Hearing loss issues

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I was a professional musician for 56 years, predominantly full-time on the road and off, and of course never used hearing protection. I don’t recall which came first, the diminishing volume or the tinnitus, but both have been with me for decades. At the insistent behest of my good friend Rose Sinclair, I did get hearing aids in 2013 and have used them since that time, although not onstage, as the devices changed how I perceived high end frequencies and made it distracting to my “sound,” as it were.

But a few years ago, other changes happened to my hearing, one in particular: Pitch perception.

When speaking on the telephone, I find that my left hear perceives a different pitch than my right ear. If, for example, my correspondent’s voice sounds like it’s 440 bps in my left ear, the words would sound like 435 bps and slightly lower in volume in my right. Not enough to affect a conversation, but definitely noticeable.

Onstage is a different situation, somewhat more drastic; not constant, and entirely arbitrary but totally disconcerting. Let’s say the song called off by the bandleader is in the key of A. However, to me it doesn’t sound like A; it might sound like D, or F, or E… all keys that contain the A note. I’d be discreetly hunting for a correct position to play much to the dismay of the band, until I just decided to play in the correct positions for the key everyone else is in, though it would sound “incorrect” to me. Then, on subsequent songs, everything would be normal. This phenomenon might occur three or four times in the course of an evening and in different keys. It’s enough to worry about onstage and keeps me from concentrating on how I should be playing.

I mentioned this situation to my next-door-neighbor Scott, who’s a highly respected ENT physician in Austin. After explaining my problem, he said “well, Herb… there’s a lot more to hearing loss issues than just volume loss. There have been a few studies about your problem, but since nobody’s dying from it, there’s not a whole lot of research money being put into what ails you. It all depends on how far you want to take this at your age.”

Adding in the physical and other various problems associated with gigging… late hours, long drives, no situations in which I see myself a part, insignificant monies… well, the fire to be a picker seems to have been extinguished. My course as a performing professional has been run.
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Audie Shields · From: Tennessee, USA

Bless you Buddy

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I only worked as a professional musician for a short time, but I still feel your pain. I wore hearing protection in loud environments religiously, but a T-Bone crash that set off a side air bag in my left ear left me with a condition called Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome--basically a little hole got blown through my skull to where my inner ear translates sound as motion among other things. Everything in my left ear has sounded like a kazoo since then.

No matter how careful or not you are, sh*t can and will still happen.

Although I still play music around the house, the thrill is gone. When everything is distorted, it's sort of hard to enjoy playing any more. But at least playing at low volumes at home alone, I can still enjoy it to a degree. Playing out with others is just too challenging. At least my pitch perception didn't change.

Hope you can at least enjoy playing around the house like I can. Good luck--sorry again to hear this.

Dave

Dale Rottacker · From: Walla Walla Washington, USA

That sounds really difficult to deal with. I can't play if I have to play between the frets, I can't even think, but your hearing sounds like you might be hearing between the frets, and I can't imagine.

I took care of large (52'x12" wide) Band Saws and Circle saws for 43 years in sawmills... Leveling these saws with a hammer on an anvil with that loud "Ping" with each hammer strike, plus the noise in the mill of saws cutting lumber. Always wore ear protection, but it just doesn't stop it all, and I had tinnitus for about as long as I can remember. HOWEVER not having hit a saw since retiring Oct of 2020, they seem to have improved and the once steady annoyance is now just a minor one.

Hope the rest will help restore some of what you lost Herb.
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Jerry Horch · From: Alva, Florida, USA

I have tinnitus also, hereditary, and from damage playing bass in early rock n roll bands.I have also struggled with TMJ since my teens…
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Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Herb- Thanks for describing that key-confusion issue. Been having a similar problem only couldn't put it into words. Now I can, which should make dealing with it easier. At 81, I'm not quite out of gas (or GAS) but the desire to drag gear around and drive late at night isn't what it was.

A question for those of us who wear hearing aids: Do you wear them when playing? Why or why not? I don't, because the high-end boost on mine makes playing an ice-pick-in-the-ear experience, so I EQ steel and six-string to sound a little muffled. Hopefully it compensates. Winking

Lee Rider · From: Fort Bragg, California, USA

I have moderate hearing loss and tinnitus, been struggling with the same thing that Herb has. Interesting that it is transient. Playing without hearing aids did not work (loss of so many high frequencies and not being able to communicate on stage) so I started wearing just one when playing with the band and found that it was best to have the hearing aid in my left ear.

I recently obtained the Apple Airpod Pro 2 earbuds that, just this week, came out with hearing aid software. I have worn them a couple of times playing with the band and they really help. I can hear instruments separately instead of a mash of sound and there is some EQ and level adjustments that can be made on the iPhone. Still dialing them in but they seem to work much better than hearing aids or the lack thereof....
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chuck lemasters · From: Jacksonburg, WV

Along with all the other hearing problems mentioned, I have another. I can no longer tolerate loud volume. The two guys I am playing with have no hearing problems, and we don’t play at volumes I have experienced in past bands. Still, it seems much too loud to me. We are using a Bose system for the PA in most settings, and I can’t stand to be near it. Because of my high frequency loss, and the adjustment of my hearing aids to counter the loss, there is no way I can play while wearing them. What I hear wearing hearing aids is an extremely shrill tone, with a sort of chorus effect on everything. I sympathize with Herb. I may not be quite there, but close….

Greg Vincent · From: Folsom, CA USA

It was truly a terrific run, Herb! 👍

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Regarding the issue of "pitch perception", Herb... I've experienced this problem two or three times in my career, temporarily. It lasted for about 12 hours each time.

After playing a gig, all music (the car radio, the TV, my guitar, my steel guitar) sounded out of tune, out of phase, wobbly, and very annoying. I couldn't play the steel when that was happening. It was kind of frightening. I always thought it was due to some kind of virus or ear infection, but I was healthy at the time, and it happened after playing a loud gig. Thankfully it was gone the following day. This happened a few times back when I was playing 7 nights a week in house bands, and I assume it was caused by the loud music.

I had my ears tested a couple of years ago and the only issue they found was a lot of high-frequency loss, as happens with most musicians and probably all septuagenarians! (people in their 70s).
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Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Herb.. join the club.. I joined around 2016 or so.. it happens.. You had a great run, and if you think about it, went further than most of us.. I look back with lament at times, but geez, can I really complain about40 years of stupid late nights, falling asleep at the wheel trying to get home at 4 am a bunch of times,10 hours of work hauling in, setting up, playing 5 sets, breaking down, packing up driving 2 hours home in the deep snow for $50?.. Blowing a $150 speaker at a $40 gig?.. You know, fun stuff like that... You had a great ride, so did I.. It get to be "time" for all of us, regardless... Those that aren't there yet will be before long... Yeah, there are a few "force of nature" types out there that are still gigging hard 5 nights a week, at 80+, but lets face it,, those are outliers.. you did well, were at it a long time, and played with some of the best... Keep playing for whoever whenever and enjoy the down time, you did well... bob
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Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Herb, I’m very sorry to hear this. I wonder if it would be any different if you were to use IEMs. Have you tried?
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Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

Totally understand Herb, but sure hate to hear this....

Geoff Queen · From: Austin Texas, USA

Herb, you’re a legend, I’m proud to know you. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this.

Tommy Detamore · From: Floresville, Texas

It’s hard to imagine you no longer being a part of the centex music scene Herbster. I’ll be praying for you pal.🙏
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Mike Neer · From: NJ

That's a tough one, Herb. Sorry that you are experiencing this. When the battle for our hearing extends beyond just the music part of our lives, it can be such a detriment to happy living.

As far as the other reasons for your retirement, I can say I am right there with you. So much of it has become really difficult (and costly). I am semi-retiring from performing live. One of the factors in this for me is a phenomenon I began experiencing a few years ago, and that is performance anxiety. I can't explain it that well, but I lose control of my fine motor skills and experience trembling in my hands. I'm working on it, trying to see if I can get a grip on it. The fact that it only happens when I play steel guitar baffles me. I can pick up my guitar and play and sing to thousands and it would be fine.

Anyway, whatever your decision, I only hope that you are at peace with it and have plenty of other things to keep you busy and happy.
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Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Hey Herb, I'm currently going through many of the same things you mentioned in your original post. I also tried Hearing Aids on-stage, and they do something really weird to the high end that I can't handle. I can't listen to any music without those 'artifacts' or whatever they are. I use them some around the house (at my wife's insistence Smile

) and they do help with speech recognition, but for anything where I need to hear music, they're out.

Fortunately, I haven't had the pitch perception issue (yet)... but like you, I've scaled back to almost no gigs, the end is near I'm afraid. But as you say, when it ain't fun anymore, why bother?
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Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Time to buy more fishing gear, Herb!

~Lee

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Arty Passes · From: Austin, TX

Sorry to hear that Herb, and I feel your pain. 4 years ago after having some medical treatments that compromised my immune system (a whole nother story for another time) I had an episode of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss - a catch-all for "we don't know why it all of a sudden sounds like you put your fingers in your ears but we think it's viral". Had the different tones in the ears too. Somehow the brain figures it out most of the time. There are a few songs, like you, that just sound out of tune even though I know they're not and I'm playing on the right fret, but sometimes hard to hear the note when singing. But most I can hear ok, like you. Weird.

This all started during the pandemic so we weren't playing much but when we started back it took some getting used to my new normal.
About a month ago I had an upper respiratory thing and my ears had some fluid and changed again so now I have the same tone in both ears, but now both are just as bad.

Got the best hearing aids I could find and now can't function without em, even though it's still not like normal hearing.
We use IEMs on stage and to me they are life savers. I can control exactly what I want to hear and how loud, EQ to my loss, and not be exposed to loud drums and guitars.

Thankful for the science so we're not using ear horns like Mr. Muggle in "It's a Gift"
Good luck Herb!

(sorry for the obscure WC Fields reference Very Happy

)

Don Mogle · From: Round Rock, TX, USA

Hey Herb,

I just wanted to say thanks for what you've meant for the steel guitar community all these years. It's been a pleasure getting to talk with you at the Dallas steel show. You have such a wealth of knowledge and experience that many of us can only dream about. Not many people have a can put up a resume that they played for Linda Rondstat back in the day. I know there are many others that you shared the stage with in 6 decades.

I would love to see you write a book about your 56 years playing steel guitar. I'm always impressed by your mastery of the written language and I know it would be a great read. I'd love to hear some of the stories (at least what you'd be comfortable in sharing) about those you played for, the good times, bad times, uncertain times, etc.. Steve Fishell wrote Buddy's memoirs. Bruce Zumsteg wrote a book too. I wish you'd give that some consideration.

Regardless, I hope to see you at the Dallas Steel Guitar Jamboree in 2025.

Don

Joe Rogers · From: Lake Charles, LA USA

Well, I was blessed back in the early 80's to have read about Musician's earplugs when first released by Westone Laboratories. They have saved my hearing all these years. There is a saying that if you come off the stage with your ears ringing, the damage has already been done. Back when I was with Bryan White, we played a concert stage that was so loud that I wore my ear plugs (25db cut) and my ears were still ringing when I came off of this stage. I cannot imagine the hearing loss that everyone else on that stage experienced.

Having said that I have not been so lucky the last few years. I am now playing with bands requiring in-ears and I feel I have experienced more loss in the last few years than the rest of my career combined.

Science is getting involved, specifically MIT. You may want to check this out. Joe Manuel who performs with George Strait had extreme difficulty with pitch and recently had surgical implants after my pointing him in this direction. I have not heard about the outcome of his procedure. Hopefully all went well.

Those of you who still have hearing and use in-ears, I suggest the Whirlwind PW-1 personal wedge. It contains a limiter that DOES WORK...!! MUCH MORE protection than the wireless units. Those who have lost hearing to the point of searching solutions, look here first.

https://news.mit.edu/2022/frequency-therapeutics-hearing-regeneration-0329

Joe Rogers

Jack Stanton · From: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey

Herb, really saddened by your post. Wherever the road takes you I hope you keep playing in some capacity, and I wish you contentment.
And don't even think about bailing on us here at the forum!

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

Herb, sorry to learn of your hearing issues. I'm going through the same issues. I stopped playing out, early this year, because of the tonal problem, as well as tinnitus and hearing loss. I have a few physical issues with both hands and feet. Along with that, my steel was built in 1976 by Jimmy Crawford, and had problems. Kelsey at Emmons is doing his magic on it now. If I can do better when I get it back I might pick again, but only local fill in jobs. Best of luck to you in the future.

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