Have I damaged my hearing?

[RobK]

I went to turn off my media centre PC last night without realising that someone had sat on the remote control for my amp and turned the volume up to maximum. I pressed the power button on the PC and got the Windows shutdown noise at full blast into my right ear. This was from a Yamaha DSP-A1 into B&W 603 speakers so it was really, really fecking loud and I was about 1 foot away from the speaker.

This morning I have earache and the hearing seems to be dullened in my right ear. Is this going to be permanent and / or should I get it checked out?

[burble]

It should sort itself after 24 hours or so. I used to quite often get this the day after a concert and it's always gone.

If in doubt though, get yourself checked.

[Mac]

Rob

I perferated my eardrum a few years ago. The symptoms were muffled sounds in my right ear, and also I'd randomly lose my balance.

Odd thing was sometimes my hearing would be fine - then all of a sudden it would go muffled... typically with me then losing my balance within the hour of it going screwey.

It's worth getting checked out. My doc was convinced I should have been in pain when it happened but I wasn't really.. Worse bit was feeling vomit worthy after a while.

I had a very minor op and everything was fine after that.

One thing the doc did say is that it's always worth getting your ears checked ASAP if you think something's wrong as it's a lot harder to fix the longer you leave it. I don't know how true that is but on the other hand it's easy to go to the docs.

[bazza_g]

Fingers crossed it should sort itself out by the morning, I had similar earache/dulled hearing for the rest of the day after accidentally not having one of my earplugs in properly for the last stand when shotgunning = d'oh!

[MOSE]

I wouldn't have any cause for concern here Rob, all should be ok soon.

After my first ever time watching The Who at Charlton in 1974, and seeing them live every year since.....if anyone's hearing is fecked its mine. But I think I'm ok. Got a bit of pain to my right ear which does cause a bit of pain, but WHO gives a feck. Only prob I got is that they get louder and louder every time you see them live. But hey ho. I just get a very loud pitched noise in my right ear from time to time and it can get painful, but this only rears its head if I go to other concerts, or race meets.

Home Cinema wise, I have a 7 channel Denon/Kef set up, and only this weekend did we really enjoy watching several movies which gave it some serious clout in HD DTS. Fecking glorious, and my ears are fine. And we really crank it up when we watch movies in this household.

If I go to see The Who this year on planned tour, then I will no doubt suffer as I have done in previous years, but no big deal. I love loud noise!

[RobK]

Thanks chaps. The earache has gone this morning fortunately, but I still seem to be missing some high frequency detail in the right ear. if it hasn't improved after a couple of days I guess I'll be off to the docs

[bazza_g]

Only prob I got is that they get louder and louder every time you see them live.

Mose I hate to tell you this but they're not getting louder - you're getting older each time you see them

Rob - glad the ear's on the mend

[cruiser647]

I perforated my ear drum (near the edge) when on holiday snorkelling! I could have made it worse by using ear drops, as I did not know what it was.

It hurt a bit and my hearing was muffled slightly, and when I got back, I went to the docs. They sent me to hospital and in the few weeks that took, my ear drum ahd healed up.

Any pressure issues, and that ear drum is first to 'pop', as it is tighter than the other one - I suppose.

[MOSE]

Mose I hate to tell you this but they're not getting louder - you're getting older each time you see them

You may have a point there Mr. G.

But in all seriousness, I've loved all kinds of live music for 35 yrs and in all that time, The Who still remain the loudest act I have ever seen live.

In 1976, again at Charlton Athletic, The Who entered the Guinness book of records as being the loudest ever live act. The sound levels were measured as being 126db at a distance of 35m from the stage. Am not really sure exactly what that compares to, but given that in '76 their shows would last for just over 3 hours, and thats a lot of time to be subject to sound pressure levels of that kind.

Hence why my hearing is fecked. I also recall one year going to see Motorhead and I got picked up and got onto the stage, only to be chased around the place by some bouncer bloke. So it was either get caught and chucked out the stage door, or stage dive into the crowd.

So stage dive it was, and every **** moved so I hit the deck. Then I got picked up again and ended up in one of the bass bins. I never heard much for at least another week, just a very high pitched ringing in my ears.

Feck I love it loud!!

[M8CKN]

I also recall one year going to see Motorhead and I got picked up and got onto the stage, only to be chased around the place by some bouncer bloke. So it was either get caught and chucked out the stage door, or stage dive into the crowd.

So stage dive it was, and every **** moved so I hit the deck. Then I got picked up again and ended up in one of the bass bins. I never heard much for at least another week, just a very high pitched ringing in my ears.

Sorry Mose, but this has just made me pi55 myself, what a great image!!

[MOSE]

Ahhhhhhhhh......the memories!!

[Brabus]

PARDON??

On a serious note I'd go and get it checked out. Anything to do with vision or hearing you can't take chances with IMO.