I'm hearing less on my right ear - what can I do
- Thread starter Bayerdynamic
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Bill Ward
Headphoneus Supremus
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That's a job for a medical specialist. No joking. Don't start monkeying around with your ears and hearing. You have a problem that needs to be addressed, and I endorse the earlier suggestions that you see a doctor.
I have my ears cleaned every couple of years, and have had for decades. The procedure is neither lengthy nor time-consuming. It makes an enormous difference, and I can recommend it. What I don't recommend is self-diagnosis and self-treatment in something like hearing problems.
Good luck,
BW
That actually might be the problem How do I remove really tough ear wax? |
That's a job for a medical specialist. No joking. Don't start monkeying around with your ears and hearing. You have a problem that needs to be addressed, and I endorse the earlier suggestions that you see a doctor.
I have my ears cleaned every couple of years, and have had for decades. The procedure is neither lengthy nor time-consuming. It makes an enormous difference, and I can recommend it. What I don't recommend is self-diagnosis and self-treatment in something like hearing problems.
Good luck,
BW
Geek
Headphoneus Supremus
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First try to find out what caused the imbalance; mabye it's a particular song that has a loud part only coming out of the right channel; or you do something unusually damaging to your ears like me which affects one ear more than the other (I play violin). Stop doing that thing to stop any further damage.
Your ears will simply adjust; my left ear is 3dB down from my right and hears highs poorly; I can tell the difference between a blockhead and a max on any day with an average hip hop recording. So don't feel down or anything.
If you up the balance to pump more volume into your already damaged right ear to equalize things, its going to get WORSE.
Cheers,
Geek
Your ears will simply adjust; my left ear is 3dB down from my right and hears highs poorly; I can tell the difference between a blockhead and a max on any day with an average hip hop recording. So don't feel down or anything.
If you up the balance to pump more volume into your already damaged right ear to equalize things, its going to get WORSE.
Cheers,
Geek
saint.panda
Headphoneus Supremus
Quote:
Maybe my English is really poor but I always thought that a chisel is a sort of blade to remove dirt from your wall for example. "Meißel" in German.
I hope I'm wrong though
Originally Posted by Lostlamb A nice small chisel. |
Maybe my English is really poor but I always thought that a chisel is a sort of blade to remove dirt from your wall for example. "Meißel" in German.
I hope I'm wrong though

Spent&Bent
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If that is indeed the problem don't try to do this yourself, let a ENT specialist do this.
I had this done a few months ago and he used some sort of little vacuum cleaner.
I wished I had such a cleaner to use myself my ears felt so good afterwards.
The cleaning itself hurt pretty bad because the wax was extremely compacted (my own fault)
Originally Posted by Bayerdynamic Headphones only, but it's always the left side louder than the other. That actually might be the problem ![]() |
If that is indeed the problem don't try to do this yourself, let a ENT specialist do this.
I had this done a few months ago and he used some sort of little vacuum cleaner.
I wished I had such a cleaner to use myself my ears felt so good afterwards.
The cleaning itself hurt pretty bad because the wax was extremely compacted (my own fault)
JefferyK
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It's rare for people to have identical hearing in both ears, just like it's rare for people to have identical vision in both eyes. There's almost always at least a little bit of difference. People tend to be a bit lopsided, thanks to nature.
!
That said, my advice is to visit your doctor and get a referral to see a hearing specialist. The specialist will run some tests, diagnose any hearing loss and provide a plan of action to correct the problem.
Jeffery

That said, my advice is to visit your doctor and get a referral to see a hearing specialist. The specialist will run some tests, diagnose any hearing loss and provide a plan of action to correct the problem.
Jeffery
Idiot MD
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This is (of course) all assuming you have checked your hearing balance with different phones, amp, av... Just want to make certain that you aren't going to go through this effort to find out that your cans, or amp, or portaud or your source is causing the imbalance. Not that getting your ears cleaned is not a bad idea.
lini
Thought the last line in Citizen Kane was nosebud.
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Bayerdynamic: Do you smoke? My right ear seems less sensitive, but also prone to ringing when confronted with certain noise, when I've smoked too much. What might help you, too, is Aspirin and mints/methol drops/Ricola... Aspirin helps me to bring right ear sensitivity back on level, and the other stuff is good for a free head, which is good for l/r balance. Another funny thing I noticed for myself: Assymetrically placed light sources shift my aural l/r balance...
Greetings from Hannover!
Manfred / lini
Greetings from Hannover!
Manfred / lini
Bayerdynamic
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You sure, you aren't sponsored by some sort of medical association?
I think I'll just go to a doctor and let him check my ears / remove possible ear wax.
Thanks for all the information!
Quote:
I don't smoke but I'll try the light source-thingie. Thanks for the tip.
Quote:
Same on all gear my audio gear.

I think I'll just go to a doctor and let him check my ears / remove possible ear wax.
Thanks for all the information!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lini Bayerdynamic: Do you smoke? My right ear seems less sensitive, but also prone to ringing when confronted with certain noise, when I've smoked too much. What might help you, too, is Aspirin and mints/methol drops/Ricola... Aspirin helps me to bring right ear sensitivity back on level, and the other stuff is good for a free head, which is good for l/r balance. Another funny thing I noticed for myself: Assymetrically placed light sources shift my aural l/r balance... Greetings from Hannover! Manfred / lini |
I don't smoke but I'll try the light source-thingie. Thanks for the tip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Idiot MD This is (of course) all assuming you have checked your hearing balance with different phones, amp, av... Just want to make certain that you aren't going to go through this effort to find out that your cans, or amp, or portaud or your source is causing the imbalance. Not that getting your ears cleaned is not a bad idea. |
Same on all gear my audio gear.
pedxing
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Go see a doctor. If you see an audiologist, you may want to request a hearing test across the audio spectrum, not just in the speech range.
doctorjuggles
Member of the Trade: Cable Builder
I have this problem too, let me explain why I struggle to resolve it.....
I'll get a muffled, blocked sound in my ear. I'll see the doctor, he'll tell me to 'put warm olive oil into the ear to soften the wax.'
I go home and do that, and the oil expands the wax and causes my ear to become inflamed and extremely painful. I will then go back to the doctor who will try and syringe it, which will be unsuccessful, because my ear is too inflamed to squirt water in at high pressure.
I then wait for the inflammation to die down, return to the doctor, who will then tell me to put warm olive oil into the ear to soften the wax before he/she can syringe it.
It's a common pattern that I see all the time with doctor's. A circle that I don't know how to break.
I'll get a muffled, blocked sound in my ear. I'll see the doctor, he'll tell me to 'put warm olive oil into the ear to soften the wax.'
I go home and do that, and the oil expands the wax and causes my ear to become inflamed and extremely painful. I will then go back to the doctor who will try and syringe it, which will be unsuccessful, because my ear is too inflamed to squirt water in at high pressure.
I then wait for the inflammation to die down, return to the doctor, who will then tell me to put warm olive oil into the ear to soften the wax before he/she can syringe it.
It's a common pattern that I see all the time with doctor's. A circle that I don't know how to break.
John Reeves
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Hi,
Maybe it's time we had an ear exchange forum to get a balanced headphone sound
Parameters for exchange could be:
What size foamies do you use
How often do you clean your ears
Do you know a friendly surgeon
Do you have any objection to transplants
Maybe someone could help expand the list?
Maybe it's time we had an ear exchange forum to get a balanced headphone sound
Parameters for exchange could be:
What size foamies do you use
How often do you clean your ears
Do you know a friendly surgeon
Do you have any objection to transplants
Maybe someone could help expand the list?

Chisum
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Hi,
I made the the same experience - never realized before, but when putting the phone from one ear to the other, it's like day and night. Then I tried to listen to the TV with covering one ear - same effect, left side sounds muffled and speech is hard to understand, especially woman's voices.
Afterwards wend to a specialist, made a hearing test. The result: the hearing on the left ear is cleary worse. And i cannot do anything against this. Hearing loss is not repairable - NEVER! But well, I don't even recognize it in daily live, not before I cover one ear or the other. The brain is pretty good in compensating, no problems with balance, even when I'm listening to headphones. So what...
Btw, the "ear doctor" also told me that pretty many people have different hearing abilities on their left and right ears... but never recognize. Well, until they switch sides while on the phone
Originally Posted by luukas Usually I don't notice it though, unless I switch to the left ear while on the phone - speech is more clearly heard then. |
Hi,
I made the the same experience - never realized before, but when putting the phone from one ear to the other, it's like day and night. Then I tried to listen to the TV with covering one ear - same effect, left side sounds muffled and speech is hard to understand, especially woman's voices.
Afterwards wend to a specialist, made a hearing test. The result: the hearing on the left ear is cleary worse. And i cannot do anything against this. Hearing loss is not repairable - NEVER! But well, I don't even recognize it in daily live, not before I cover one ear or the other. The brain is pretty good in compensating, no problems with balance, even when I'm listening to headphones. So what...
Btw, the "ear doctor" also told me that pretty many people have different hearing abilities on their left and right ears... but never recognize. Well, until they switch sides while on the phone

TimSchirmer
Repelling digital infidels. (Would that be called the Digifadah?)
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Stop listening to headphones and get a pair of bookshelves. They will save your hearing.
wallijonn
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If you open and close your jaw as far wide as possible, and side to side, do your ears 'pop' or make a sound? You have too much ear wax.
Don't rule out seeing your dentist. Things like impacted teeth, ingrown teeth, infections, etc., can cause sinus and hearing problems. You may also need to lose weight, cut down on certain foods, etc.
Don't rule out seeing your dentist. Things like impacted teeth, ingrown teeth, infections, etc., can cause sinus and hearing problems. You may also need to lose weight, cut down on certain foods, etc.