[stewtheking]

"can damage your brain". Ignore this man, that is absolute nonsense. Or, ask him to show you the evidence in a relavent journal or text. I'll put money that there isn't any.

 

[lmilhan]

Strange, I have been listening to music through headphones for many many years and I don't have any Dain Bramageamageamage.

 

[felixkrull6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamiTenshi Actually in an earlier episode he used a Bose Triport!

And I thought he was so smart.

 

[Trance-Addict]

Blasphemy!, did he offer to buy your headphones after he said they were evil and the work of the devil?

Sorry Im feeling fundamentally religious today.

 

[Dane]

I seem to recall from previous threads that some people here, who have measured their headphone output with an SPL meter or whatever, were quite surprised at just how loud the "safe" listening level actually is. Haven't done a search though. So I wonder how many of us are really hurting our ears with normal sane listening - I doubt it's a problem.

 

[EyeAmEye]

Don't worry about it. Keep listening the way you normally do. In a few years there will be a new study suggesting headphones are good for you, followed by another in a few years saying they are bad again, over and over. Point of that? If you are happy listening through your headphones, do so, because it sounds like your doctor is making an assumption he shouldn't be making.

 

[megawzrd]

Alu

I would recommend going to an ENT Ear Nose Throat specialist. Since you are here (at Head-Fi) your ears are probably very important to you. I would trust the headphone advise from an ENT anyday over that from a general practitioner. I would bet that the ENT would question listening periods and how loud you are listening vs. just saying headphones are bad you.

 

[Jbucla2005]

I have always felt that the type of sound has a lot do with the fatigue/damage level. Brighter setups will do more damage at a similar volume level because the first part of our hearing to be affected is the high frequency. Which is why, although I love my DT-880's, I just ordered some HD-580's for those times when I just want a relaxing listen that is relatively non-fatigueing.

My advice for your ears: avoid all loud sounds for a while, turn down your volume at least 25% for a month or so. The ringing should go away and you will feel better. I've had a few encounters with temporary tinnitus and sometimes discomfort, but resting my ears for a while has always helped me.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamiTenshi Actually in an earlier episode he used a Bose Triport!

That will definitely cause brain damage!!!

To the O.P.: Go see your ENT!

 

[Alu]

I guess I will go see the specialist then. Can't take any chances here. Right now I'm feeling no pressure though, I guess it's not as constant as I thought it was.

On another note, after listening to headphones, I'm thinking that I can pick up any kind of noise much better than I could before.

 

[Comfy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alu "Try to avoid using headphones at home, much rather use speakers. They're not good for your ears and can damage your brain over a long period of usage."

Welcome to Head-Fi. Sorry about your brains.... ...and your wallet.

 

[K2Grey]

I have much confidence in medical science.

Having said this, for a doctor to make a statement does not mean that the statement is backed up by the full research and review of medical science.

I'd ask him why he thinks that headphones are bad for you, and how sure he is of it.

 

[luckybaer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicJunkie I've never heard of this before. Does anyone have any info regarding this? MJ

He just assumed that people are listening to stuff like Buckcherry and Christina Aguilera. It is the type of music you listen to, not the medium through which you listen.

 

[marvin]

Ignore your doc. He's smoking crack. This sort of misinformation is depressingly common when you venture outside a professional's area of expertise.

Go to an audiologist if you suspect that you have hearing damage.

 

[luckybaer]

I went to an ENT because of ringing in my ears, and he told me to avoid exposure to noise - like making sure I wore hearing protection when operating lawn equipment, and NOT listening to the radio too loudly in the car (probably wanted me to stop that PERIOD). I can only imagine his horror now that I've discovered headphones.

Seriously, my car stero is so loud at times - just to be heard at a normal volume while driving on the freeway. When I come off the freeway and wait at the off-ramp, I always have to turn down the volume A LOT.

He also said the constant road noise would have a negative effect on my ears, too. After all, lots of cars are 70+ decibels when cruising at 65 mph or so. If you are in the car for a 30 minute commute, that's 30 minutes being exposed to 70dB of noise. Plus, if your car is going 70dB, how loud is your music if it can be heard clearly over the road noise?

Everything seems to add up, so I've made it a point to minimize my radio listening in the car and I'm trying to cut back on my headphone time. I don't think I listen very loudly, so I'm not turning the volume down - any lower, and I'd not be able to hear the music properly.