I am quite saddened as I did an audiometry test a few days back and found that I have mild to moderate noise induced hearing loss of both ears. Apparently the audiologist says it is irreversible too. I'm in my 30s and have the hearing results of an old man =(.
I don't have any hearing issues with normal day to day conversation or music though. I've been listening to music since I was a small kid with headphones and later on IEMs (at low volumes).
Actually, I wasn't surprised with the test results as I was playing in a band for the past 15 years and in the earlier years, there was no hearing protection with IEM/headphone usage and we just played with a speaker blasting in front of us. Most days I was playing a keyboard in front of someone else hammering the drums, and to get better hearing of what I was playing, I generally boosted my volume to be louder than the drums. Sometimes there was ringing in my ears after a band session. Only for the past 10 years, I've been using IEMs or closed back ear phones for stage monitoring, and they definitely help with hearing protection by allowing a lower volume to be used during performances.
I listen to music daily, but nowadays try to limit the volume to max 30 - 40% of my smartphone/PC/DAC. Definitely with more volume, details and bass sounds better, but I'm ok with lowering the volume to preserve hearing.
So everyone, please take care of your hearing, whether it be for stage monitoring or for casual listening. Don't blast your music for casual listening even though there is a tendency for that to get a better bass oomph of details. Any sound at 85 dB should be limited to < 8 hours according to the audiologist. Do you guys know of any accurate way to measure what level of loudness is being played through your IEMs/headphones?
I wished I knew about the importance of hearing protection when I was younger, but well better late than never, and I hope that the rest of us know about the dangers of loud music.
I don't have any hearing issues with normal day to day conversation or music though. I've been listening to music since I was a small kid with headphones and later on IEMs (at low volumes).
Actually, I wasn't surprised with the test results as I was playing in a band for the past 15 years and in the earlier years, there was no hearing protection with IEM/headphone usage and we just played with a speaker blasting in front of us. Most days I was playing a keyboard in front of someone else hammering the drums, and to get better hearing of what I was playing, I generally boosted my volume to be louder than the drums. Sometimes there was ringing in my ears after a band session. Only for the past 10 years, I've been using IEMs or closed back ear phones for stage monitoring, and they definitely help with hearing protection by allowing a lower volume to be used during performances.
I listen to music daily, but nowadays try to limit the volume to max 30 - 40% of my smartphone/PC/DAC. Definitely with more volume, details and bass sounds better, but I'm ok with lowering the volume to preserve hearing.
So everyone, please take care of your hearing, whether it be for stage monitoring or for casual listening. Don't blast your music for casual listening even though there is a tendency for that to get a better bass oomph of details. Any sound at 85 dB should be limited to < 8 hours according to the audiologist. Do you guys know of any accurate way to measure what level of loudness is being played through your IEMs/headphones?
I wished I knew about the importance of hearing protection when I was younger, but well better late than never, and I hope that the rest of us know about the dangers of loud music.
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Health, too many loud concerts when younger, work related stuff (this is the main one, the ignorance with regards to noise levels at work baffles the mind sometimes) and so on.
