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New Post 8/14/2008 3:29 AM
  excitron
1 posts
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Hearing Damage From Feedback 

Hi folks, not really sure where to post this, or if it's going to be of any help, but I guess I'll ask. I had an accident last night where I had a high SPL feedback squeal blown into my left ear, setting up a mic while wearing open-air headphones. Needless to say, my hearing is muffled in that ear. Usually stuff like this wears off after a while, but it's persisting as of this moment several hours later.

While it's obvious I need to get some medical attention, that may be time away (ever make an appointment to an ear specialist? Those guys don't care about your emergency, just their schedule!).  I'm wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience and if you suffered permanent damage from it. Other than wearing earplugs to block any additional high SPL sound away from the ear (I work in NYC), I'm at a loss as to what to  do.

Years ago I had an infection in my right ear that caused quite of bit of nerve damage. At that time I was prescribed steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and eventually my hearing returned. Not sure if something like that would be of help in this situation. I'm gonna try and see a general practitioner doc today to see if something like this may be of help.

Anyway, just looking for some feedback (LOL) to see if anyone has experienced something like this, and what your outcome was. Thanks for any info on this.

 
New Post 8/17/2008 8:14 AM
  Rip Rowan
82 posts
www.prorec.com
10th Level Poster




Re: Hearing Damage From Feedback 

That's bad news.  Hopefully you'll get some recovery.  I have some hearing damage, unfortunately, from years of playing live drums without protection.  Fortunately the damage is not severe, and I still hear well over the entire spectrum.  It's hard to say how much of that is simply that one's brain learns to compensate for missing information, if the loss is not too severe.

It's possible that some of that will return, but high-energy blasts like that can cause immediate and permanent damage.  I would second your decision to get into a doctor pronto.  If in fact the steriods can help, early treatment will help you.

This is a grim reminder that ear protection is essential, and that headphones can be truly dangerous.

Best of luck.


Rip Rowan - ProRec Editor-in-Chief
 
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