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Hearing loss Temporary or more permanent?

Hi there So I got my system reasonably dialed enough to impress most folks (Which isnt saying much) I happen to have my system with my computer in the center for use as a media server and have my speakers just about a meter in front of me while I am at the computer and about 3 Meters at my Listening seat and am curious. I have been playing my music louder and louder lately and am noticing a temporary hearing loss that comes right back (Very minimal but I can feel it in my ears) I have done this before but my system has never sounded THIS clean and am now holding back to make certain I preserve one my most important sense aside from the all important Spider Sense

At what point and for how long playing music at not exeptionally loud (Nothing compared to the horrible car sytems I endured being stuck in for long times as a teenager) Any way its a valid question as I really want to preserve my hearing and I really want to rock out. I can go get A DB Meter if that helps. Thanks a million Toby
128x128systembuilder
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dbphd
1,628 posts
 
When I was a grad student decades ago, I worked at a research center aimed at the study of noise-induced hearing loss. Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was a hot topic. Rock concerts were in vogue, and lots of folks were concerned about whether they were injurious to hearing. The answer is they can be depending on where you are and for how long. If you measure carefully enough, you'll discover that even low levels of sound can cause TTS, but recovery is rapid. Buy a Radio Shack sound level meter. I'd use slow trajectory, because the auditory system integrates sound. At this point, I'm not sure what the value of a hearing test could be, but I would avoid prolonged exposure to what seem to you as loud music.

db
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Classical musicians get permanent hearing damage also. Google may be of some help.[http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=gsis&xhr=t&q=hearing+damage+musicians&cp=15&pq=hearing%20damage%20in%20musicians&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0v&aqi=&aql=f&oq=hearing+damage++musicians&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=158f5021afbf0802&bs=1]
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Sorry, just Google hearing damage musicians. A lot of info there.
77jovian
409 posts
 
I know this doesn't quite fit the OP, but i went to a bluegrass concert at the Fox Theater in Boulder last week. Sat immediately behind the mixing board and watched as the sound man carefully kept the level between 99 and 100 db. This was for the warm-up act. I left before the Stringdusters even took the stage. Take care of you ears, friends, the pros won't do it for you.
systembuilder's avatar
systembuilder OP
111 posts
 
Ok I Feel better as I know I am pretty much pushing High 80's most of the time I play loud.

By the way Thorman Im 26 and all of a sudden at the coffee shop the other day there was a cute 19 year old who likes me and I thought to myself the other girl about 28-30 is a little more my age!! WHAT HAPPENED! Short story I got the 19 year olds number just to prove to myself I still could and hope it continues for a long time (As I knock on the wood of my speakers)

I appreciate all your help and wish nothing but the best
Oh and thanks Elizabeth and everyone else
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