Hearing degradation

[Deleted member 160668]

Just back from mums, whose mid 60’s... She was complaining of her hifi sounding tinny and sh*t.

Is old Denon to B&W setup and so checked it over but nothing wrong. Then had a listen with her to some of my test tracks which I know inside out.

Absolutely fine to my ears. Nothing amiss at all.

My question is - is it possible to do a hearing sweep of some form to see what she can/can’t hear compared to me, or is this reserved only for hearing doc? (obviously I told her to book appoint to get checked).

But wondering if there’s a sound-sweep of different pitches/noises you can put through hifi to give an impression of hearing quality?

Of course I appreciate as we all age, hearing gets a little worse, and to be fair she’s been a party animal most of her life, in clubs/raves/festivals etc. so probably has not been particularly kind to her ears.

Does anyone know if this does this exist? Or off for a hearing test is the only answer?

Cheers all.

 

[MikeToll]

Being pretty deaf myself I would advise your mother to have a hearing test and hearing aids fitted as necessary. I am sure your mother has no idea just how much she is missing, not just for listening to her hi-fi but for life in general. I was reluctantly persuaded (!!!) to have a test by my other half and ended up with hearing aids. Best hi-fi upgrade I have ever done! Deaf people miss so much and the having the hearing aids fitted was a revelation.

 

[Native_bon]

Yes i would also suggest she has an ear test done.

 

[insider9]

Are you sure tweeters aren't blown? It's my first thought when I hear something like this. But hearing test would also be a good idea. Basic ones can be done at most places offering eye tests. These would highlight if there is a need to see a specialist.

 

[Gray]

You could use the test tones from a soundcheck CD (or an online source) to compare her hearing with yours.

I suspect that, given a full check by an audiologist, many people would be surprised / shocked to learn how far below perfect their hearing is. I'm under no illusions myself, especially after years of working in / visiting live venues and clubs.

I was delighted by the outcome of an ear syringe I had (no equipment upgrade could come close). If she was lucky, that could be all your Mum needs. A Doctor can do an initial check for blockage.

 

[Deleted member 160668]

A hearing test is a given. I’ve told her to book one...

Tweeters are 100%. I had a good listen to her setup, which is absolutely fine. Zero issues I can detect.

Just strange as I see her regularly, several times per week, and never mentioned before.

Guessing there’s no cd test track we can both listen to and ‘compare’ out hearing together then??

Obviously she will still go for a hearing test.

Thanks for all answers folks.

Cheers,

*sorry edit - missed a post... what cd test track?

Ps - yes a ear syringe is awesome, I too have had this done several times before and it’s absolute the very best hifi upgrade ever!!

 

[Gray]

This would be a bit crude, but if you were both listening she could tell you when she lost it altogether.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-iCZElJ8m0

 

[Deleted member 160668]

Thanks all.

Will have a listen to the suggestion Gray

(mum we’re doing this next time (I’ve linked her to the thread))

cheers all. Happy weekends to you all. Nice one.

 

[Gray]

https://youtu.be/hDhBW3ksdl4?t=495

 

[andyjm]

Have a look at the link. The article isn't great, but the second graph tells the whole story.

http://www.psych.usyd.edu.au/staff/alexh/teaching/auditoryTute_2014/

At age 60, you mum will be over 40dB down on the hearing she would have had as a 20 year old. The third graph is interesting for its analysis of environmental degredation. All of us posting on this forum will have suffered hearing loss to one degree or another.

I have raised the question before about the mixing engineer in his 40s, with bombed out hearing from too many gigs, being the arbiter of the mix in the control room. Perhaps you don't want it to sound like it did in the studio after all.

In his later life, George Martin was candid about how years of high volume work in studios had effected his hearing. For the last few years of his life he got his son to do the mixing.

 

[Vladimir]

Change the Denon power cord to a silver aftermarket one. Hold on to the couch when you play music for the first time. The amounts of details will astonish.

 

[stereoman]

Change the Denon power cord to a silver aftermarket one. Hold on to the couch when you play music for the first time. The amounts of details will astonish.

lol...Vlad, you're a joker...But honestly maybe there is a hearing issue. GO immediately for the hearing test.

 

[nopiano]

There is an app from Specsavers which you can use on a mobile phone with headphones or earbuds. It’s free, and called Hearing Check.

She might just need her ears syringing, so maybe check at her GP first.

 

[Singslinger]

Four years ago, I suffered slight hearing loss in the extreme frequencies (low and high). High frequencies sounded tinny and low frequencies were muffled.

The ENT specialist said at my age, which was 54 then, some loss is to be expected but mine was slightly abnormal.

After a few tests, he concluded that because there was no visible damage to my eardrums, that I had to be a victim of a virus. The medications prescribed were prednisolone (a steroid) and avorax (anitviral medication). The initial doses were very large for a few days, then this was gradually reduced. The treatment worked - within a day or two my hearing was back to normal but the doc warned me that the virus (according to him, of unknown origin) could return.

Since then, I've had another episode which he chose to treat differently - with a herbally-derived medication called Cavinton that increases blood supply to the brain. This too has worked and restored my hearing.

Hope this helps.

 

[andyjm]

There is an app from Specsavers which you can use on a mobile phone with headphones or earbuds. It’s free, and called Hearing Check.

She might just need her ears syringing, so maybe check at her GP first.

It never hurts to be cautious so a hearing test is a good idea, but she is in her mid 60s, so I am afraid her hearing will have significantly deteriorated due to age.

There are a number of youtube videos of an audio enthusiasts group (I think associated with PS audio) where the average age of the audience must be 70. I guess this group is retired and has money, and are following their interests - so good luck to them. None of them will be hearing anything past 12kHz, and most will be lucky if they get past 8kHz.

I am 56 and frankly my hearing is well past its best. I had it tested regularly when I was in my early 20s, and it was better than my age would have predicted, but now it is below average for my age group. It is one of life's ironies that when you have the time and money to enjoy something, you no longer have the physical ability to do so.

 

[Sliced Bread]

It’s also possible that she’s hearing something you’re not. If she thinks it’s tinny then maybe she’s picking up on higher frequencies that you cannot hear.

I recently discovered when running some frequency sweeps that my hearing rolls off WAY WAY below the usual 20khz. I’m 41.

I’m also now able to tolerate brighter systems more than I used to when I was younger and one wonders if this is because of the above.

 

[Al ears]

There is an app from Specsavers which you can use on a mobile phone with headphones or earbuds. It’s free, and called Hearing Check.

She might just need her ears syringing, so maybe check at her GP first.

You try finding a GP these days that will actually do that.....

 

[MajorFubar]

You try finding a GP these days that will actually do that.....

triage nurse does it at my doctors, but they usually put you on a course of drops first to soften the wax build up

 

[Sliced Bread]

You try finding a GP these days that will actually do that.....

triage nurse does it at my doctors, but they usually put you on a course of drops first to soften the wax build up

They are slowly replacing syringing with micro-suction. Does the same job but is a little safer.

 

[andyjm]

I recently discovered when running some frequency sweeps that my hearing rolls off WAY WAY below the usual 20khz. I’m 41.

No one on this forum can hear 20kHz unless they learned to type before they were 5 years old.

Although most here think they have golden ears, the truth is that in a modern environment they will be lucky to hear 15kHz in their 20s, and from there it is all downhill.

 

[Sliced Bread]

I recently discovered when running some frequency sweeps that my hearing rolls off WAY WAY below the usual 20khz. I’m 41.

No one on this forum can hear 20kHz unless they learned to type before they were 5 years old.

Although most here think they have golden ears, the truth is that in a modern environment they will be lucky to hear 15kHz in their 20s, and from there it is all downhill.

Good to know. Maybe I’m normal then. I stopped hearing around 15-16khz

 

[CnoEvil]

This Golden Eared Audiophile can hear an elderly flea fart, just before it jumps....but only when it isn't being drowned out by the Sonar emitted from the Bats in my attic. *crazy*

 

[nopiano]

You try finding a GP these days that will actually do that.....

triage nurse does it at my doctors, but they usually put you on a course of drops first to soften the wax build up

Yes, that’s what I had too...

 

[Sliced Bread]

You try finding a GP these days that will actually do that.....

triage nurse does it at my doctors, but they usually put you on a course of drops first to soften the wax build up

Yes, that’s what I had too...

And its the best feeling in the world when it unblocks

 

[Deleted member 160668]

We tried the sound sweep suggested by Gray. All I can say is ow! Felt like my brain was going to explode and I had to leave the room. Didn’t like that at all, akin to nails on a blackboard! So gave up on that.

Her hearing is better than was so might have been viral/hay fever related. Still suggesting she goes for checkup though.

Re getting ears syringed... I’ve had this done several times. Utterly astonishing if you go from blocked to superman hearing in seconds - first time I made a mistake and went to friends house with screechy children. Learnt my lesson and will never do again straight after a syringe. Painful! Lol.