The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-05-21 16:31
Many TKS for your "research" Ken, will study the findings/opinions. I have considerable white-noise tinitus, from engr. field/plant work and band/orch? exposure and some hearing loss [age, I believe also] with wife's complaints!, so I'm listening to classics much of the day. Have consulted Drs, tried Niacin, dont want hearing aids, may have to "fight" them before long, tho. Need help here and elsewhere [eyes]. Thanx, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2004-05-21 17:39
Very interesting subject. I asked, some time ago, about this--in respect to what I was hearing versus whether those around me heard that same sound, 'sound like.'
This week I had another audiological exam, based on my dissatisfaction with the aids I was using for three years, and now have a new and different system. I will not get into brand names, cost, etc., other than to comment that the original ones had been forced beyond their capacity range to try to provide me with the majority of the higher freq's I was missing. This required the power of the larger systems, "battery box above the ear's" type. For me, these proved unsatisfactory to wear daily in every situation . Solution? Sacrifice that portions of the highs that were mostly 'gone' anyway, stay inside the "box" of freq's covered by the new system and maximize the 85% frequency area that I could still use.
Result's? Too soon to tell. Seems like it takes the brain about two weeks to rediscover what it thinks it is hearing--based on the new settings, etc., and your own evaluation as to what you think YOU are hearing. I must admit that the "old" sound verses the now NEW sounds are a great deal different. Voices, conversations, etc., are now clearer and less jumbled as the background hum and hiss of the system trying too hard has been eliminated. Conversations with the wife have excluded many of the "What's" and "huh,s" . But admittedly less interesting as I don't drop into a conversational "rabbit hole" so often. It does, however, seem as if I am listening from the bottom of a well--just a tad hollow with the upper freq's gone, but I think time will cure that.
Major improvements in what I think my Bass Clarinet sound like as I now don't have all the "whoose" noises associated with higher freq's and air (?) getting out around the mouthpiece. Maybe I will like this better. As to whether those around me will think my playing has improved will remain to be seen. But one thing I know--there is a major difference in aids selected and selected frequencies that are programmed in.
Se your local audiologist. Try to find one who plays a clarinet (anything from even the little effer's to the Contra's ). It will payoff in the long run.
Bob A
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-05-21 23:24
Hi All:
Check my earlier posts on good, inexpensive hearing protection that's a must for any working musician.
Thanks for the links, Ken
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-05-24 03:54
One comment a 2nd violinst made to me which had resonance, especially with this subject is "try sitting in front of the piccolo player, goes right through the back of your head, not pleasant".
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Author: marzi
Date: 2004-05-25 01:52
how bout kids playing in their school bands? my son was playing tonight
right in front of the trumpets, so i wonder how early this hearing loss
could start? he is of course already good at "selective " hearing..
did mom say something?
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-05-25 02:06
The hearing loss is cumulative. The damage done now may not be apparent for decades.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-05-25 14:09
When I was in my 20's my audiometer test results were so good one doctor told me I had "hearing like a dog" (that was a compliment, by the way -- I could hear high frequencies really well). Now, in my mid-40s, I can't hear any higher than 11 kHz -- I know this from using audio test CDs to calibrate my open-reel tape decks. I've noticed I no longer get the feeling of brightness and immediacy from good orchestral recordings like I did then, and I'm starting to miss speech cues -- my wife and kids sometimes have to repeat things they say to me. I'm sure this is partly due to natural aging, but mostly caused by years of playing in Top-40/wedding bands, big bands, concert bands and orchestras. The stuff just adds up.
Protect your hearing!
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Author: sdr
Date: 2004-05-26 16:05
For more on the topic of acoustic trauma (a.k.a. noise injury; a.k.a. toxic noise), see the NIH National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) website at <www.nidcd.nih.gov> and look under Health Information.
-sdr
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Steven D. Rauch, MD
Assoc. Prof., Otology & Laryngology
Harvard Medical School
Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary
Tel: 617-573-3644
Fax: 617-573-3939
Email: sdr@epl.meei.harvard.edu
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