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Hi, I have hearing problems, left ear dead. I would like to know if any of you have this problem and how much it penalized you on the guitar? Thanks
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09-12-2024 10:32 AM
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Not me, fortunately, but a good friend lost all function of his left ear a few years ago. I don't think it handicapped his playing but he played mostly harpsichord.
Unless you're a lefty guitar player your instrument produces (most of) its sound to the right of your centre line and if in addition you keep your eyes on your fretting hand your good ear will be the one receiving all sound.
I wouldn't want to discover what one-sided loss of hearing means for playing together; a priori it will be more difficult to tell instruments apart because directional hearing should be significantly impaired
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PSA: There is something called Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. I don't know how common it is, but I had it and I know a few others who have had it.
If you get it, you'll know, because your hearing will be distorted and/or reduced in one ear.
The thing to know is that quick treatment improves your likelihood of restoring your hearing. Think hours, not days. You may get it back without treatment, to one degree or another, but the treatment helps. It's a steroid, either orally or injected into the ear (it's a little less horrible than that sounds).Last edited by rpjazzguitar; 09-12-2024 at 06:36 PM.
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I had sudden sensorineural loss.. All of a sudden, this thing happened 7 years ago. I did everything I could, but nothing worked. My life has changed.. It is not easy. I hope you never have this problem.
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There have been remarkable advances in aural implant technology to restore hearing but currently it's very expensive.
Originally Posted by Karlos
What can cause such sudden hearing loss, a blow to the head or something?
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I have reduced hearing, and wear hearing aids, but it won't be getting any better! Plus tinnitus. After many years on guitar and in the studio. Not fun!
The main thing I focus on is saving what I have left. I try to avoid everything that's loud, especially when I practice. It's hard because it takes a certain volume (for me) to feel totally involved. When I play with other people, positioning is the key. But I stopped gigging some years ago, had to quit a band that I really enjoyed, because of this problem, and would only do a quiet jazz gig now.
Good luck with it, it's very hard to deal with as I'm sure you know!
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Hi, it is not known exactly why. It could have been a latent virus that destroyed the auditory nerve, or a capillary that closed, or high cholesterol, or oxygen was not supplied for a certain period of time. Originally Posted by Mick-7
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I had hearing loss mid- July 2024 (-20dB my 2 ears)after a viral infection transmitted by my grandson coming for holidays from Hong Kong.The loss appeared after 2 or 3 days of contamination. Originally Posted by Mick-7
I consulted immediately a friend otolaryngologist who gave me massive doses of corticosteroids :that didn’t help anything.I knew the risk,cause I’m a retired diabeto- endocrinologist
I have an appointment with an audiophonist
In the meantime,I try to play my guitar as best as I can by borrowing my wife’s her right hearing aid
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I was told that it was probably due to a virus.
I was also told to be very careful about loud sounds.
So, I carry a set of earplugs in a little cylinder that clips onto my key ring, which I always carry. Not a perfect solution because the ones I have, Hearos, muffle the sound. I tried custom fitted Etymotics but they weren't any better -- in fact, they may have been worse because of the rigidity of the plug. They'd shift and I would think the bass player was too loud. Better to have a soft plug, or so I think.
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Hi, here in Italy they also do hyperbaric chamber, several sessions, many have had benefits, but you don't have to wait too long. Originally Posted by Hyppolyte Bergamotte
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Oticon intent
Phonak audio lumity
the two best tools in Europe for musicians
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too late for me Originally Posted by Karlos
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I occasionally have problems with left ear. No treble left, all bassy. Dunno what it is. Sometimes it lasts for days.
When it takes longer, I kinda get used to it and when listening to headphones, it is less noticeable.
I guess left and right ears are supposed to work perfectly together to get the 3d aural image, thats why it gets so annoying with real life sounds.
But I never had it go completely out. Every time I hear someone with such problem, it is a bummer
Hope you can get it solved, Karlos!
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Do you get equilibrium problems too? Time to go visit an ORL! I'm not one but it sounds like this *could* be Mézière's disease. Originally Posted by emanresu
As you probably know, the inner ear works like a Fourier transform aka spectrum analyser, with the audible spectrum represented along the basilar membrane of the cochlea. Not hearing part of the spectrum means that the receptive cells along part of that membrane don't do their job; it'd be the ORL's job to figure out why and if something can be done to prevent this (or stop it from going worse).
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Ciao, , my problem will never be solved, it will take a miracle! I think I had other passions Hi end audio.. Etc Thiel speakers, top of the range amplifiers, but now everything is off. Euros thrown to the wind. Originally Posted by emanresu
I occasionally have problems with left ear. No treble left, all bassy. Dunno what it is. Sometimes it lasts for days.
When it takes longer, I kinda get used to it and when listening to headphones, it is less noticeable.
I guess left and right ears are supposed to work perfectly together to get the 3d aural image, thats why it gets so annoying with real life sounds.
But I never had it go completely out. Every time I hear someone with such problem, it is a bummer
Hope you can get it solved, Karlos!
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That shouldn't be entirely the case, not if your right ear works as before! This should speak for itself as far as per-channel sound quality is concerned. But the brain is also amazingly flexible and will or can learn to exploit the difference between hearing with a single ear and hearing exactly the same signal in 2 ears (aka pure mono). From what I understand the shape of our head and design of our ear lobes allows at least some spatial reconstruction even with 1 deaf ear so even if all that money also went into multi-speaker set-up (and recordings exploiting it) your should still be able to get at least some enjoyment out of that. Originally Posted by Karlos
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Hi folks, I don't often contribute to this forum. Mainly just absorb info from folks with better things to say than me. But, this subject is one I can contribute to!
So I am an audiologist working in a range of areas of adult and paediatric audiology in the UK. I often get musicians with hearing loss in my clinic and often get those suffering a sudden sensorineural loss in hearing.
First of all, if you experience a sudden loss in hearing, get it checked out ASAP! Too often I see folk sitting on it for a few weeks/months. It's much easier for an ENT doctor to try steroid treatments if it's caught early.
Secondly, many musicians have a hearing loss and manage to function very well in a listening and performing situation. It does take relearning, patience and a realistic out look. But if you have a new or long-standing hearing loss, do not give up hope!
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It's Meniere's in case you are trying to Google it. My father-in-law has it and manages to minimise the effects with a low-salt diet. Originally Posted by RJVB
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Oups, yes, Ménière's disease. Originally Posted by telephonic
One letter difference with the name of an interesting physiotherapy technique.
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I remember trying to google about it but found out that "eh, what can you do"...
Thanks to this thread I did another google and found that nicotine, booze, salt.. etc. could make things worse. And oh, coffee.
I have been drinking coffee (and heavy ass green tea) as the first thing after waking up. Now, after a stream bad luck with the disease lately, tried to just drink a glass of water first thing in the morning.
So far, no new episodes. That water retention was the problem then. Maybe.
Just had to post if anyone else has the same issue.. maybe a bit of help? Premature here, though. Should see what happens in a few months.
edit: yeah. it completely went away... for a month. Now it's back again. I guess it is time to consult a doctor.
edit2: nah. it didn't come back. it was the same kind of tinnitus that came back for a day, but didn't go any further.Last edited by emanresu; 12-08-2024 at 04:13 AM.
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My hearing has become worse lately, and I’ve decided to start looking at some hearing aids in the next few days. From what I’ve read and heard from others, it seems like Phonak might be the way to go, especially with their good reputation and variety of models. I’m also considering to buy hearing aids online since the prices seem much better compared to local stores. At the same time, I’m trying to make sure I understand what features I really need so I don’t overspend. It feels like a big step, but I’m honestly looking forward to finally finding the right aids and making daily life a bit easier again
Last edited by benhatchins; 09-28-2025 at 06:35 AM.
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Give Oticon a try too - they’ve worked quite nicely for me. Originally Posted by benhatchins
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I had sudden hearing loss in my rt ear a decade ago. My rt ear is useless for speech. Its like a speaker with a bad wire.
My rt ear is not so great...mostly just abuse and old age.
Im going through it now with new hearing aids.
Having a useless rt ear makes playing acoustically difficult. Im tempted to have a sound port put in one of my guitars to send sound to my left ear
The guitar sounds terrible but I just got them. I go back for adjustments in a few weeks.
Im going to get the audiologist to write a profile for guitar.
Im having all the probems that Ive read about a lot from musicians.
First my clean tone sounds like it has a mild chorus effect all the time. It does sound pretty but its not the sound I want.
Im told that can be the noise cancelation, feedback control and or compression...all the high tech stuff that makes them work well in normal life.
Most folks say for the guitar program to turn all that stuff off and basically create an imitation of an old analogue aid....just increase volume and compensate for lost sensitivity in certain frequencies.
The most irritating thing is the amplification of fret buzz that even my wife cant here with her supersonic ears. That plus playing high up on the neck on the high e sounds thin and uneven. I think the hearing aids are actually trying to cancel out those sounds with some sort of noise gate. Whatever it is its annoying
Gettin old aint fun. I guess I have to be patient.
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Good luck, your hearing is worse it! Originally Posted by benhatchins
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I have Phonak. They work. They're comfortable enough to wear. I don't think they have that feature that allows a theater to broadcast audio to them. That might be relevant to some people.
I went to a private audiologist. I also went to Costco. Costco's exam, free with membership, included some tests that the private audiologist didn't do. And, at the end of the exam they give you a set of loaners to wear for an hour around the store -- already programmed to your hearing needs. Costco was cheaper than the private audiologist -- even though the private guy took my insurance. But, Costco doesn't sell Phonak, so it's maybe not a fair comparison. It's hard to get unbiased info about the differences between brands.
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