Between doing call center work, and being around loud music (more than my fair share), I have just noticed that I am maybe 5-10% deaf in my right ear. I still ear with it, but the other day a friend got an iPod and was showing it to me. So we are sitting in a room, no tv or anything on, he turns the music on about medium level, and I hold the ear bugs up to my ears, same space away from ears (I don't like to use someone else's ear buds, thats icky) - anyways, I could not hear as good in my right ear compared to my left.

I really think I have done some damage to it, consider when you work and use a headset, many times its only a 1 ear piece headset (the cheapy ones of course), but I think that is what caused it. I always kept the Mic on my right side and therefore the ear thing would be on the same side.

I don't get ringing or anything in my ear, but this really bothers me, as now I am freaking out maybe in older age about listening to things really loud.

Please take my advice, protect your ears. Music rocks, but when you cant hear it, then you cant appreciate it as much, and the last thing I want is 5 years from now answering everything with "HUH I cant hear you". :) Thanks.

That is one downfall of the trade. EVERYTHING is always loud. :(

Thank goodness they have awesome hearing aids these days. And smalls ones too.

I try to protect my ears, but you can only do so much when at clubs and doing theatre.

Thats creepy, as I reply to this, between the original thread starter and your reply, I see "TV Ears 2 - make the tv volume as loud as you need it". I still think I might be a little young for an aid it doesn't affect me that bad, but I really don't know. I am working to get in and see a doctor but you know how that goes - new doctor and all that stuff. More than anything I wanted others to be aware that even though I tried hard to protect mine, I never thought something so simple as a phone call could do such damage.

oh ya. I think most DJ's go deaf in their old age.

Sad that a phone center gig would do that to you though.

Can't you get workers comp for that or something?

The other possibility is that one of those earbuds was damaged. What about ear wax buildup? Are you alright in that regard as well?

That's about all I can really think of to suggest.

This reminds me of my first concert. I saw Foreigner at the state fair and was on the track (right by the band and the speakers). I couldn't hear out of my left ear for 2-3 days. It was insane.