As music lovers and festival goers, we are no stranger to hearing impairment. I personally have had Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears) ever since my first time attending Ultra Music Festival , due mainly to a Big Gigantic after-party that left my ears ringing for the next week. With a majority of hearing issues arising from poorly managed levels and sound systems, it is rare to come across issues from other sources. Earlier this week, Knife Party's Rob Swire temporarily lost hearing in his left ear due to vaping. It all started with this twitter post on Sunday.
I have randomly become completely deaf in the left ear. Super lame. Gonna go see a doctor :/
— Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 5, 2015
Lucky Rob's hearing returned rather quickly, but he has wise words for the vapers out there.
Hearing restored, finally. PSA: if you enjoy being able to hear, e-cigs / vaping is a really fucking bad idea — Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 6, 2015
He has even gone so far as to offer funding to a reputable study on the correlation of vaping and hearing loss.
How's this: if any decent university audiology dept. is interested in studying links between e-cigs/vapes and propylene-glycol-induced...
— Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 7, 2015
...hearing loss, I'd be willing to fund the research. Will need proof and proposal etc. Tweet @ me or contact http://t.co/w2zO8pSSLR — Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 7, 2015
Rob recently took to twitter one more time to verify that everything is back to normal, while also giving some "kind words" for the back lashing vape advocates.
Hearing back to normal 🎉. No noise-exposure-related hearing loss (occurs at 4k), so STFU "vape advocates" pic.twitter.com/mUEgwL5Oli
— Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 8, 2015
This is some pretty scary stuff. There is a large amount of vapers out there who are completely unaware of the possible side effects of this once thought to be safe new habit. So for the love of music PUT THE PEN DOWN!