ear protection. I do have tinnitus and always blamed the drums and loud music, which I'm sure didn't help, but there was a lot more going on accumulatively than I realized or even thought about.

It's been a very long time since I've had my hearing checked. I keep telling myself I should but I'm half afraid of the results. I don't think I'm annoyingly hard of hearing yet, but I do have to ask people to repeat themselves sometimes, especially in a noisy environment. So yeah, I really don't want to end up with hearing aids, but might be a candidate. I'm a lot more careful now than I used to be. I do still like cranking it up sometimes, but I set the rev limiter on my receiver at "0" and have yet to go beyond it, the thinking being I'm safe due to some misleading OSHA data.

On hearing aids, the way I think of them are that they're basically little tiny speakers that amplify incoming sound waves entering your ear. If so they'd be reproducing what's being reproduced by my (or any other) system and would most certainly color the sound, right? Or is that not how they work? Anyone here have any experience with hearing aids?

I've wondered about that as well. Although I don't have hearing aids, I'm sure I have hearing loss caused by various sources over the years. I do have trouble following conversations in loud restaurants sometimes...

 

[Stanton]

I learned a few things watching the video. I played drums for years and worked in a noisy butcher shop for 3 decades with no ear protection. I do have tinnitus and always blamed the drums and loud music, which I'm sure didn't help, but there was a lot more going on accumulatively than I realized or even thought about.
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[edit]
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On hearing aids, the way I think of them are that they're basically little tiny speakers that amplify incoming sound waves entering your ear. If so they'd be reproducing what's being reproduced by my (or any other) system and would most certainly color the sound, right? Or is that not how they work? Anyone here have any experience with hearing aids?

I just picked up on this article/thread and (like you) am a long-time drummer...who now wears hearing-aids. I have known Gene for some time (I occasionally write for Audioholics), and it just so happens the H/A I chose were from Starkey. I finally got to the point where my family got tired of me saying "what" and turning up the TV. My tinnitus has also become worse. The H/A have (mostly) solved the first problem, but the tinnitus setting (similar to what Gene experienced in the "custom" device) hasn't been as successful. Wearing H/A is as much a mental hurdle as a physical one, but I can tell you that it is invaluable in the work environment and (luckily) my audiologist did some tweaking such that movie/music listening is still enjoyable (those old cassettes really don't sound as bad as I thought)! I wear the Starkey Halo-2 that interface directly to my iPhone (which was a key selling point).

 

[pbarach1]

I've been using Bose over-the ear (QC25) headphones for several years when I go to a movie that I know will be too loud ("Baby Driver" without the headphones was the last straw). Speech is audible, but other frequencies are attenuated.

 

[red_kk]

I've been using Bose over-the ear (QC25) headphones for several years when I go to a movie that I know will be too loud ("Baby Driver" without the headphones was the last straw). Speech is audible, but other frequencies are attenuated.

Finally BOSE has some use for the audiophiles.

 

[flyboylr45]

I will say, Bose makes some kick-ass aviation headsets. They're expensive ($1,200) like everything Bose, but well worth it with their noise canceling.

 

[gene]

A related article we just published so I added to this thread regarding noise in the workplace and how it affects productivity and mental health:

New Study Examines Effects Of Noise And Sound In The Workplace

Danish audio company Jabra sponsored a study on the effects of noise in the workplace. Respondents said that noise and sound quality affects their well being and makes it hard to work.

www.audioholics.com

 

[Bobby Bass]

Interesting article and Not surprising having worked in a lot of different environments over the years. I’ve seen more people wearing noise canceling headphones lately. Definitely have found it can help me concentrate better if outside noise is distracting. I have friends that have significant hearing loss from their workplace Which is a tough price to pay for employment.

 

[highfigh]

A related article we just published so I added to this thread regarding noise in the workplace and how it affects productivity and mental health:

New Study Examines Effects Of Noise And Sound In The Workplace

Danish audio company Jabra sponsored a study on the effects of noise in the workplace. Respondents said that noise and sound quality affects their well being and makes it hard to work.

www.audioholics.com

Have you seen the OSHA noise exposure limits? I mentioned OSHA in Nov, 2016, but didn't post their info (although I have, several times).

1910.95 - Occupational noise exposure. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

www.osha.gov

This isn't new- ask someone who works or worked in an extremely loud environment about the effects on attitude, mental health and general mood.

I did a presentation on noise exposure and effects on mental health for my acoustics class- in 1981. I have also carried hearing protection for more than 40 years, even when I wasn't working- it's impossible to know if or when loud noises will occur, or for how long and even short duration can cause irreparable damage.

 

[highfigh]

Interesting article and Not surprising having worked in a lot of different environments over the years. I’ve seen more people wearing noise canceling headphones lately. Definitely have found it can help me concentrate better if outside noise is distracting. I have friends that have significant hearing loss from their workplace Which is a tough price to pay for employment.

If they still work there and the company doesn't post notices about SPL or provide hearing/eye protection, someone needs to contact OSHA.

 

[MrBoat]

I thought I was a loud listener, but I outgrew it a few years ago. Mostly due to improved speakers, recordings and bass management. Immersion, tends to be a good stand-in for SPL. Especially when you can hear and feel all of the subtle percussive bits like never before, too. My loud side now is in the 80s, instead of the 90s. It also helps that I listen to a lot more jazz than rock, these days.

I used to spend my days shooting steel pins into steel beams and columns with the ramset with no ear protection. After nearly 50 years in the trades, it's a wonder my hearing mostly survived after never wearing protection. Although, I believe the most damage likely came from rock concerts. Towards the end I was bringing ear plugs. That was actually painfully loud at times.

I still like headroom and displacement though, and I like speakers with decent sensitivity and those speakers tend to be a little larger than typical bookshelf speakers. It opens a lot more options for amplification power and type, as well. It's better to have more than enough power than 'just enough.' Nothing is more of a turn off for a music mood than being stuck with equipment that is near or at it's limits all the time.

 

[Hobbit]

I've been wearing the Etymotic ER20 plugs when playing with my band for years. I wear them regardless of the situation. Our drummer will occasionally where a similar plug when it gets a little loud. The other members never wear plugs. I'd even like to go to an active system where I can control the volume and mix.

I do wear active hearing aids. But I'm more of an oddball case. My overall hearing has been shifted down since I was kid. Strangely, I have a relatively flat hearing response with very little age related high frequency roll off.

 

[highfigh]

I thought I was a loud listener, but I outgrew it a few years ago. Mostly due to improved speakers, recordings and bass management. Immersion, tends to be a good stand-in for SPL. Especially when you can hear and feel all of the subtle percussive bits like never before, too. My loud side now is in the 80s, instead of the 90s. It also helps that I listen to a lot more jazz than rock, these days.

I used to spend my days shooting steel pins into steel beams and columns with the ramset with no ear protection. After nearly 50 years in the trades, it's a wonder my hearing mostly survived after never wearing protection. Although, I believe the most damage likely came from rock concerts. Towards the end I was bringing ear plugs. That was actually painfully loud at times.

I still like headroom and displacement though, and I like speakers with decent sensitivity and those speakers tend to be a little larger than typical bookshelf speakers. It opens a lot more options for amplification power and type, as well. It's better to have more than enough power than 'just enough.' Nothing is more of a turn off for a music mood than being stuck with equipment that is near or at it's limits all the time.

I don't understand why anyone would work in a loud environment without hearing protection. OSHA has been around for a long time, we all have heard about and read about worker safety & protections, yet people want to be some kind of tough guy and believe they aren't doing any damage to themselves.

Rock concerts do more damage over a broader band,, using a RamSet punches out a narrow range- have your hearing tested and you'll be able to see where the damage has been done.

Anyone whose ears ring has permanent hearing damage and nobody who has been exposed to extreme SPL gets out with perfect hearing.

 

[highfigh]

I've been wearing the Etymotic ER20 plugs when playing with my band for years. I wear them regardless of the situation. Our drummer will occasionally where a similar plug when it gets a little loud. The other members never wear plugs. I'd even like to go to an active system where I can control the volume and mix.

I do wear active hearing aids. But I'm more of an oddball case. My overall hearing has been shifted down since I was kid. Strangely, I have a relatively flat hearing response with very little age related high frequency roll off.

If a drummer is involved, how can it NOT be 'a little loud'? The main reason guitars needed to be amplified was to be heard in a large space but for smaller places, it was to be heard over the drums.

 

[MrBoat]

I don't understand why anyone would work in a loud environment without hearing protection. OSHA has been around for a long time, we all have heard about and read about worker safety & protections, yet people want to be some kind of tough guy and believe they aren't doing any damage to themselves.

Rock concerts do more damage over a broader band,, using a RamSet punches out a narrow range- have your hearing tested and you'll be able to see where the damage has been done.

Anyone whose ears ring has permanent hearing damage and nobody who has been exposed to extreme SPL gets out with perfect hearing.

In my case, there was no wanting to be a tough guy, but I ended up that way whether I wanted to or not. You must be significantly younger, or have lived in safer places. I can assure you that when I was coming up in the trades, OSHA was nowhere to be found. I started out at age 15, digging footers and pouring concrete in the FL sun without any SPF, either. After that I did hot tar and shingled/tile roofing with no UV protection, nor safety lines. Miles of rockwool sound blankets without dust masks in hospital construction, either. We hung inch thick gypsum core board on a 4 level bridge connecting two hospital buildings together, 70ft in the air using 2 x 10s and 12s for scaffold planks all of which we had to rig ourselves. I won't even get into all of the asbestos I scraped from red iron on commercial remodels. Not one workers comp claim in nearly 50 years in construction and I'm still in it full time.

Smoked Lucky's and Marlboros for 35 years, and was up to 3 packs/day when I finally quit at age 50. It's nice to see now that people wear plastic gloves to chop an onion or even loosen a lug nut but none of that was even available back then, when we could also chain smoke those Marlboros on a commercial flight to any destination.

I survived the immediately dangerous stuff and most of the long term stuff as well. Meanwhile, we have people using their health insurances as licenses to really bad health choices. I had one fellow on a forum who is nearly 400#, say that my health insurance should drop me for refusing the jab. Meanwhile he's got as bad a case of diabetes as a person can have, a bypass surgery, and a host of other weight related problems and a pharmacy's inventory worth of meds he takes daily. Me, I'm still hovering around my ideal BMI, with a healthy back, knees and hips, in spite of 20 years hanging and finishing drywall.

My hearing? I can't hear anything past 12khz, but music still sounds good to me so I guess I got lucky there. I do think about it though when things are getting loud. I wear my safety glasses when I should, most of the time. I have more visible scars on me than I would like, but at least it shows where I have been, a lot more than those tattoos the safe and soft people cover themselves with, these days.