Music with Bass and Hyperacusis Spike

[Taylorslay]

So yesterday for a good amount of the day I was listening to music through the speakers next to my computer. I could feel the vibrations from the music. The bass. It wasn't necessarily loud. But yet I could still feel the vibrations. When I went to go eat I noticed my hyperacusis had spiked up a bit. Could the music be a contributing factor?

Also what can I do to lower the bass in the music. My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.

 

[Juan]

My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.

Dont worry then. Dont try to over-analyze it. That volume can make no harm.

 

[Taylorslay]

Dont worry then. Dont try to over-analyze it. That volume can make no harm.

It's not volume I'm worried about it's bone conduction because the vibrations can travel up my spine and into my inner ear.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Also what can I do to lower the bass in the music. My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.

On the contrary @Juan the volume that @Taylorslay was listening to can do harm. If she is not careful as I've already explained to you Talorslay, your tinnitus will "spike" on one of occasion and it will not return to baseline. You have suffered a "noise trauma" to your auditory system. Your tinnitus and hypercusis have made remarkable improvement within a couple of months. However, by no means are you out of the woods yet. You have to proceed with caution and diligence. In other words be careful. I advise that you do not subject yourself to sounds with deep bass for the moment. Listen to soothing relaxing sounds such as "classical music" or something similar that isn't raucous and loud and has no entertainment value whatsoever. I appreciate you're young but you your auditory system needs to heal and this will take time.

Try not to rock the boat and take things easy. The fact that you could feel the vibrations from the Bass and your tinnitus spiked, is an indication your auditory system has not recovered yet. Just take things easy and try not to worry. People that have tinnitus that wasn't caused by "noise trauma" will not understand this and may tell you differently. I strongly advise you to follow my advice, for I have personal experience of noise trauma to the auditory system and what is required to ensure one makes a full recovery and not relapse, in the process which can make the tinnitus louder and more intrusive.

All the best
Michael

 

[VRZ78]

So yesterday for a good amount of the day I was listening to music through the speakers next to my computer. I could feel the vibrations from the music. The bass. It wasn't necessarily loud. But yet I could still feel the vibrations. When I went to go eat I noticed my hyperacusis had spiked up a bit. Could the music be a contributing factor?

Also what can I do to lower the bass in the music. My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.

If you're listening to music from a laptop you can download an equalizer like this one : https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

Then lower by 5 or 10 dB all frequencies under 200Hz. You can also try to find which frequency bothers you.

If you're playing music from your phone it probably has a built-in equalizer where you can do the same thing.

 

[VRZ78]

If you don't want deep bass cut all frequencies under 70 or 60Hz (assuming you speaker even play that low...). Personally I can't stand bass under 65 Hz especially with kicks like in hip-hop for example.

 

[Taylorslay]

If you don't want deep bass cut all frequencies under 70 or 60Hz (assuming you speaker even play that low...). Personally I can't stand bass under 65 Hz especially with kicks like in hip-hop for example.

Haha I understand. I'm going to have to change my main music genre. Which is just fine. I'd like to mix it up tbh.

 

[dpdx]

I noticed that if i listen to music even at low volume (six on laptop), that it can bother me. I am avoiding music until heal, which will probably take 2-4 years.

 

[Juan]

It's not volume I'm worried about it's bone conduction because the vibrations can travel up my spine and into my inner ear.

It's all a matter of volume. Hyperacusis reacts primarily to the volume of sound. Some frequencies may feel very different from others but the sounds that can harm you are the loud sounds, the damage comes from the volume of sound not from the frequency, or from more bass.

An example: the sound of a slamming door has a lot of vibration to it but the discomfort and the possibility of a setback come from the volume and the distance to it. It is a loud sound, but if you recorded and played it on your computer at a low volume it can make no harm.

 

[Juan]

On the contrary @Juan the volume that @Taylorslay was listening to can do harm.

She said "My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.". That's not a loud sound, and it cannot do harm.

 

[Taylorslay]

She said "My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.". That's not a loud sound, and it cannot do harm.

Therefore you're supposing that it spiked up randomly? I never sit in silence nor have I been around anything that is inherently loud. Probably nothing over 70 db at max.

 

[Juan]

Therefore you're supposing that it spiked up randomly? I never sit in silence nor have I been around anything that is inherently loud. Probably nothing over 70 db at max.

I think your hearing has reacted to a particular pitch it does not like, so the spike is due to the pitch but cannot set you back because the volume was not loud enough. Actually, to get used to sounds, to reintroduce sound in your life, you need to hear the frequencies of sound your ears dont like, but at the right volume, at a low volume you can tolerate. Some people have recorded sounds to play them lower and get used to them. It may work to some extent.

The sounds you must avoid are the sounds that are loud enough to damage anyone who is repeteadly exposed to them for a brief time (impulse noise, like a firecracker or a siren) or exposed for hours, like noise at the workplace (construction machinery and some tools). Real setbacks (hearing not coming back to baseline) come from this sort of sounds.

 

[Michael Leigh]

She said "My music wasn't even playing near at all loud. I could honestly barely hear it over my fan.". That's not a loud sound, and it cannot do harm.

By making such a statement is a clear indication that you have never suffered noise trauma to your auditory system.

 

[Juan]

By making such a statement is a clear indication that you have never suffered noise trauma to your auditory system.

You have to be joking..

 

[Michael Leigh]

You have to be joking..

I'm deadly serious. On your Avatar it says: tinnitus several causes. With respect, another indication you haven't a clue about "severe noise trauma" to the auditory system. Please believe me, if you did then you wouldn't have made the statement that you did. I have no wish to get into a flame war over this but have had tinnitus for many years and know a thing or two about about "noise induced tinnitus".

I wish you well
Michael

 

[Tinker Bell]

She said it was not louder than 70dB. Is a poster now claiming that 70dB can harm our hearing?

 

[VRZ78]

@Michael Leigh I don't get it you're the one that's always saying that normal sounds does not harm and that you're suppose to get expose to those sounds and not stay in silence to improve H but now you say that listening to music at normal volume can be harmful ?

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Michael Leigh I don't get it you're the one that's always saying that normal sounds does not harm and that you're suppose to get expose to those sounds and not stay in silence to improve H but now you say that listening to music at normal volume can be harmful ?

@VRZ78 I will explain this in full later or tomorrow as I'm not using my regular computer but a small tablet PC.
All the best
Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Taylorslay

@VRZ78

As promised I am replying to your post and because you have been respectful towards me. Unlike another member that chose to challenge me by pasting a section of one of my article's in this forum and highlighting it in bold for all to see. In effect calling me a hypocrite and a liar something I vehemently appose. I am not above being questioned on anything that I have written and admit to making mistakes.

Earlier this week a member said I am deceiving people with my advice on microsuction which is not the case. I now find the ignore tool effective towards those that don't know how to conduct themselves with manners and respect when corresponding with me. I come here to help people affected with tinnitus as I was once helped, in a tinnitus forum many years ago and try to do this to be best of my ability.

I can understand my advice on hyperacusis and how best to treat it might seem ambiguous and therefore hope to put clarity on the matter. I still maintain one of the best ways to treat it is for a person to be around normal everyday sounds. When at home use low level back ground music such as classical is ideal. At night a sound machine placed by the bedside for sound enrichment. As in everything there are exceptions and hyperacusis is no different.

Tinnitus and hyperacusis come in different levels of severity and no two people will experience them the same. When a person suffers noise trauma to the auditory system, in most causes (but not all) along with tinnitus hyperacusis is also present. Depending on how severe the hyperacusis is, it can often leave the auditory system extremely sensitive. When a person finds they are very sensitive sound or their tinnitus spikes, they should slowly introduce themselves to normal everyday sounds. In some cases this may require using "noise reducing" earplugs that have filters but I stress, they shouldn't be used too often. Some people have told me they wear earplugs all day because of the sensitivity to sound.

Overusing earplugs can "lower the loudness threshold" of the auditory system and increase it's sensitivity to sound making matters worse. I have explained this in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it.

Tyalorslay has suffered noise trauma resulting in tinnitus and hyperacusis. She has made remarkable recovery in a short period of time. However, she's still sensitive to some sounds when listening to certain types of music at low level. The reason being her auditory system needs more time to recover. Some sounds as little as 30 or 40 decibels can be painful to the ears. They won't necessarily cause hearing damage but in the case of hyperacusis can be quite painful.

I have personal experience of this. Twenty one years ago when I suffered my noise trauma due to headphone use. I had very severe tinnitus with hyperacusis. My auditory system was so sensitive, when in conversation with someone I asked them to please lower their voice as my ears were in pain. It felt like sharp needles piercing in my inner ear whenever anyone spoke to me in a slightly raised voice. I was unable to listen to music through my HI-FI for many months. I bought a sound meter and levels of 50 decibels were just too painful so kept the stereo switched off.

In time things got better but it was a long process. TRT helped a lot and the fact that I was wearing white noise generators supplied low level white noise to my ears and auditory system for up to 10hrs a day and using a sound machine at night. It took 2 years for my hyperacusis to be cured and has remained this way eighteen years on.
Depending on how severe the hyperacusis is, it can often get better naturally by being around normal everyday sounds which will desensitize the auditory system over time. In more severe circumstances professional help may be required using white noise generators for desensitization of the auditory system.

My advice to anyone that is sensitive to sound, take things slowly and use noise reducing earplugs when necessary but not too often. In time most people (but not all) can make a good recovery from hyperacusis as I have.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

 

[Juan]

And the snake oil salesman goes on and on trying to pass as a personal experience something read or heard somewhere..

 

[VRZ78]

And the snake oil salesman goes on and on trying to pass as a personal experience something read or heard somewhere..

Maybe Michael misunderstood you... If by harm you meant pain then yes it can but irreversible damage to the auditory system (such as HL) I don't think so not at 50 dB. Might give spikes that last for a week or more though.

When I said harm I was reffering to permanent damage to the auditory system.

 

[Michael Leigh]

When I said harm I was reffering to permanent damage to the auditory system.

The ear is quite resilient and some people think exposure to a loud sound will cause harm or hearing damage. This is not the case. As I've said in my post. A person with severe hyperacusis can find low levels sounds painful and even spike tinnitus but in most instances won't cause long term damage to the auditory system. However, it's best to try and avoid spiking the tinnitus and introduce normal everyday sounds gradually.

Michael

 

[Rodribs]

On the contrary @Juan the volume that @Taylorslay was listening to can do harm. If she is not careful as I've already explained to you Talorslay, your tinnitus will "spike" on one of occasion and it will not return to baseline. You have suffered a "noise trauma" to your auditory system. Your tinnitus and hypercusis have made remarkable improvement within a couple of months. However, by no means are you out of the woods yet. You have to proceed with caution and diligence. In other words be careful. I advise that you do not subject yourself to sounds with deep bass for the moment. Listen to soothing relaxing sounds such as "classical music" or something similar that isn't raucous and loud and has no entertainment value whatsoever. I appreciate you're young but you your auditory system needs to heal and this will take time.

Try not to rock the boat and take things easy. The fact that you could feel the vibrations from the Bass and your tinnitus spiked, is an indication your auditory system has not recovered yet. Just take things easy and try not to worry. People that have tinnitus that wasn't caused by "noise trauma" will not understand this and may tell you differently. I strongly advise you to follow my advice, for I have personal experience of noise trauma to the auditory system and what is required to ensure one makes a full recovery and not relapse, in the process which can make the tinnitus louder and more intrusive.

All the best
Michael

Hi there @Taylorslay and @Michael Leigh , I was reading again Michael's post up to it's very end many times to be aware of many questions I did have, but then I saw this thread and then again I have a question.

Michael, I really dont have problems with the bass, of course I listen everything at a very low volume to be comfortable and havent put it to the test, but there is another question, why low frequencies does not bother me, but very and super high frequencies instead spike my T to a severe level and the sensitivity goes to the sky? (if put a finger near may ear canal after several seconds might faint but with no pain). So I cannot understand what is wrong with me since there is no specialist and therapist that understand my problem yet. As I believe that after an infernal dental drilling near 2 hours and a week of recovering after that, started this superhypersensitivity and a couple of days after that the T... that has a particular pitch like when microphones are not calibrated and deploys that ultra high noise (hope u get what I mean), so I can understand that this drilling procedure was besides a lot of high rpm noise also a bone conducting super high noise and I'm pretty sure that my cause of noise trauma is that one, so under which category can fill my T since not sure yet I have H but after some reading and of course Michael's threads, I am a lot confussed after what Taylor says and Michael's response about low bass. Might be then an Hyperacusis that only is focused on high tunes and not low tunes? or what could really be?. thanks I appreciate yout thoughts.

 

[Taylorslay]

Hi there @Taylorslay and @Michael Leigh , I was reading again Michael's post up to it's very end many times to be aware of many questions I did have, but then I saw this thread and then again I have a question.

Michael, I really dont have problems with the bass, of course I listen everything at a very low volume to be comfortable and havent put it to the test, but there is another question, why low frequencies does not bother me, but very and super high frequencies instead spike my T to a severe level and the sensitivity goes to the sky? (if put a finger near may ear canal after several seconds might faint but with no pain). So I cannot understand what is wrong with me since there is no specialist and therapist that understand my problem yet. As I believe that after an infernal dental drilling near 2 hours and a week of recovering after that, started this superhypersensitivity and a couple of days after that the T... that has a particular pitch like when microphones are not calibrated and deploys that ultra high noise (hope u get what I mean), so I can understand that this drilling procedure was besides a lot of high rpm noise also a bone conducting super high noise and I'm pretty sure that my cause of noise trauma is that one, so under which category can fill my T since not sure yet I have H but after some reading and of course Michael's threads, I am a lot confussed after what Taylor says and Michael's response about low bass. Might be then an Hyperacusis that only is focused on high tunes and not low tunes? or what could really be?. thanks I appreciate yout thoughts.

I'm confused just as much as you. I could definitely feel the vibrations from the bass. Not a little bit but a lot. You could feel it through the walls or at a distance. I have not yet fully recovered from my spike and my spike was directly after my use of music with bass. The bass didn't brother me but spiked my H. All I know is that there is nothing that I can think of that would have spiked my H. Lol which later began spiking my T like it always does. Bone conduction is real and it's something to be weary about. I feel that, that is the only possible cause. Since those frequencies and none within the music were bothering my ears. Not everyone who suffers from H and T are the same. For my personally, if one thing is going to spike first, it's always my H. It spikes extremely easy. I hate it. Because then if I don't watch out untill that spike goes down it spikes my T to a level that only the shower can mask. Which is truly dreadful.

I believe what you are experiencing is H. It tends to focus high tones. It's very pronounced in certain daily tasks where high tones are frequent like the clanking of silverware and dishes. However, it's hard for me to tell off your description alone.

 

[dpdx]

I listen to music (Greek) on low volume on laptop 4 (min) and 8 (max), not using earbuds or earphones (NEVER)

 

[Taylorslay]

I listen to music (Greek) on low volume on laptop 4 (min) and 8 (max), not using earbuds or earphones (NEVER)

Yeah I'm never using headphones again. I need to get a stand up mic for gaming. Since I refuse to wear my gaming headset ever since T and H. A lot of my online friends are like "Why are you not on discord??" Haha long story...

 

[Red]

Why all this disbelief targeted towards @Michael Leigh? Of all the various sounds we can expose our ears to, bass with hyperacusis just doesn't seem like a good idea. But don't we all agree that our condition is very much "trial and error"? What we all feel and how we deal with them is not ubiquitous. I will know very quickly if a sound bothers me. Volume is not the only factor, but the type of sound. It is as easy as using common sense. Listen to one's body. If @Taylorslay says that bass gave her a spike then maybe she should take a break from it until her hyperacusis improves. I don't think Michael is saying that it has to be forever.

 

[Red]

Yeah I'm never using headphones again. I need to get a stand up mic for gaming. Since I refuse to wear my gaming headset ever since T and H. A lot of my online friends are like "Why are you not on discord??" Haha long story...

I am on discord if you ever want to talk. And I use a mic. You can get a good one for cheap. Adjusting from headphones to mic and speakers has been a little bit difficult but doable. Honestly, I think it is better to not get too good a mic or else it will start picking up things in the background.

What type of games do you play? I used to love playing video games, especially MMOs. I no longer do because of chronic pain but I am active on discord with a number of tabletop gaming groups.

 

[Taylorslay]

I am on discord if you ever want to talk. And I use a mic. You can get a good one for cheap. Adjusting from headphones to mic and speakers has been a little bit difficult but doable. Honestly, I think it is better to not get too good a mic or else it will start picking up things in the background.

What type of games do you play? I used to love playing video games, especially MMOs. I no longer do because of chronic pain but I am active on discord with a number of tabletop gaming groups.

I use to play a few single player games. I don't play too many MMOs. Since I got busy the past year or so I only play one game as of late. It's an old game least in the field of MMO. RuneScape. I got a feeling you've heard of it.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Why all this disbelief targeted towards @Michael Leigh? Of all the various sounds we can expose our ears to, bass with hyperacusis just doesn't seem like a good idea. But don't we all agree that our condition is very much "trial and error"? What we all feel and how we deal with them is not ubiquitous. I will know very quickly if a sound bothers me. Volume is not the only factor, but the type of sound. It is as easy as using common sense. Listen to one's body. If @Taylorslay says that bass gave her a spike then maybe she should take a break from it until her hyperacusis improves. I don't think Michael is saying that it has to be forever.

@Taylorslay @Rodribs

Thank you for your post @Red for you have explained things quite well.

Hyperacusis and tinnitus are complex. When a person develops one or both of these conditions they will be affected in a way that is unique to them, for no two people experience these conditions the same. Therefore, the advice that I give in my posts are to be used for information only and is not professional medical advice. I mentioned in this in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, on my started threads and in the link below.

If you have difficulty coping with these conditions then please make an appointment for tests at ENT. If there is no underlying medical problem causing your tinnitus or hyperacusis, I believe a person should be referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for the treatment and management of these conditions where various treatments are usually available. Depending on how severe the tinnitus or hyperacusis is, will determine how long it will take a person to recover or habituate. I have explained the various treatments for both these conditions in many of my posts on my "started threads". To begin with please read: Tinnitus, A Personal View and Hyperacusis, As I see it. The links are below along with others that you might find helpful.

When a person develops tinnitus and hyperacusis resulting from noise trauma, they must understand that recovery can take up to 2 years and in some cases longer. It took me 4 years to habituate the second time. Two of those years was spent having TRT treatment. I understand the frustration and emotional trauma that a person feels when affected by tinnitus and hyperacusis and therefore, they should seek help with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist as mentioned above.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/