Going deaf at 22, really in need of help with new (non in ear) headphone selection!!!!

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
So over the past few weeks my hearing has been getting worse. Going into hospital for a scan, but the long and short of it is i am developing tinnitus and the hearing in my left ear is deteriorating quickly. (can hear my heart beat, can't hear low frequencies at certain times of the day, quieter etc etc.)

The worst part about this was that on the day the doctor said 'you must STOP listening to your headphones' my replacement soundmagic e10's came. Having used the in ear headphones that came with my phone for a good few weeks (i lost my previous sound magics) i was chuffed! Now having learned that i am going to go deaf if i continue to listen to music i really need to swap from in ear headphones to something bigger like on ears or over ears.

I am not an audiophile, but it doesn't mean that i don't enjoy decent sound quality. The problem is that i haven't heard anything as good as these soundmagics on bigger headphones.

There are two parts to my question, should i get some noise cancelling headphones or just normal on/over ear headphones? I am thinking of noise cancelling because i don't have to contend with other sounds and turn them up really loud when running or cycling (i am aware that this could be dangerous..) and what sort of headphones are going to be able to reproduce the sound as well as these soundmagic e10's for a reasonable price. If i have to spend 200 pounds i will but i would much rather try and stick to the 100 pound mark.

A lot of headphones leave me unimpressed. I recently listened to 'Sennheiser HD 558' and they were crap, really crap and they are over 100 quid!!! I have never heard an impressive pair of beats. Pretty much every pair of headphones on display in places in HMV leave me unimpressed. All i want is a good sound stage, able to distinguish between instruments and frequencies with no bleeding, tight bass but not too quiet with low frequency response. Not too much to ask right?

I will be using my HTC One most of the time when i'm on the move (i might get the sansa clip out if it proves to make an improvement). I listen to 320kpbs mp3's (replacing everything with flacs takes too much of my time)

This is my type of music

I have seen - Zero 7

The Voyage - Haywyre

Chubby Putty - Opiuo

Thank you in advanced. You can't understand my frustration. I listen to so much music, i adore it, yet it is the very thing causing me to go deaf. I'm only 22 and do not want to lose my vital sense :'(

Thank you Thank you Thank you
 

MajorFubar

New member
Mar 3, 2010
690
6
0
Visit site
Has your doctor considered the possibility that you have a blocked eustachan tube: the vent between the inner ear and the back of your throat? I suffer from it periodically, sometimes it can take weeks to clear, though I've slowly learned how to clear it myself. Symptoms are a feeling that inside your ear is 'full' or blocked, earache, heartbeat, popping or cracking, your voice booming in that ear, sound is dull and gurgly like you're listening under water. Sometimes lying on the affected ear relieves the pressure and pain. I don't want to say your doctor's an idiot and isn't giving you good advce, but I'd advise you to see an ENT specialist. General Practitioners are exactly that, and they don't seem to understand ears, much beyond wax build-up. I went to mine with the symptoms I described above when I was 32 and he just stuck me on antibiotics. Had to do my own research on the matter to find out what was really wrong.
 

dalethorn

New member
Dec 7, 2011
2,222
0
0
Visit site
When the doctor says "you must stop listening to your headphones", you cannot ignore that. You can get a second medical opinion, and you can follow up on the other user suggestion about the possible blocked tube. But don't proceed until you clear the medical issue. There are also "health practitioners" who offer advice plus herbs and vitamins to help people, but if you're considering any such advice, clear that with your doctor as well.
 

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
Well i have been forwarded to a ENT specialist, i just need to wait a couple of weeks. I really hope it is something like that, my symptoms are

- Can hear heart beat and blood pulsating through my ears (especially in the morning) i suspect that my brain starts to cancel it out which is why sometimes low frequencies are weaker in my left ear (although its not always the case)

- It feels like my ear drum vibrates when there is a loud noise, even if the loud noise is directly in my right ear drum (for example listening to one headphone in my right ear really loud causes my left ear drum to vibrate, its quite painful)

-sensitive to loud and high pitched noises on my left ear

-occasional ringing in both ears, but a lot more common in my left.

It kind of does feel like its blocked in a way, but that could just be more the fact that because my hearing is worse in my left ear that everything is more dull sounding. (although listening to my soundmagics i can't tell as much)

If it turns out that i go to the ENT specialist and they tell me that i can't listen to music anymore then i will obviously have to take that advice, so for that i will bare in mind the Aftershokz headphones, but i have read some reviews and apparently they aren't the best sounding things in the world. I am a bit of a stickler with my audio quality. But thank you, i will bare them in mind if it is really that bad.

I have read some good reviews for these http://www.richersounds.com/product/all-headphones/akg/k451/akg-k451 but i am not sure if they are a bit overhyped, can they really be as good as all that for 50 quid? also i have seen some people say they weren't very impressed with them. They also go quite loud, probably not the best thing for me right now. Does anyone else have any better recommendations?
 

jjbomber

Well-known member
Definately pay and go private for a single consultation. I had 10 years being fobbed off by the NHS with various ear problems. In the end I paid and went for a second opinion. Best £60 I ever spent. It turned out I had a ear infection in both earsall along which was eating away inside my ears. The headphones were making my ears sweat and that is perfect conditions for the infection to grow. I ended up having to go into hospital for a couple of major operations. Both ears had to come off to clea the imfection, though they did sew them back on. Now I have to go to hospital every 3 months for ear inspeactions. Ironically, I went back on the NHS to have the operation done and it was the same specialist I had paid to see privately.

As the Major says, see a specialist.
 

cheeseboy

New member
Jul 17, 2012
245
1
0
Visit site
dalethorn said:
When the doctor says "you must stop listening to your headphones", you cannot ignore that. You can get a second medical opinion, and you can follow up on the other user suggestion about the possible blocked tube. But don't proceed until you clear the medical issue. There are also "health practitioners" who offer advice plus herbs and vitamins to help people, but if you're considering any such advice, clear that with your doctor as well.

I'd totally back that up. Wait until the tests are done and everything is back before you go and potentially do something that could make it worse. I can apprecaite it's a worrying time, but if you want the best chance for the future the wait and see what the doctors and specialists say before worrying about what new earphones to buy.
 

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
Thanks. I will be going to see a specialist in a couple of weeks :) but I'm glad to hear there are more than one or two thigs that can go wong. You would have thought if it was my headphones both my ears would be affected. Either way, in ears probably aren't that great for you. Maybe some nice sounding on ears would be good. I'm just reluctant to spend a lot of money on crap sounding headphones. No where I can really test them out in my town so I am hoping for some advice from someone who knows their stuff! :D
 

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
I suppose you guys are talking sense. :) I just can't stop listening to my music. I've gone years a d years listening to music for hours a day. Im using my headphones regardless until I see the ent specialist. 2 weeks isn't going to hurt for a problem I have had for months.
 

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
Let's assume that it is an infection cause by sweat from running with in ear headphones. I have 2 weeks to save up for some nice over or ears. What do you suggest.

All you guys telling me this has made me reconsider listening to my ear buds for the time being appreciate your advice thanks. Now I need your expertise ;)
 

dalethorn

New member
Dec 7, 2011
2,222
0
0
Visit site
troopski said:
Let's assume that it is an infection cause by sweat from running with in ear headphones. I have 2 weeks to save up for some nice over or ears. What do you suggest. All you guys telling me this has made me reconsider listening to my ear buds for the time being appreciate your advice thanks. Now I need your expertise ;)

No, let's not assume anything, and no, no more advice until your medical issue is cleared.
 

troopski

New member
May 26, 2014
7
0
0
Visit site
You guys are all being far too nice :) what a lovely concerning bunch you are I could be a ******** for all you know :p maybe I should have just made the topic called 'fed up with in ears, need over ear replacement for my sound magic e10's' lol. But thanks guys. What a nice community it Is here.
 

Workshy

New member
May 9, 2014
1
0
0
Visit site
You do need to wait until you go to the hospital. Don't go private until you have seen the local ENT doctor (it is usually a local NHS doctor with a private clinic anyway). I'm an audiologist (I would do all the testing for the ENT doctor and provide many of the treatments that are not drug or surgery related) by trade and take it from me that when it comes to hearing GP's have very little knowledge. It could one of a few different causes. The fact that you say it fluctuates could indicate it could be your outer/middle ear, which means it may not be permanent.
 

emperor's new clothes

Well-known member
May 28, 2013
35
2
18,545
Visit site
Sound advice!

tried to educate my daughters of a similar age about the dangers of in ear devices, but as usual, falls on deaf ears :)

My career was dependant on passing biannual audio grams and I saw graphical evidence of the consequences of my short relationship with a Walkman in 1983. If you still want to enjoy your hifi in later years, take care. Those tiny hair receptors cannot be replaced.

BTW. I don't find the HD558s to be rubbish. Perhaps give them another try with a decent dac once your hearing is fixed. I am not au fait with your music so they might be too smooth & refined for your taste.
 

dalethorn

New member
Dec 7, 2011
2,222
0
0
Visit site
There's a reason why headphones can be dangerous for hearing, but it's not "volume" per se, it's the hidden stuff. Here's an explanation I wrote with some humour.

http://dalethorn.com/Headphone_Volume_Hearing_Damage.txt
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts