[lespauldude]

I've been using a shure e3c for the past few years. I'm 18 now and I don't know if my hearing is worse now for sure but I know of often feel like people aren't talking loud enough and I have to ask them to repeat. The interesting thing is I don't remember doing it as much a couple years back. Now, I'm not jumping to conclusions but I've always felt skeptical about that pressure and suction of wearing, putting on, and taking off the those plugs day in and out.

I'm not taking my chances anymore and at least definitely not wearing them at college. I move around too much and have to take them off too often. I'm definitely not walking with them on anymore. I've switched to regular low end earbuds (sennheiser mx500). I keep my e3c's wherever I go just in case the right situation to use them arises. I wear them a couple times a week as opposed to a couple times a day as I used to.

So, what do you guys know about ear damage and IEM's?

I use to have to sleep with earplugs at the dormitory double bedroom, probably another potential way to damage your ear. Luckily I'm in an apartment with my own room next year.

thanks!

 

[TMM]

Playing any sort of audio too loud will damage your hearing, IEMs or Speakers. If anything you shouldn't have to turn up the volume as much with IEMs, so no i don't believe IEMs are any better/worse in that respect. I'm no expert but the difference in pressure could cause a build up of fluid in your ears (sort of when you drive up/down a big hill in a car, or takeoff/land in an plane).

 

[lespauldude]

true, you don't need to turn the volume up as loud with IEM's when you're outside. But when you're outside you're usually active and you hear footsteps which can be loud, you hear every time you tap the cable, and if you accidentally yank them out of your ears that's gotta be a big change of pressure.

 

[Chris_Himself]

my ears are typically in pain from long term IEM usage.

 

[ClieOS]

I have this discussion on MisticRiver.net a few week ago, check this out (last post).

 

[khbaur330162]

I've noticed this too and I don't use IEM's all that much/at all anymore. It's simply because my ears are bombarded with music all the time now, I think. I don't believe I listen to music necessarily loud, but I wouldn't say I'm a low level listener either.

However, the only real time I've noticed this is when:

A) I'm listening to music and people are trying to talk to me

B) When I'm on the phone

I think phone microphones/speakers BLOW and because my ears have been spoiled so much by good sound quality I can't understand what people are saying, even more so now, on those dang things.

 

[oicdn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClieOS /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have this discussion on MisticRiver.net a few week ago, check this out (last post).

It's saying you have to be a member there to view the thread....sucky.

 

[GreatDane]

I sleep with ER6 most nights. I clean/change foamies often and I've never had any problems from wearing them for these extended periods.

Using IEMs have trained me to listen at lower volumes because etys block out so much noise. I also don't listen much over 75dB(a guess) during the day and much lower at night. I've actually become more sensitive to loud noises.

"Do you believe that IEM's can damage your hearing?" -no

 

[Lowfront]

ever since I got my spl meter an realized I was listening waaay to loud I have listened to music at safe levels.

same as above poster my ears are very sensitive to loud noises now.

 

[krmathis]

Any high volume sound will damage your hearing, regardless if the sound come from IEM's or any other source.
So yes, IEM's can certainly damage your hearing!

 

[splawren]

I used to use the e5c a lot before I realized that it was indeed making my hearing worse. Not permanently (I think), but after extended listening sessions, even when the volume was low, my ears were pretty fatigued and I found it harder to hear conversations. The less frequently I used them, the less frequently that problem occured. I never had that issue with my open/non-IEM phones, except when I blared them. I couldn't tell you why an IEM might have a greater tendency to hurt your hearing, except to say that all that sound is being produced awfully close to your ear drum and nerves. . . who knows.

 

[1967cutlass]

IMO the problem is people not listening to the music loudly enough, I think it causes some kind of effect that tweaks your hearing for a while. I have no scientific basis for this and I could very well be wrong.

This is coming from ~3 years of IEM use, and I'm never buying another set. There is just something weird about them..

 

[robinclp]

yea my ears hurt after listening to my e4c for long periods....

And the phonics is annoying....

 

[Chris_Himself]

using chainsaws can damage your hearing too

 

[basmatirice]

could you just copy and past the post from that mystic site? i have no desire to sign up just to read it.