Music Sounds Slightly Different — Less Bassy — After Several Acoustic Traumas

[parabellum]

I have been suffering from noise-induced tinnitus since 2014. Recently during this year I had several acoustic traumas. Now music sounds kinda different. It is like I don't hear bass as much anymore. My subjective perception seems to have changed slightly.

Is there anyone who has also experienced a subjective change like I did? I hope I can still recover and things restore back to "normal".

 

[Kendra]

I have not experienced anything like that for me. But I would say to get a hearing test done to see if you've dropped in any of the lower frequencies.

 

[Mister Muso]

Not really - all music was painful for a few months, but I was gradually able to return to different genres, starting with ambient and acoustic music at low volume, eventually Pink Floyd and even Rush - the band who first gave me tinnitus. Most metal music however is no longer an option for me, and even some classical with sustained high-pitched tones.

 

[FGG]

I have been suffering from noise-induced tinnitus since 2014. Recently during this year I had several acoustic traumas. Now music sounds kinda different. It is like I don't hear bass as much anymore. My subjective perception seems to have changed slightly.

Is there anyone who has also experienced a subjective change like I did? I hope I can still recover and things restore back to "normal".

I have this problem among other music distortions but mine is more severe than yours it sounds like. My low frequency audiogram only dips to around 25 dB, so it doesn't really show the extent of my problem since it is largely below 125 Hz (the testing cut off). I can't hear anything below 100 Hz (for instance I can't hear thunder anymore until it's next to me).

If I isolate a bass line from a song, I can hear it if I turn it all the way up. Mine never did recover, unfortunately.

Low frequency hearing loss like this is not that common. Have you been screened for conductive hearing loss or hydrops? Those causes could be potentially treatable or improved.

 

[Orions Pain]

Definitely! I don't have "significant" hearing loss but ever since I got my tinnitus & hyperacusis music sounds super flat to me. It's hard to explain but something is definitely off and it doesn't sound as vibrant anymore.

I hardly listen to music these days but when I do it's super depressing.