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Aural danger

Marcus Berkmann

Wednesday, 27th February 2008

Marcus Berkmann on what failing hearing means for a music-lover

I went to the doctor. He asked me whether I had ever listened to loud music. I said I used to for a living; he wrote down ‘rock critic’ and that was the end of the conversation. It was clearly my own fault. Contributory negligence through attendance of terrible Neil Diamond concerts at Wembley Arena. Not that doctors can do anything anyway: as a tinnitus sufferer your only hope is to try to train yourself to cope with it. Apparently, I’m quite lucky: it’s in both ears (it’s much worse if you have it in only one ear) and it’s a high-pitched whine (with a ‘carpet’ of white noise behind) rather than a bassy roar or rumble. Sometimes it’s not so loud, sometimes it’s even louder, usually depending on my stress levels. But is it really louder, or am I just blanking it out less effectively? The main thing is that it hasn’t affected my ability to enjoy music. In fact, music has become more important than ever. Most of the time I can disregard my tinnitus when outside, or indoors listening to music, but not indoors in silence. So I play music while I work, all day every day. ‘Turn that music down!’ shout my kids.

For me, though, it’s just inconvenience, mixed with fear that it’ll get worse, and a sudden awareness of the fragility of good health. For Nick it must be like a punishment for a crime he doesn’t remember committing. The strange thing is that I feel that I am hearing music, in the sense of discerning, processing and enjoying it, better than ever. It’s just the bloody ears that start letting you down. Critical faculties on an upward slope, physical faculties on a downward slope. When do the two slopes cross? Or have they crossed already?

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Walt the Psalt

February 29th, 2008 3:19pm

They crossed when that woman uttered "if young men had old men's brains and old men had young men's bodies, watch out!" It does seem particularly cruel that just about the time you start to realise that you've got most things figured out and you can actually do something about it, suddenly, you can't, any more. Like gardening.

Simon Newton

March 4th, 2008 12:33am

Marcus Berkmann describes vividly the conequence of listening to loud music for prolonged periods, noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)(sociacusis). The damage to the inner ear is irremediable and permanent. His description of the after effect of the Tina Turner concert in Antwerp is typical of temporary threshold shift leading to permanent injury. The problem with NIHL, especially in the male of the species who have 'softer ears' is that it does not appear when the damage is done. It apppears in later life when the damage done by NIHL combines with the ageing process (presbyacusis) from which we all suffer in varying degrees. The combined damage arrive typically in the late 40's early 50's and is then often accompanied by tinitus, once more vivdly described by Marcus (did he real mean 'auditory' danger?). I often wonder why old rock band members are not as deaf as posts; possibly some are. The explanation might be that they spend their time (not for a whole concert) BEHIND speakers which pump out the dangerous levels of noise. Their victims are in front of speakers, pressing to get as close to their idols as possible. They like Marcus are bound to suffer, but they are volunteers. I wonder whether he has a claim against his employers. He says the problem arose a couple of years ago and he went to his GP who diagnosed the problem. So, time is running out and he should act promptly. I think his article should be read by or to every adolescent at school with an appropriate explanation and warning. The warning will probably be ignored by most Jokes about turning a deaf ear are not funny) and the damage will be done to yet another generation. On the other hand, they will not be able to say they were not told.

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