I don’t have much Experience with Ear issues as a DJ, but from my Drag Racing days and as a Diver I have alot of Experience.
The Ear Drum is a Muscle just like any other it can be worked on. When I was Racing whether it was my Supercharged B18C Honda, or a Top Fuel Dragster, I’m able to get with in a few feet of the exhaust headers (the flames that shoot out keep me away more then the noise lol). And Even Now I can stand right next to the Monitors and have Heavy Bass blasting me and not even blink, walk outside where its quite and Hear fine.
As for Diving we deal water pressure acting on our Ears. What I suggest to my Student who have problems is a weeks before diving again to work on their ears by “popping” then (Hold your Nose and Blow). Now obviously that probably won’t help with Sound, but that’s just my point of how the Ear is a Muscle.
I tried using those cheap earplugs, but I think they do take out to much our of certain frequencies and everything just sounds weird. I used to have molded ones, but I lost them in the vinegar smelling mud at a festival… Kinda sucked, didn’t get new ones either. What I do is whenever I play I try to turn of the monitors whenever I’m not in a mix and have them at the lowest level where I’m still comfortable with the sound, have my headphones as low as possible (and make sure they have good isolation)… This doesn’t work that good though, as I always get pretty severe cases of that ear fatigue when I leave, ie. not being able to understand/hear conversation etc. Sometimes it stays 'till the morning after, which sucks. Think this means I’m probably on the road to some permanent ear damage? Should probably invest in some good earplugs again… Thanks for this thread to remind me of my poor ears…
It could be if you did it on a regular basis, i’v taken part in shooting a few times and my ears was pretty sore afterwords.. Haven’t done it since.
My advice to people is to find out as much as possible about the history of your ears. I got my parents to tell me as much as they could about mines. Pretty much know exactly why my hearing is bad down to every last detail.
I picked up a pair of custom fit plugs from In Ear Monitors - Custom Molded In Ear Monitors | Sensaphonics. They ran $200 including the custom molds and hearing test. I was able to go to their office in Chicago, but you can also see any audiologist to have the molds made. They are small enough to fit under headphones, are comfortable over extended periods of wear, and (as others have mentioned) I can actually hear people talking in the clubs more clearly. They have been worth every penny.
I was told by a doctor that my eardrums are scarred. I was standing in a group at the local fair a few months ago, and I couldn’t be a part of the conversation because I couldn’t hear anyone over the noise, while everyone seemed to not have a problem. I took a hearing test for a job at a seed mill, and surprisingly did quite well. I’m hoping the problem is that I just suck at beatmatching, so i’m wondering if anyone else with recent hearing damage has noticed that beatmatching has become more dificult.
I wasn’t saying Put you ear next to a M80 and set it off…my point was it can be worked on. I have perfect hearing. But cause I’ve been doing stuff like working on and around drag cars since I was 10 (28 now) Loud Bass doesn’t bother me.
I mean, I can totally tell when two beats are not lined up, but with a headphone over one ear and a tune playing over the speakers, I can’t for the life of me, hear the individual tunes. With both tracks playing over the speakers, it’s not a problem. Maybe it’s all just in my head and I haven’t yet learned to “train” my ears. Does that sound crazy?
I am not a doctor but will give my experience. I have been a DJ for 15 years now never used ear protection. When I got out of the military I thought my hearing was going out. I went to the doctors who recomened I get an ear wash. OMG. they cleaned out my ear and saw what was impacted. They said due to the frequency of applying music on a constant basic with my headphones this was normal. Today I hear so clearly it’s insane. So if you feel your hearing is going out first get a ear check up and see if an ear cleaining will help.
I’ve had tinnitis for a few years now. Lemme tell you - it is AWEFUL. I’ve got plugs that I use now, but I wish I’d taken heed 10+ years ago and bought 'em with my first set up.
It’s so loud sometimes, that I can hear it over the TV, or even over people speaking.
Take heed, folks! Buy some ASAP.
[quote]So if you feel your hearing is going out first get a ear check up and see if an ear cleaining will help.
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Been meaning to do this for a while now - haven’t got round to it…
