hearing test results... (6 days after dive)

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Trevor - 02 Apr 2004 00:07 GMT

Well, since I haven't been able to see an ENT yet, I thought I would do a
little test to see how good my hearig is (or isn't) -- at least as
accurately as I can with my computer and a set of over the ear padded
headphones... I created various tones with my music recording software and
here are the results...

Test 1: (With a constant low volume -- I'm not sure how to determine the
volume/dB's...)
Right Ear = 50-14,000 Hz
Left Ear = 50-5,450 Hz

Test 2: (Increasing the volume for lower and higher frequencies... Db's?)
Right Ear = 23-15,750 Hz
Left Ear = 23-13,750 Hz

With this in mind... I am in a room that is relatively quite, but has some
ambient noise (my computers, subtle house noises, etc) I'm also not sure of
the range of my headphones or how accurately they reproduce sound.

A quick search on the internet tells me that the human ear can hear
frequencies from approximately 15Hz to 20,000Hz so I'm a little short on
both ends of the spectrum...

Currently my left ear is ringing with multiple/fluctuating tones (somewhat
cricket like) Perhaps the lower volume test on my left ear cut off at 5,450
Hz because it was just blending in with my internal ringing sounds. ?? I'm
not sure how Db's fit into the results I posted as far as hearing loss...
perhaps Db's don't relate directly to the volume knob either as lower or
higher frequencies may need more power to produce? I don't know....

This probably doesn't mean much to anyone else, but in the slight chance
that this info gives anyone a better insight to my problem without actually
looking at my ear -- please share! Thanks.

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Ball 95 - 02 Apr 2004 00:55 GMT

> Well, since I haven't been able to see an ENT yet, I thought I would do a
> little test to see how good my hearig is (or isn't) -- at least as
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> that this info gives anyone a better insight to my problem without actually
> looking at my ear -- please share! Thanks.

Quickly repeat the test you first described but reverse you headphones just
to see if they are identical.

Instead of fixing the volume and trying all frequencies, pick about 20
frequencies across the range and instead record the volume setting (the
number on the knob's scale) at which you first hear the tone for each of the
20 frequencies. Do this with each ear, not both at the same time.

This will provide a plot that will make more sense to the audiologists who
frequent this group.

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Trevor - 02 Apr 2004 02:41 GMT

> Quickly repeat the test you first described but reverse you headphones just
> to see if they are identical.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> This will provide a plot that will make more sense to the audiologists who
> frequent this group.

All tests were done using the same side of the headphone on both ears and
never both ears at the same time.
The first test the volume knob was at about a 2, though the knob doesn't
have numbers.

For the second test I basically turned the volume all the way up -- Though
the computer's volume (that which feeds the speakers) was not at the max
either...

With the setting at about "2" the tones were what at a volume that I thought
the test would be at an ENT's office... but that's based on my memory from
years ago.

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Elly Byrne - 02 Apr 2004 21:11 GMT

So you had a hearing test and it showed that you had a hearing loss.

Many, many people have a hearing test which shows a hearing loss. But
many, many people have hearing that returns when the Tinnitus
improves. Therefor the hearing was not permanent.

Imagine a garden hose. Imagine a kink in the hose. So now the water
cannot get through.
That does not mean the hose is damaged. It just means it is blocked.
If we undo the kink the water flows through again.

The hearing must be like that. The hearing mechanism appears to be
blocked. Some sound cannot get through. If we can undo the blockage
then the hearing will return to normal. This happens quite often.

An operation on the ears is not the answer. Unnecessary damage might
be done. And an ENT knows that. They do not as a rule advocate
surgery.

Just as an operation on the kinked garden hose is not the answer.
Cutting the kink out of the hose would certainly allow the water to
flow through, but unnecessary damage is done to the hose.

Tinnitus is a pain in the neck
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/
http://meniere.eebee.net/

For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net

>> Quickly repeat the test you first described but reverse you headphones
>just
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>the test would be at an ENT's office... but that's based on my memory from
>years ago.

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