Equalising aging Ears

[Hayabusa]

Here you have average hearing loss upto 60 years.
Note that this the increase of the hearing threshold and not the level loss at each sound level!

 

[fpitas]

At least for me at 68 yo, I find that flat response still sounds the most natural. I have full PEQ available for my active speakers, but whenever I set the treble "by ear", it ends up flat, maybe with a tiny downwards roll (1dB at 10kHz) starting at 6kHz. I can only surmise my brain has already EQd my hearing as it changes.

 

[Hayabusa]

At least for me at 68 yo, I find that flat response still sounds the most natural. I have full PEQ available for my active speakers, but whenever I set the treble "by ear", it ends up flat, maybe with a tiny downwards roll (1dB at 10kHz) starting at 6kHz. I can only surmise my brain has already EQd my hearing as it changes.

let me repeat:
"Note that this the increase of the hearing threshold and not the level loss at each sound level!"

 

[Doodski]

At least for me at 68 yo, I find that flat response still sounds the most natural. I have full PEQ available for my active speakers, but whenever I set the treble "by ear", it ends up flat, maybe with a tiny downwards roll (1dB at 10kHz) starting at 6kHz. I can only surmise my brain has already EQd my hearing as it changes.

Not me. I have always from a young age boosted the treble. Nothing much has changed other than my age is a lot older than before.

 

[Doodski]

Hmmz. Come to think about it. By age 13 I had worn out a 2 cycle noisy chainsaw cutting firewood, mowed several hundreds of acres of lawn with a noisy 2 cycle push mower and had ridden 2 cycle motorcycles extensively. If I have hearing damage I say it is because of those noisy activities.

 

[fpitas]

let me repeat:
"Note that this the increase of the hearing threshold and not the level loss at each sound level!"

It would seem I'm verifying your statement (?)

 

[Neuro]

Age-related hearing loss affects not only the higher frequencies but also the ability to suppress the reflex sound. The precedence effect diminishes with age. It becomes increasingly difficult to hear conversations in larger groups. Best compensated by reducing the reflexes. A higher proportion of direct sound is most easily obtained by listening closer to the speakers.
Another problem with age-related hearing loss is a reduced ability to distinguish words/music in dense flow. Less dense music is often an unconscious choice.

 

[Frgirard]

+1

But

The distinguish word music is not a problem.
Very few singers have correct diction. Listen to Tom York in Creep and Tom York now.

 

[Hayabusa]

It would seem I'm verifying your statement (?)

indeed

 

[RayDunzl]

At least for me at 68 yo, I find that flat response still sounds the most natural.

At 69 here, I agree.

If I can't hear it, I can't hear it.

My loss (since childhood, mother similarly afflicted) seems (never measured officially that I remember) more like brickwall than anything gradual.

If the stereo reproduces "correctly" then it won't further injure me, nor annoy others who may also be listening.

Unless they don't like the content, in which case, too bad.

 

[Peterinvan]

I use a free app on my PC (sinegen.exe) to do a quick test on the drop off in levels as frequency rises. At 74, I cannot really hear anything above 10Khz. This does not impact my enjoyment of my music. In Foobar2000 I add a 6db shelf starting at 2500 Hz.

In Tidal, I just take it as it comes. I now lean towards brighter phones and earphones. Pad and tip swapping has been rewarding.

 

[fpitas]

Age-related hearing loss affects not only the higher frequencies but also the ability to suppress the reflex sound. The precedence effect diminishes with age. It becomes increasingly difficult to hear conversations in larger groups. Best compensated by reducing the reflexes. A higher proportion of direct sound is most easily obtained by listening closer to the speakers.
Another problem with age-related hearing loss is a reduced ability to distinguish words/music in dense flow. Less dense music is often an unconscious choice.

Aha! I've never been good at hearing conversations in reflective environments, but it has worsened considerably. Still haven't gone to less dense music, though.