Subject: Re: Subject: Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Loud extreme amps/ Subject

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Vern responds to my post about "painful" decibel levels:
 
"As they age, men lose their high frequency response more and sooner  than do 
women.  I'll bet an audiologist would find a substantial  difference between 
your hearing and that of your husband. My hearing  aids boost the high 
frequencies but my low frequency response is  normal.  My wife has lost some 
response at all  frequiencies.  She can hear the high frequency "beeps" of  
personal electronics when I cannot.  I can hear the doves and  owls outside 
when she can't.

At an outdoor concert a few years  ago, we were seated very close to a huge 
speaker stack.  I chewed  up a deposit slip from my check book and put the 
paper pulp in my  ears.

Vern "
 
oh...I don't doubt your experiences for a second.  Ven.  But I'm speaking 
about my personal experiences as one who has  been through some difficulties 
hearing wise (already documented here, so I  didn't think to go into them again - 
mea culpa).  I was completely  deaf for almost 3 days due to intense pain and 
ruptured eardrums  following  a particularly bad airplane flight.  I was 
extremely  fortunate....regaining my hearing completely due to immediate  surgical 
intervention by a miracle worker otolaryngologist in  Florida.  Since then I 
see a specialist here frequently.
 
Lest anyone think I'm "defending" high decibels, I had posted links  here to 
a site where really good ear plugs could be purchased...and  where I bought 
the special plugs enabling me to fly to Denver for SPAH  2006 (pressure 
equalizers). Was even thanked by a few SPAH attendees  for the ones they bought from 
the company.  My post was aimed purely  at the description of Jason's sound 
levels back when he opened  for Kim Wilson, since I know how hard he works at 
refining his  sound.
 
Perhaps my good luck came about because I've had to have  titanium tubes 
installed through my eardrums periodically in order to  fly, have no idea...but my 
hearing is now remarkably good.  Because  my father had a profound hearing 
loss I'm especially aware of just how  very lucky I am.  I too keep up with the 
audiological tests and  have them run fairly frequently, not leaving anything 
to chance.   This has been a special concern of mine.    My hearing is  as 
close to perfect as is possible, with no seeming loss to age...it has  been 
remarked on by the surgeon and the staff at the office who last  tested me...who 
usually think I'm around 20 years younger than my  chronological age  - not a 
bad thing at all, in my book  :)   
 
 I can hear all the sounds...from the low bird sounds you  mention to the 
highest "squeaks" and was concerned about my spouse's  hearing precisely because 
he didn't seem to hear what I could, so  persuaded him to get tested.  His 
tests were fine, with no  noticeable hearing loss, though I haven't compared our 
levels.  It  doesn't seem necessary as long as we're both fine.  He also hates 
 really loud decibels....is not a musician, I should add. 
 
 Like you, we've also been trapped at those weddings and other  occasions 
near the big speakers where one looks for any avenue of  escape.  Your solution 
is ingenious and I'd never have thought  of it.
 
Elizabeth