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Serious problem - can DIY audio make you deaf?

92.16.27.12
Posted on November 1, 2009 at 11:12:51
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Joined: October 20, 2000
 I really need some help with this. My hearing in my left ear has recently got worse at two times and in two ways. The first, where I lost some high frequency hearing seemed to co-incide with listening to a lot of Bach organ music - sustained tones. The most recent where some low level tinnitus in my left ear which I mostly ignored suddenly seemed to get louder - a few days ago - seemed to co-incide with building a 26 DHT preamp with IXYS cascode active load, which replaced a choke load. My worry is that something is oscillating loudly at a frequency I can't hear. I have a scope but I've never learned how to use it, so I don't know how to measure to see if oscillation exists. I used 1K gate resistors right on the gate - metal film. Could that be doing something?

The speakers I have been listening to are just 5" mid-bass units pointing upwards. One of them is near my left ear where I sit at my computer, 42"away (105cm). I don't understand this - how can a mid-bass unit produce significant treble? I really need some help here.

There's a possibility it could be something else but I'm suspicious about the fast onset while I was modifying the preamp. Other factors could be wearing a mask to stop snoring which blows air into the mask, but I've had that for months. Or using Otrivine nasal decongestant - does that have side effects? The other possibility is that I THINK the tinnitus in my left ear is louder, so it's my exaggerated self-perception. Very hard to know on that score.

But really what I want to know is what potential damage could occur from high frequency oscillations through a mid-bass unit? I don't listen at all loud even, though as said the speaker isn't too far from my left ear.

If I've ruined my hearing by experimenting with hi-fi I'd be gutted. I feel like not building anything again. I had some tinnitus in my left ear but over the last few days it's really worse - just constant whistling.

Can anyone help with this? It's driving me mad.

andy

RE: Serious problem - can DIY audio make you deaf?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 23:01:27
bassbinotoko
Audiophile

Posts: 88
Location: Vancouver Island
Joined: January 27, 2009
 It may just be the past catching up... I wince when I think of how many nails I pounded, or cap guns I fired without hearing protection. Not to mention some regular 500 mile trips in an old pickup truck with the windows down and the stereo cranked to be heard over the wind, engine, exhaust and road noise.

I'm skeptical that inaudible sounds would cause audible damage, but tinnitus is a funny thing. My understanding is that the frequencies you hear the ringing at are the same as the sounds that caused the damage.

Check what the frequency response on your AC (milli)voltmeter is. If it isn't into the 10s of kHz, make up a simple "RF" probe using a signal diode (with larger caps than for RF use). That should show you if anything inaudible is coming from the amp.

RE: Serious problem - can DIY audio make you deaf?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 04:58:16
JANDG
Audiophile

Posts: 1564
Location: Washington State
Joined: February 27, 2004
 Milk makes my wifes ears ring bad,very bad as she claims.
Joe
Wisdom for today.........
A GREAT tube amp or speakers will allways be GREAT & bieng relevant today is irrelevant.
Perhaps you drink too much milk?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 03:54:04
Bas Horneman
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 3549
Joined: March 28, 2001
 ...
To infinity and beyond!!!
RE: Serious problem - can DIY audio make you deaf?, posted on November 1, 2009 at 20:48:58
casouza
Audiophile

Posts: 485
Joined: March 18, 2008
 Andy, I read recently an article stating that many adults over 45 have a pronounced hearing loss in the left ear. The researchers looked for continuous sources of noise in the subject's daily life and found out that many of the subjects drove long commutes to work, with the driver's window down.
Any continuous noise above 85 db will affect permanently our hearing, after about 30 minutes of exposure. The rearing loss is subtle at first but accumulates over the years.

This is just speculation on my part, anyway I think it is useful information for our fellow audiophiles.

About the scope, here is a tutorial:
http://www.doctronics.co.uk/scope.htm

I can help, posted on November 1, 2009 at 16:10:15
danlaudionut
Audiophile

Posts: 3564
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: June 6, 2002
 Andy

Send me ALL your equipment immediately
and you will feel much better.
Stereos are very bad for your hearing.
Waste no time in sending it all here.
I will dispose of it properly 8^D

DanL
RE: I can help, posted on November 2, 2009 at 02:42:55
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Joined: October 20, 2000
 Hi Dan,

I think that's a brilliant idea. I have approximately two tons of various gear - transformers, chassis, chairs, storage units etc. I've been quoted $5,000 to ship from UK to the USA. Are you OK with Paypal?

andy

RE: I can help, posted on November 2, 2009 at 06:17:13
danlaudionut
Audiophile

Posts: 3564
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: June 6, 2002
 Andy

I don't have that much money ...
Hey do they take checks ??? 8^D

DanL
RE: I can help, posted on November 2, 2009 at 14:16:52
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Joined: October 20, 2000
 I don't have that much money ...
Hey do they take checks ??? 8^D>>

I hear they accept payment in little known old tubes of no value - 45, 50, 300b WE, obscure stuff like that.....

andy

RE: Serious problem - can DIY audio make you deaf?, posted on November 1, 2009 at 11:45:45
Blooze
Audiophile

Posts: 313
Location: Texas
Joined: August 1, 2005
 I know mine can flare up to extremey annoying levels when my allergies are really bothering me. Also as mentioned below ear wax buildup can definitely make it louder.

Are you sure this isn't just a case of ear wax build-up, posted on November 1, 2009 at 11:17:37
zobsky
Audiophile

Posts: 494
Location: dallas, tx
Joined: June 11, 2005
 Had a similar problem a few months ago and this was the issue. Ear cleaning at the ENT doctors' addressed this.

You should probably see a medical professional.

RE: Are you sure this isn't just a case of ear wax build-up, posted on November 1, 2009 at 11:23:41
Curly Woods
Audiophile

Posts: 118
Location: Texas
Joined: January 31, 2006
 Had a similar issue. Visited the doctor and he extracted a ear wax plug! I try to keep my ears clean, but he said that it happens more than I would imagine. Definitely not a cool deal with regards o hearing :-)

I'll ask the doctor to have a look tomorrow, but sceptical..., posted on November 1, 2009 at 14:00:16
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Joined: October 20, 2000
 I can easily find out if it's wax, but I suspect it isn't - I've never had much of a wax problem. But who knows - you're certainly smart to bring the question up. Thanks for reminding me!

I'm interested in the observation that it can flare up with allergies.

Still want to know if oscillations in equipment above our hearing can do damage.

andy

Hearing Losses and Tinnitus R Cumulative..., posted on November 3, 2009 at 06:19:55
Interstage Tranny
Audiophile

Posts: 1403
Location: Eastern
Joined: October 4, 2006
 ...which means that all the high level noises that have hurt your ears are summed thru the years. Eventually, tinnitus occurs, which is the thinned out cillia hairs vibrating non-stop. Some days, tinnitus is louder, but, alas, it never goes away. There are new vitamins/drugs available over the counter and at nutrition stores to try. Success has been noted. I wish you all the luck available...

So, where did we gain the incessant whistling in our ears ? Think about the concerts we attended, the noises at work(like jack hammers, drilling, sawing, grinding at many construction sites and workbenches...)commuting to work noises(trains, buses, whistlin' wind thru the car windows), etc. They all add up. In time, voila, the little vibrating hairs inside the ears thin out and can't stop vibrating, causing whistling and high freq losses. I know my tinnitus occurred after a long, noisy day at a construction site. In the next room, jack hammering was constant throughout the day. I actually plugged my ears with tissue paper, as soon as it started to annoy me(quickly)as the contractor did not have ear protection plugs. When I awoke the next day, the ringing never stopped. That was in one ear. Now, a dozen years later, both ears have a whistling concert inside. It is nerve wrenching, I know. I even think flourescent bulbs have an effect,as well as the older tube TVs.

I even sprang for expensive hearing aids. I mean $5K expensive, digital adjustable ones, as the $1K analog ones crunched terribly during loud events. There is a major problem with these amplifying aids. As we use them, the tinnitus is exacerbated, more and more. You see, the tinnitus is masking hi freq losses, even lower treble sounds. The hearing aid is adjusted to accentuate our losses. Thus, the noises which hurt our ears to begin with are amplified to keep on hurting us. Worse, the inside the ear hearing aids hurt when lying on our sides. When listening to our hifi, the highs sound overly bright and harsh, not natural at all. When driving my sportscar, the wind noise is accentuated. I just can't win. So, I do not wear my aids. Now, I have a new physical ailment. My heart is irregular and yielding chest "pressure" which is annoying and very scary. The docs are working on it. I hope to report some better news. Apparently, getting old, as in over 50, really has some downfalls. But, the alternative is not attractive. So, my most important word has always been, and remains: LIFE...

RE: Hearing Losses and Tinnitus R Cumulative..., posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:16:48
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Joined: October 20, 2000
 Amen to that! Great post.

I had an irregular heartbeat - started off as Wolf Parkinson White which can be pretty scary, but that was successfully operated leaving me with just a tendency to go irregular, which is well controlled by Amiodarone. I had three heart procedures in all - they're actually pretty routine these days. Good thing was they found my coronary arteries were clean as a whistle - it's not all bad news all the time!

andy

RE: Hearing Losses and Tinnitus R Cumulative..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 02:06:54
John Chleapas
Audiophile

Posts: 210
Location: framingham, ma
Joined: October 17, 2006
 First take a deep calming breath. I have some hearing problems from big gun antibiotics, which also gave me tinnitus. To know if your problem (if you even have any) is stable, or if you even have any hearing deficits have a professional hearing test done. Then a year from now have a follow up audiologist repeat the same hearing test. Then you will have two print outs of your hearing to see if you have anything to even worry about. I can say this that my Dad was severely hearing impaired. He was about deaf with 10% of normal hearing in his "good" ear. The newest generation of true digital programmable HA's brought his word comprehension from less than 2 in 10 to a measured 100% in the hearing booth. I give you the info on the digital Hearing Aids mainly in jest. Chances are your hearing will be found to be OK. Do a search. I remember reading in the forums here that someone tossed a large cherry bomb into a horn speaker and took the hit on their ears/hearing. Good luck! John

Hearing loss/problems, posted on November 2, 2009 at 16:47:00
morrisonic
Audiophile

Posts: 29
Joined: October 25, 2009
 I would bet $$$ that hi freq and oscillations (both hi and lo ) can cause hearing issues. Something else to look into is peaks in speaker response. With bi-amped/tri-amped systems, it's real easy to have huge peaks in response that will definately cause issues with your hearing if left unresolved.
Kelly

The was thing happend to me too. (n/t), posted on November 2, 2009 at 07:02:06
vanofmonks
Audiophile

Posts: 342
Location: NC
Joined: January 19, 2006
 .

RE: The was thing happend to me too. (n/t), posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:27:43
bfranchuk@jetnet.ab.ca
 Computer fans come to mind ... What all the 120 Hz hum you hear from
fridges and A/C ...

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