Hearing Archives • Page 2 of 2 • INGO VOGELMANN

I did this many years ago, and here is a very recent (2023) version.

The template for this comes from here:

33 Questions For An Interview With Yourself

Feel free to pick this up and do it yourself. Link back to this post, so I can see it.

1. What Do You Do for a Living?

Well, the fact that you ended up here means you already know at least part of the answer. I’m a music producer, composer and sound engineer, mainly. I work for myself, so I make my own music, and I work for others whose music I either write and produce or edit.

I also have a “day job” that feeds me reliably and pays the bills, because I could no longer make a living from music alone. That used to be different, but unfortunately, that’s the way it is today. But I really like my second job. I work with great people, and I can do my work in a relatively free and creative way. I am a marketing manager and board member in the textile industry. There is no good reason to complain.

2. Who Do You Love?

Okay, then I’ll be completely honest. You asked for it.

I love my friends, some of whom I’ve had for a very long time, and my partner and our dogs. To put it succinctly to the point.

Of course, the issue is more complicated.

I have a big and fucked up family history that could be described as broken. In this respect, love is not dripping from every crack. I love certain people in this family in a certain way, but that’s more through blood ties and shared history than through actual actions in life. No one in my family covered themselves in glory.

And I’m not good at forgiveness, one of my many flaws.

3. Do You Have Enough Money?

Yes and no. The question is: what for? Money doesn’t make you happy, but not having money can make you unhappy.

I have more than enough to survive and spend some money on things that are fun and only money can buy. The best things don’t cost anything.

But I don’t have enough to finance certain things that I would like to do. On the other hand, I don’t want to get any investors on board either. Been there, done that. Didn’t work out so well.

But it doesn’t matter. I’m fine, and my energy for certain activities, which I have in mind, is not as great as it was 10 years ago.

4. Are You Healthy?

I think I’m a medical miracle. My father died when he was 48. At the moment I’m 50 years old and miraculously never really seriously ill, quite fit, and with a lifestyle that hasn’t necessarily always been very healthy.

I gave up smoking years ago and now only drink very moderately. I exercise regularly, make sure I get enough sleep and eat very well.

I have no physical health problem. I am very thankful for that. But I’ve struggled with depression my whole life. This varies widely, from years of nothing to sudden, complete darkness.

It cannot be controlled without medication. It is what it is, I can’t change anything about it. Being open about it — like right now — always helps.

5. Do You Think You Are a Good Person?

A good old friend once said, “You are who you make yourself out to be”. In every human being is the potential to be everything, good, bad and everything in between. The question is: What is good and what is evil? By what standards?

I think if we look at the general norms of society, I’m probably a pretty okay guy.

“I am not a ‘wise man,’ nor … shall I ever be. And so, require not from me that I should be equal to the best, but that I should be better than the wicked. It is enough for me if every day I reduce the number of my vices and blame my mistakes.”
Roman Stoic, Seneca

6. How Old Are You?

50, right now. It’s 2023. I don’t care about age, it means nothing.

My eyesight is the same as it was 35 years ago, but my hearing is worse. After changing my diet and a few other things in my life, I no longer have joint pain and feel great.

I’m still as forgetful as I was in first grade, and I still have exactly the same difficulty concentrating because I’m still easily distracted. The only difference to young Ingo is that today I don’t get spanked for it anymore.

7. Who’s Your Best Friend?

I don’t have one single best friend; I wouldn’t like such a ranking of people in my life. I have a handful of very close friends who are like brothers to me, all of whom are very different and mostly don’t know each other. But they all have one thing in common: They suit me extraordinarily well and are all a little or even more crazy.

8. What’s Your Childhood Dream?

I wanted to be a rock star. I missed that a little bit.

9. How Often Do You Laugh?

I don’t know how many times a day or week, but I laugh quite a bit.

I don’t take myself and life too seriously. Everything begins and ends at some point, and then it probably starts all over again. And we can only do our best, fail and succeed.

Laughter is always a tried and tested means for me to deal with this life and its turmoil. When all else fails, humor works.

10. What Makes You Smile?

I take things that I cannot change with a smile.

If someone teases me or threatens me, I answer that with a weary smile.

I can be very sarcastic and then smile.

I smile warmly at people when I like them.

Good music with good sound makes me smile. All over the face.

11. Who’s Your Most Dangerous Enemy?

I have only one enemy, and that is myself. Anyone else who might consider themselves my enemy has no idea how dangerous the one I really have is.

12. Where Do You Live?

In a house with a garden and a pond in a small tranquil settlement in a small village near the highest mountains in Europe.

I can’t stand the heat; I love the coolness and the high quality of life here.

13. Do You Think You’re Strong?

I can be incredibly strong, and very weak. But in general, I’m pretty strong.

14. What Was the Most Important Thing You’ve Done So Far?

I honestly don’t know. Not even when I think about it for a long time.

Maybe I didn’t do anything important.

15. What Was the Most Stupid Thing You’ve Done So Far?

I shouldn’t have had certain relationships. Some big mistakes. I was young and looking for questionable things.

16. Do You Love Yourself?

Let me put it this way: Love, even for yourself, is hard to accept if you don’t feel worthy. At this point I have a deep-seated problem. But I am working on it.

17. What Do You Fear the Most?

I no longer fear much and the little that triggers something in me, not particularly badly either. Whatever life or the universe throws at me, I don’t give a fuck.

18. What Is Your Favorite Word?

Fuck.

19. When Was the Last Time You Cried?

I cry regularly. It’s good and important. I don’t cry for every shit, but there are things that really touch me and then I just cry.

20. What Is the Best Thing That Could Happen to You Right Now?

That I would be completely financially independent and finally only have time for the things I really want to do. And if it’s nothing.

21. What Is the Worst Thing That Could Happen to You Right Now?

Illness that would make me very dependent on others. That would be nothing for me.

22. Picture Yourself In 5 Years from Now

I have no fucking clue. Honestly.

23. Do You Regret Anything?

I regret a huge truck full of things. A whole convoy.

24. What’s The First Thing You Do in the Morning?

Pee, get on the scale, shower, brush my teeth, then my daily life begins. I never eat breakfast; I only have coffee.

25. What Are You Thinking Just Before Going to Bed?

This is totally variable and always something different. It depends on what happened or what lies ahead.

26. What Was the Highest Point You’ve Ever Been To?

Something around 3,000 meters.

27. If There’s One Thing in Your Life You Want to Change Right Now, What Is It?

I’m on a diet that’s going really well, but I’d like to get where I want to be faster.

28. What Are You Proud Of?

I am very proud of some of my musical works.

29. Sum Up Your Life in One Sentence

A wild, adventurous, fun and painful ride. For everyone involved.

30. Name The Thing That Annoys You the Most

I hate it when people whistle or smack their lips in public.

I don’t like unannounced visits or phone calls at all.

Overly affected friendliness gets on my nerves. I know … some people are just like that and they mean well, but I don’t like anything over the top.

31. What Is Your No 1 Question to God?

Why are you such a sadistic fuck?

32. Do You Have Secrets?

Of course. Like everyone else.

33. What Makes You Laugh?

My own clumsiness. I laugh best at myself, not at all at the misfortunes of others. I find it very indelicate to laugh at others.

34. Are You Happy?

I am content but not happy. I find life, this form of existence, too difficult and limited to be happy. I benevolently envy people who feel that kind of happiness, but I lack that ability. My partner is such a person, she has this lightness that I lack. Fortunately.

Again, feel free to pick this up and do it yourself. Link back to this post, so I can see it.

During my lifetime I developed a condition known as sensorineural hearing loss which resulted in permanent loss of high frequency hearing. My right ear is affected a little more than the left, albeit due to a congenital auditory canal that is somewhat narrowed. This condition makes it difficult for me to hear certain frequencies like human speech, especially in noisy environments.

A prominent example of someone having the same problem is Phil Collins.

This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear, specifically to the hair cells in the cochlea, and are — in my case — the result of many years of exposure to loud music both as a performer and as a producer. Today I want to be open about my hearing loss and speak about the challenges I’m facing as a result.

Living with sensorineural hearing loss is a reality that I never thought I would face when I was younger, but it’s something that I have learned to live with over the years. Looking back today, I couldn’t hear certain frequencies too well very early on when I began playing music, especially when I was surrounded by background noise or chatting people. It’s a condition that has affected my (social) life significantly, and it’s something quite serious. I’m sharing my story in the hope that it will inspire others to take steps to protect their hearing, and to avoid the same fate that I’m enduring.

Diagnosis

I was officially diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss in 2011, after I noticed that I was having more and more trouble hearing in even only lightly noisy environments, like a dish washer in a kitchen that was affecting my ability to follow a conversation with someone. As my hearing continued to deteriorate, I knew that something was seriously wrong. After several tests and consultations with my doctor, I learned that I had developed sensorineural hearing loss as a result of exposure to loud noises over the many years as a musician.

The news was pretty devastating, because it’s something you can’t just fix. Music is a massive part of my life, and I love to have deep conversations, but now I was struggling to understand what people were saying in their normal conversation style and environments.

Challenges

Sensorineural hearing loss can be emotionally challenging, especially when it comes to trying to have conversations with others. Sometimes I felt frustrated, embarrassed, or even angry when I struggled to hear what others were saying, especially in noisy environments. These feelings could be compounded by the fear of appearing rude or dismissive, or of being misunderstood.

Today I very often need subtitles when I want to watch a film or a TV show, because otherwise I don’t understand what is being said.

In addition to these emotional challenges, sensorineural hearing loss caused physical symptoms such as fatigue, stress, and headaches. The strain of trying to hear and understand what others are saying, especially in noisy environments, was exhausting and took a toll on my overall well-being.

Finding Solutions

Despite these factors, I have found ways to overcome a big portion of those obstacles. I’ve learned to communicate more effectively with others and to find support and understanding from others by simply mentioning my hearing problem. This would usually go like this when I would be in a with people in a room:

“Sorry, can we please close the window? I have a hearing problem when there is background noise.”

It only takes that small sentence. Nobody has a problem with it, and nobody asks what your hearing problem is about. Topic closed.

Living with this can be very difficult, but it does not have to be an insurmountable obstacle. With the right strategies, resources, and support, people with this condition can learn to overcome their feelings of frustration and isolation and to live fulfilling and meaningful lives.

Over the years, I have learned to adapt to my hearing loss by avoiding noisy environments, asking people to speak more clearly (not louder, that doesn’t help) and wearing earbuds with a transparency mode that amplifies human speech as often as possible to help me hear better. I have also had to learn to communicate in different ways, and to be patient and understanding with others who may not understand the challenges that I face on a daily basis.

Phenomena

You might wonder if my hearing problem affects composing, producing or just listening to music. Oh, and mixing and mastering! Funny enough: not at all. Read on:

One of the ways the brain compensates for hearing loss is by enhancing its ability to process speech in noisy environments. This process, known as “auditory scene analysis,” allows people with hearing loss to better distinguish speech from background noise. Over time, the brain becomes more efficient at this process, allowing people with hearing loss to understand speech more easily in noisy environments.

Another way the brain works is by using visual cues to supplement auditory input. People with hearing loss may rely more on lip-reading, facial expressions, and body language to understand what others are saying. This can be especially helpful in noisy environments, where it may be difficult to hear speech clearly.

The brain can enhance its ability to process sound in the frequencies that are still audible. This process, known as “frequency compensation,” allows people to maximize their ability to hear and understand speech. I sometimes hear things that others don’t hear well or at all, as strange as that sounds.

You can also become more sensitive to sound; our brain can make even soft sounds appear louder. If I have very little or no background noise, then I mostly hear excellent. This process, known as “recruitment,” can be both a blessing and a curse, as it can make sounds more audible, but it can also make loud sounds seem uncomfortably loud.

And then there is this other problem…

I can no longer tolerate the noise of everyday life, such as street noise, a shopping mall or too many people talking. It stresses me so much that it’s affecting my mental health.

aerial photo of city buildings during nighttime — Photo by sergio souza on Pexels.com

Research has shown that exposure to too much noise can lead to a range of negative effects, including stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. These effects can be particularly pronounced for people who are already struggling with mental health issues, like I do, or who are sensitive to environmental stimuli.

Be Careful!

I have exposed my ears to far too high sound pressure levels far too often. I had a massive hearing loss in 2013 when I didn’t hear anything for 3 months after playing a very loud gig where I couldn’t control the monitors. I should have been much more careful with my hearing throughout my life. That was my fault.

What I want to share with others is the importance of taking steps to protect your hearing, and to avoid exposing yourself to loud noises that can cause hearing damage. I know that it can be tempting to ignore the warning signs, but the consequences can be devastating, and the impact on your quality of life can be long-lasting.

So, if you are reading this, I urge you to take action to protect your hearing. Wear earplugs or other hearing protection in noisy environments, limit your exposure to loud noises, and take steps to protect your hearing from further damage. By doing so, you can help to ensure that you do not suffer the same fate as I have, and that you can continue to enjoy all of the sounds and experiences that life has to offer.

Living with sensorineural hearing loss has been a difficult journey, but it has also taught me valuable lessons about the importance of taking care of my health and well-being, alongside a few other things, but that’s a topic for another day.

I hope that my story will inspire you to take steps to protect your hearing, and to avoid exposing yourself to loud noises that can cause permanent hearing damage.