I just did a few tests and it looks as if I cut off at about 10.5 KHz nowadays.
Depressing, used to be able to hear up to 14 KHz only a few years ago.
I’ve been involved with audio engineering (live and recording) all my life; didn’t seem to affect me too much.
Of course I knew the issues and took precautions. But you can’t halt the ageing process, it seems… oh, all right, so I’m 74…
A couple weeks ago I was listening to an episode of the “Conan O’Brien needs a friend” podcast in which the sound engineer played test tones increasing in frequency for Conan, his sidekick Sona Movsesion, and his producer, Matt Gourley.
At first Conan, Sona, Matt and I all stopped hearing the tones after 16 KHz. Then the sound guy did it again, a little louder, and Conan still cut off after 16 while Sona, Matt and I could hear up to 17.
I’m 59 and I have been to thousands of rock concerts including over 150 in the last twelve months. I never wear ear protection. I played a youtube hearing test frequency video over my stereo system turned up loud and could hear up to maybe 17.8k. Maybe this test is invalid. I am pretty surprised that I have that little damage.
Is that a typo and you meant to type 15, or have you actually attended a rock concert every 2 or 3 days for the past year? If the latter, do you work at a venue that hosts rock concerts, or something?!?
Not a typo. I’m retired and go to three or four shows a week on average. It’s my hobby. In 2022 I went to 170 shows. I’ve been to 50 so far in 2023. I went to around half that many when I was working full time.
If you go to a lot of jam band, blues, bluegrass, jazz or funk shows between LA and SLO, you probably know me or at least recognize me. There are actually a fair number of people in the area with my body count. We all know each other.
I haven’t had my hearing tests since… well, a few weeks ago.
I don’t have the sheet handy, but I’m stable compared to last year. I have a glitch right where many people develop - right around where old CRTs whine when they are turned on but don’t have a signal. It matches my tinnitus.
I’m 72. A couple of years ago I made an MP3 of test tones using Audacity and played it over a really good sound system. I can’t hear much above 10k Hz.
I recently noticed that my balance is worse with my eyes closed. My doctor explained that that part of ears ages, too.