 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-07-19 02:21
Well, I got some wonderful news today from my specialist. I thought there was something wrong with my hearing, and it turned out to be the case... after checking me out, my specialist informed me that my right ear has deveolped about a 30% loss in the higher frequency range. The test points where they said the loss was most apparent were ar 4 and 8 KHz, whgich places it outside of all but the highest of notes in the normal performance spectrum. Even so, I definitely can tell a difference in clarity and fidelity wen comparing left to right ears. The left is decidedly better than the right. There is also a marked, high-pitch ringing in the right side, which I have had for years, but is now getting worse. The doc said it may be due ti the hearing loss.
So...my question is this: Has anyone here experienced a similar problem, and has it affected your playing so adversely that you have had to make accommodations or consider dropping serious playing altogether? Ihaven't had a great deal of time to digest all of this and get used to it, but for now, I am feeling a little heartbroken that I won't be able to hear the music the way I have always enjoyed it.
Apparently it isn't affecting the range of speech, but there isn't a guarantee that it won't get worse. Any suggestions anyone can offer? I will be going back for another test in three months.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2008-07-19 03:27
Check out: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=257380&t=257339 - which I found in a search for 'tinnitus'. (I am certain there is a way to make the address a hyperlink, but I am too lazy to figure it out.) You will find you have lots of company, and you will also find useful information from some real experts on hearing.
As a fellow sufferer, the only advice (after the fact) I can give is to use earplugs in band - especially if you sit near the business end of a trumpet, Eb clarinet, or piccolo.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-07-20 01:45
Thanks to all for the info. I read the other thread, and I see it is a common affliction in the group, alas.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2008-07-20 16:00
And again--from personal, first-hand experiance, if you are a young player, it would be wise to start using ear plugs even if you think you do not need them or you "like" the volumes all the way up. Hearing damage and subsequent lose begins early on when you don't even know it is happening. After the tinitus sets in, it's toooo late.
I'm a continuing clarinetist at 67 and the buzzing is always with me. I do use ear plugs (now, but not earlier) and insist on sound shields when sitting in front of the brass, but all of that is really too late. My wife tells me that the TV is always "too loud" and I fear I will have to start using hearing aids soon--not sure how that will limit my playing so I keep putting it off.
Ear plugs--even high school is not too soon. Wish that I would have started then...........
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2008-07-20 16:05
Quote:
Ear plugs--even high school is not too soon. Wish that I would have started then...........
I'd start earlier...4th & 5th grade when kids start band. Learn to play with plugs from the beginning!
I started getting tinnitus attacks in my early teens after just a few years of band.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-07-21 02:30
The problem is not that WE (the people with hearing loss) don't use ear plugs. The problem is that the conductors ask the brass to play too loud and the brass follow that instruction accordingly.
It's like if tall people walked around hitting short people on the head with bats; and then some medical "expert" says that short people should wear helmets. Why don't they just stop hitting people with bats?
It's an orchestra in a concert hall with acoustical archetecture, not marching band in an open air football field.
Post Edited (2008-07-21 02:32)
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Author: William
Date: 2008-07-21 16:15
"The problem is that the conductors ask the brass to play too loud and the brass follow that instruction accordingly"
I have often thought that orchestras should seat the brass and percussion in the front rows where they wouldn't have to play so loudly in order to be heard. I often did that with my middle school band and the resulting balance between woodwinds and "the rest" was much improved.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-07-22 02:59
That is a nice idea- at least there are no 'victims' in front of the brass that way.
But we are posting on a clarinet forum. Not a great many trumpet players reading this, I bet.
Off to find a trumpet forum...
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