Ever experience this? Re: hearing

[LotusCarsLtd52]

I always always always wear foam earplugs when playing, in loud environments, etc. But with band practice I notice the following things happen:

1) After practice when I remove the plugs my hearing seems much "louder" than it normally is;

2) After an hour or so my ears feel stuffed but I don't hear any ringing and for the most part my hearing seems fine. I don't think there was a threshold shift. My ears still feel stuffed today after practice yesterday (3 hours).

Anyone else experience this? My band can play loud sometimes and I've try talking to them about it to no avail.

[JimmyM]

your body parts have memory, and you have to recalibrate yourself after you do something that affects their performance. typical...nothing to be alarmed about.

[walterw]

i use cotton when playing bass (the foamies are just too much, i'm playing music, not running a jackhammer!). it tames the high end more, which is actually nice for bass playing, as it trims off the cymbal wash and the guitar sizzle, leaving me and the kick drum easier to hear.

[Stumbo]

Maybe the ear plugs are pushing ear wax back into your ear drum causing you to feel "stuffed"? Or possibly you hear "louder" because wax is being removed from your ear when you remove the plugs?

Possibly getting your ears cleaned out by an E.N.T. may help.

After ENT cleaning, I usually clean up daily with an ear swab pushed gently all the way in my ear canal, otherwise I get a plugged ear canal or ear infection. YMMV. Every doctor I've spoken with recommends against this but it's the only way I can keep my ears healthy.

[steve.roark]

if you are going this route I recommend using DB reducing ear plugs. They are not cheap but reduce the level while not manipulating the frequency response much.

[D.A.R.K.]

db reduction plugs are around 15 bucks at guitar center.
however, they may be counterfeit.

[mcapote]

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

db reduction plugs are around 15 bucks at guitar center.
however, they may be counterfeit.

nah then they would be $4k

[Rockmusician]

I never use earplugs. I tried many different types several years ago but didn't like them. Everything sounded muffled. I like clarity when I play and want to be able to hear everything. I have played this way for over 30 years and still have perfect hearing. However, I have a friend who plays guitar and has now suffers from tinnitus. The funny thing is that we were in several bands together and I hear fine. It's possible that like anything else, some people are more likely to develop hearing problems than other people are.

[Baer]

+1 on the ear wax theory. Went through the same thing myself last year. Visit an ENT for a cleaning -- you'll be surprised at what he/she may pull out of your ear.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Baer

+1 on the ear wax theory. Went through the same thing myself last year. Visit an ENT for a cleaning -- you'll be surprised at what he/she may pull out of your ear.

+1 this, also plugs push the wax down into your ears after a period, forming a plug? Go to the doc and see if there is any congestion in there.