I always loved listening to music through earbuds or headphones, hence why I am here in the first place. I of course have curtailed my usage and volume
dramatically. I now only give myself a treat by using them once a month or so for 30 minutes or less. The problem now is they cause a high pitched ring in my
strong ear that otherwise has little noticeable t and can last up to 30 seconds. I have come to the conclusion that I must eliminate pumping music directly
into my ears with these, even at low volume. Does anyone experience this? I guess this causes some irritation and could lead to developing a more severe case
in the ear. No more earbuds or headphones for me....period.
spikes and headphones
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 winterbridge |
spikes and headphones |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 280 (06/18/09 8:51 AM) |
|
||
|
abjada |
Re: | ||
|
Posts: 539 (06/18/09 9:30 AM) |
I occasionally do use earbuds but only for listening to audiobooks and podcasts. The problem is with these things is the proximity to the eardrum. Even if you
keep it quiet, the fact that the sound is literally right on top of your eardrum is probably what's causing the problem.
Listening to music at loud volume through cans is a no no. Ask Pete Townshend! Dave |
||
|
jinglear |
|||
|
Posts: 793 (06/18/09 9:54 AM) |
Speakers only and at a distance! That's the only way I do it. May as well fire a gun off in your ear as to put a nerve frying earbud or earphone on. To me,
that's a one way ticket to nerve damage
|
||
|
Rob x 2 |
|||
|
Posts: 1545 (06/18/09 10:11 AM) |
jinglear advises --
May as well fire a gun off in your ear as to put a nerve frying earbud or earphone on.
Wearing a headphone to listen to music is not like firing a gun off in your ear.
To me, that's a one way ticket to nerve damage
Wearing a headphone to listen to music at proper volumes will not cause nerve damage.
rob x 2 |
||
|
swaddell |
|||
|
Posts: 177 (06/18/09 11:32 AM) |
I use ear buds nightly in both ears at a low volume and it doesn't seem to cause an issue. Moderation is key.
Last Edited By: swaddell
06/19/09 5:19 AM.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
peachoid |
|||
|
Posts: 142 (06/18/09 11:58 AM) |
Winterb, I have never used headphones or earbuds, but it always struck me that there is something bad about doing so. You have sound coming in so very close to
your eardrum, and there is no situation in nature where that would ever happen. I don't think the ear is designed for sound to enter from a distance of a
quarter inch, even if it is soft sound.
|
||
|
Rob x 2 |
|||
|
Posts: 1547 (06/18/09 12:14 PM) |
There is nothing wrong with using headphones or earbuds to listen to music, and it is perfectly safe to have sound
that close to one's eardrums. What matters is not the proximity of sound to the eardrum, but whether the volume is too loud or not. Sound is nourishing
to the auditory system, whether it is close or far away. Like swaddell says, moderation is key. An iPod doesn't cause tinnitus
or make it permanently worse when it's played at a normal volume. What can cause a problem is the improper use of an iPod.
rob x 2 |
||
|
Daniel |
|||
|
Posts: 131 (06/18/09 5:11 PM) |
I asked my audiologist about this matter of earbuds last year, and he reiterated what Rob has articulated: low volume isn't a problem. And sound is
nourishing. However, the real problem with earbuds is that they don't provide a full range of frequencies. If sound is food for the ear, then earbuds
are delivering junk food.
|
||
|
swaddell |
|||
|
Posts: 179 (06/18/09 7:23 PM) |
You can purchase full range ear buds.
I listen to stereo wideband white noise (5 - 10dB roughly) nightly while I am going to bed and they always fall out of my ear at some point while I sleep. I don't feel as if they ever caused damage and I clean them once a week with rubbing alcohol just to be sure no bacteria is forming. |
||
|
Daniel |
|||
|
Posts: 132 (06/19/09 4:28 AM) |
|
||
|
jinglear |
|||
|
Posts: 795 (06/19/09 10:48 AM) |
Rob x 2 wrote: Have I ever been right about anything? No way. My response was from a hyperacusic standpoint. |
||
|
llilly |
|||
|
Posts: 2958 (06/19/09 11:10 AM) |
Does having hyperacusis mean that exposure to sound (such as what is described here) will cause nerve damage, or is it a sensitivity issue?
|
||
|
swaddell |
|||
|
Posts: 182 (06/19/09 12:37 PM) |
From what I have read, I am not an expert, but "normal" noise will not damage your hearing even with hyperacusis or recruitment. Exposure
(especially continual) to loud noise can always damage your hearing whether your ears are healthy or not.
|
||
|
jinglear |
|||
|
Posts: 796 (06/19/09 2:00 PM) |
Exposure (especially continual) to loud noise can always damage your hearing whether your ears are healthy or not.
Exactly my point. Earphones or ear buds concentrate the sound right down into the ear. I played drums and music for years, thought it didn't sound loud with no earphones or buds.... T&H are mine til death do we part. |
||
|
Dr Lighthead |
|||
|
Posts: 2 (06/22/09 7:32 AM) |
Does listening to high frequencies cause any problems? Like if you're searching for something to help mask it. I've heard that listening to high
frequencies will speed up hearing loss.
|
||
|
peachoid |
|||
|
Posts: 145 (06/22/09 12:47 PM) |
Tony makes a valid point. It is extremely difficult for people to tell when they are exposed to too much noise. They don't think it's too loud for
them, but it is. and they don't know until it's too late. So it's impossible to gauge when the sound is soft enough.
|
||
