Hearing Damage as a DJ

[Bl4ck3n3D]

I couldn't help but notice that my sense of hearing has diminished somewhat as a result of constantly listening to loud music. It began as a young child listening to rock n roll, progressing to heavy metal in my teens, and finally techno and house as an adult.

As a full time DJ and producer, how do you put up with the noise withstanding minimal damage to your ears? Do you wear earplugs at shows/gigs? I couldn't see myself wearing ear plugs at home, but at shows it is understandable due to the high decibel output.

I have heard from others that it is actually the high end frequencies that damage the ears rather than the low. Is that true?

Would listening to music at a moderate level while DJing damage the ears over a sustained amount of time?

I am becoming worried about my hearing :\

What's your take on the issue?

[losxc451]

After a certain amount of time it will definitely impact your hearing, I know mstrkrft uses ear plugs when they do anything and I actually saw that in one of those "whats in your dj bag" interviews with ean

[Zaniac]

A good read from the blog.

When good ears go bad, it's all gone Pete Tong

[guiltyblade]

I where plugs to shows and gigs. Sometimes monitors are right behind my head and just blasting. Its something I always have with me when I gig or go out to clubs.

[LeeZer]

I haven't always owned plugs and sometimes even left them in my bag and not bothered using them. However i try to remember to use them and definitely where them if i feel my ears hurting or i struggle to hear particular sounds.

I find i get bad ear wax build up. So much i can often wake up in the morning and find an ear or two almost/fully blocked up. To stop this i have to get my ears syringed at least every 8 months really. I don't know if this is to do with loud music or not but it's only ever been a problem after about 3 years of Dj'ing and about 5 years of clubbing. I'd be interested if anyone else suffers like i do tbh

[Jester]

enjoy that ringing in your ears, its the last time ever you will hear that frequency

[Cybertrash]

enjoy that ringing in your ears, its the last time ever you will hear that frequency

Someone's in a melodramatic mood

But yeah, earplugs are your friend, I try to always use them when I go to raves and other parties with loud music.

When listening to music by yourself, try to turn it down, I've found that "weaning" myself off loud music in my earphones (as in, off my iPod, not when cueing) helped me get rid off my "hearing fatigue". Once you've gotten used to listening at music on a lower volume, you won't really notice the difference (as long as you don't turn it up again obviously).

[sarasin]

Tinnitus.....

Got it....but had it before I got into music. (ear issues as a kid)

So used to it over the years, but not great when you have never had it before.

Ear Plugs.

[snf]

i sometimes wake up with my right ear deaf for a while til later in the day when it finally pops lol

[Sherlock Ohms]

+1 on the plugs

I always have a set in my wallet, and use them at almost every gig/party I go to or play at.

I've got friends with tinnitus and I never want it.