Podcast Home Theater United Episode 48 - Hearing and Home Theater with Dr. Bethany Anderson (1 Viewer)

[Sam Posten]

Episode 48 - Hearing and Home Theater with Dr. Bethany Anderson | Home Theater United Podcast

Introducing Audiologist Dr. Bethany Anderson. Topics will cover protecting your hearing in home theater, cinema and concert environments : Intro by Sam: Welcome Dr. Anderson! What can you tell us about yourself, and are you big into movies, cinema, music? What can home theater viewers do to...

www.hometheaterunited.com

Introducing Audiologist Dr. Bethany Anderson. Topics will cover protecting your hearing in home theater, cinema and concert environments:

• Intro by Sam: Welcome Dr. Anderson! What can you tell us about yourself, and are you big into movies, cinema, music?
• What can home theater viewers do to limit exposure to ear damage while still enjoying dramatic music and sound effects?
• Are low impact rumbles from a subwoofer safe? Safer than high frequency bangs (gunshots etc)?
• What's your opinion of theaters like IMAX and Dolby where you can't control the volume being played?
• Are earplugs like Etymotic Research ER20 safe and useful to wear at movies and concerts?
• What can people with hearing loss do to extend their hearing?
• Can you talk about Tinnitus and how it affects the rest of the brain and body? Is it a warning sign someone needs to get hearing checked asap?
• What's the deal with OTC hearing aids? Are they safe / useful?
• Is Apple's interest in hearing protection a good thing or just marketing?
• How often should people get their hearing checked? At what age should they start?
• Anything else you would like to talk about or promote?

Show notes:
Dr. Bethany Anderson and Hearing Associates of Harford County MD:

Audiology & Hearing Aid Services | Hearing Associates

Providing personalized audiology and hearing aid services to Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa communities. Explore audiologists, services, and devices.

hearingassociatesmc.com

Samara Joy

https://www.samarajoy.com/

 

[Sam Posten]

Reserved

 

[Sam Posten]

Reserved

 

[JohnRice]

Interesting conversation.

I definitely have questions...

 

[Sam Posten]

Interesting conversation.

I definitely have questions...

Cool, like what?

 

[JohnRice]

First... "Reference Level" is too stinking loud, in my book. I know that might surprise some people here, but I definitely feel that way.

I was wondering about low frequencies causing hearing damage. At first, it seemed you were referring to using headphones, where I definitely can see damage occurring from excessive bass. I was wondering about the likelihood of that happening with speakers. Then I remembered the number of times I've seen someone saying they wanted bass with "chest slam". I don't see how a properly calibrated system would regularly produce that, but it occurred to me that is probably a "club" thing, where the mid bass (probably around 50Hz) is massively boosted. I can see that causing damage over time.

I know I'm an advocate for power, but I hope I've made it clear that for me it's not about being overly loud. The main benefit of power for me is control and dynamics. At the same time, I do see people using actual PA speakers in their home systems, and that has always concerned me. I also see on other forums that too often the only measure of a speaker is how loud it can play. I only recently even learned of a speaker brand that appears to me to be PA speakers with more home style cabinets. They are highly touted on one forum in particular. All of this is concerning to me, but not surprising.

Is there a question in there? I'm not sure, but respond away.

 

[Brian Dobbs]

Thanks Sam. Listening now.

For those concerned about getting low-end without having too much sound, you can always install bass shakers to the chair you sit in!

 

[Sam Posten]

Thanks Sam. Listening now.

For those concerned about getting low-end without having too much sound, you can always install bass shakers to the chair you sit in!

Yeah! Those are probably waaaaaay worse for pregnant people tho!

Thought this was cool:

Weird how coincidence like that happen, especially just after it being brought up in Repo Man

 

[Brian Dobbs]

Yeah! Those are probably waaaaaay worse for pregnant people tho!

Thought this was cool:
View attachment 240363

Weird how coincidence like that happen, especially just after it being brought up in Repo Man

Oh wow!

 

[Sam Posten]

Wild!

 

[DaveF]

A month late as usual but I listened the past week.

A good episode @Sam Posten . I applaud you for bringing to the fore an important topic that is pointedly ignored by audio- and videophiles.

I’ve been dealing with tinnitus for going on 14 years. I will need hearing aids soon — maybe I need them now but for reasons both mundane and specific to my situation I’m not yet ready to get them.

I also think that I am of the Walkman Generation and that we’re seeing hearing loss earlier in GenX and subsequent generations.

I’ve been using earplugs in social settings for over a decade. I used to try and hide this, especially with work situations. But I’ve been ever more open about this with friends and colleagues in recent years. Part of the problem with these hidden chronic pains is that we hide them, even if we’re all actually suffering. And so we don’t learn from each other on how better to cope and manage our challenges.

I have a lot of opinions borne of over a decade of personal experience and self education on the topic.

But the reason I don’t go to movie theaters (hardly) any more: this is why. The thing I love harms me. I can control my experience at home much better.

 

[Sam Posten]

Wow @DaveF thanks and best wishes for your health. I totally get it. I have family who resisted hearing aids for real health issues and real fear and vanity issues. Just because I can get past them doesn’t make it universal, all these struggles are real. Same thing with CPAP. My dad was a burly firefighter who wore SCBA into burning buildings but couldn’t last a night in CPAP.

If you can figure out a way around it the earlier you get them the longer HAs might preserve what hearing you have left. Good luck!!!

 

[Sam Posten]

 

[Sam Posten]

 

[Sam Posten]

 

[Sam Posten]