Concert deafness

Author
Discussion

R TOY

Original Poster:

1,703 posts

227 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
How long does the affect take to wear off for different people,?
I've noticed lately that i'm a couple of days before my hearing returns to normal and i dont hear the alarm radio come on the next morning !
No doubt the older you get the longer the recovery time.. or is permanant damage being done ?

suthol

2,154 posts

233 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
R TOY said:
How long does the affect take to wear off for different people,?
I've noticed lately that i'm a couple of days before my hearing returns to normal and i dont hear the alarm radio come on the next morning !
No doubt the older you get the longer the recovery time.. or is permanant damage being done ?
This unfortunately.

Justin Cyder

12,624 posts

148 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
You are risking permanent hearing damage. The ringing may wear off, but the delicate components in your inner ears will still be taking damage. Consider using attenuated earplugs if you really must go moshing at Megadeath gigs.

Personally, I always go for the back of the room. Nearer to the bar & khazi.

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
R TOY said:
How long does the affect take to wear off for different people,?
I've noticed lately that i'm a couple of days before my hearing returns to normal and i dont hear the alarm radio come on the next morning !
No doubt the older you get the longer the recovery time.. or is permanant damage being done ?
Hi mate

Im a musician, and as said, its permanent damage being done.
I cannot recommend wearing ear plugs enough. Not only does it save your hearing, it makes everything sound better, and clearer. If the gigs you go to are anything like mine, then you will actually hear the vocals properly, along with the rest! win win.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Effect.

As above, permanent damage (can't believe you don't know that already). Ear plugs!!

CrabDan

568 posts

142 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
You SHOULD wear earplugs but to me that sort of ruins the experience.

Like condoms. wink

I used to play drums in a rock band for four hours a night, four nights a week. Ear plugs were essential for that. In fact, they made my drums sound quite nicely EQ'd by cutting out a bit of top-end and it was quite lovely. For going and watching the occasional gig though, I don't bother. I used to DJ too and my ears took a right bashing doing that, but a recent hearing test showed that actually, my hearing is still spot on. Go figure. I'd say if you're going to ALOT of concerts etc, then get some DECENT ear plugs as an investment (good ones are very pricey) but if it's just the odd one-off, then f*ck it off and just enjoy yourself.

As an aside, if you haven't seen the film It's All Gone Pete Tong, check it out biggrin

Edited by CrabDan on Monday 8th October 12:00

motorizer

1,498 posts

170 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
For me it doesn't seem as bad as it used to, gigs dont seem as loud(usually) either
I would think that I've just gone deafer but I have a hearing test every year at work and my hearing is fine, though not perfect
Still go to loads of gigs..Slash tonight biggrin

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
CrabDan said:
You SHOULD wear earplugs but to me that sort of ruins the experience.
Couldnt disagree more. I find it makes it better as I can actually hear the instruments and vocals properly.

Im also a drummer by the way :-)

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Here's a good place to start if you're looking for decent earplugs:

http://www.acscustom.com/uk/index.php?option=com_c...

They also do custom fit (moulded) earphone sleeves which allow you to use relatively inexpensive earphones as in-ear monitors. I've had a pair made to take standard Sennheiser IE6s and the sound is really impressive considering the overall cost.

LeoSayer

7,299 posts

243 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
The first concert I went to was the Police in 1983 at the age of 14. I couldn't believe how loud it was, I was shocked.

In my late teens and twenties I went to see several bands a month and got used to the loud noise and never considered wearing earplugs.

Now I'm in my 40s amd my hearing isn't great as I have trouble picking out a voice when there is background noise. I can't be sure this is due to the concerts, but what else could it be?

Just wear the earplugs. You can hear the music better and you don't f*** your hearing.

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
LeoSayer said:
I can't be sure this is due to the concerts, but what else could it be?
Most likely is mate. Sorry!

andyr30

613 posts

185 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Definitely look at getting attenuating plugs if you attend a lot of gigs.

These are like turning the volume down, instead of just blocking noise getting into the ear.

If the hearing is coming back after being down for a day or two you have been suffering from Temporary Threshhold Shift.
Long term exposure to loud noise and short term exposure to very loud noise can cause permanent damage.

So you could work somewhere realtively loud, but not uncomfortably so. You may think that it's not loud enough to cause damage. However prolonged exposure will cause damage over time.


Justin Cyder

12,624 posts

148 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
I always use attenuated plugs for rehearsals. There are rehearsal studios up & down the land that think it's a great idea to stick a Marshall stack in a 8 x 12 ft room.

R TOY

Original Poster:

1,703 posts

227 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Pothole said:
permanent damage (can't believe you don't know that already). !!
I am of course aware that loud noise permanently damages your hearing,
What i am trying to ask is if the amount of time i take to recover, (ears still ringing from last night)is longer than most ? or younger people in say 20's/30's ?
Is this a sign of 'excesive' damage or can i just enjoy the odd concert, probably 4/5 a year without the need for earplugs or being confined to the back..



IanCormac

1,894 posts

192 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Every time you damage your ears a little by a loud concert, then you cause permanent damage and the effect is cumulative. You can do whatever you like, but your hearing will get steadily worse if you don't wear earplugs, even if you only attend 4/5 a year.

wal 45

654 posts

179 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
I've been a regular gig goer for 30 years now and have to get my hearing tested every other year at work. Thankfully it is above average for a 44 year old so I'm not convinced that the type of noise you are exposed to at a gig is as damaging as the Health and Safety brigade make out. Pete Townsend may be a case in point that it does indeed damage your ears but as a punter seeing gigs rather than playing them every night, no.

That said I'm sure the volume at gigs (small and large venues) seems to have markedly reduced in recent years probably in line with some legislation. Generally I find by mid morning the following day my ears are back to normal.

My record for post gig ear ringing was just over 3 days in my foolish and musically uninformed youth, Motorhead in 1983 at Portsmouth Guildhall...now that was loud.


motorizer

1,498 posts

170 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
motorhead '88 rock n roll tour is my record, 3 days
still see them regularly and they're not as loud as they used to be

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Jazzy Jefferson said:
LeoSayer said:
I can't be sure this is due to the concerts, but what else could it be?
Most likely is mate. Sorry!
Although of course (since this is PH) revving engines at close quarters during tuning etc. will do a fair bit of damage to the cilia

MonkeyBusiness

3,912 posts

186 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
motorizer said:
motorhead '88 rock n roll tour is my record, 3 days
still see them regularly and they're not as loud as they used to be
As soon as I saw this thread I thought of Motorhead.

/getting on a bit
They were very loud back in the day. Doesn't help that they play white noise as everyone is filing out.

R TOY

Original Poster:

1,703 posts

227 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Trophybloo said:
Although of course (since this is PH) revving engines at close quarters during tuning etc. will do a fair bit of damage to the cilia
The most intense and painfull sound i ever experienced was at Santa Pod when looking at a top fuel
dragster up on stands in the paddock,
the engine was running at a lumpy tick over while the mechanics worked on something then without warning he blipped the throttle, the noise for that split second was agonising..