Hearing protection, How much Reduction??

amroach · #1 05-16-2010, 09:28 AM

So tomorrow evening i've got an appointment with a hearing specialist to make some moulds for fitted ear plugs. The Plugs have the filters with reduction of 9dB(A), 15dB(A) or 25dB(A)

I was just wondering what you Tbers use?

On their web site they say the 25's are for heavily amplified instruments which i thought was what i want as our practices can be loud...

but after reading it all again today it says, the 15's are the average ones so i'm now unsure of what i want and if the 25's will be to much.

The filters are interchangeable if there's a problem but i don't really want to have to buy all the filters straight away as its costing enough as it is.

Any one with any knowledge it would be most appreciated.

Razorjack · #2 05-16-2010, 09:34 AM

Most muso's go for ER15 filters but I'm getting the ER25's, I've already got tinnitus from years playing in marching bands and the 15's just haven't been enough protection recently.

Hawaii 5-0 · #3 05-16-2010, 09:43 AM

Get the 25's. I also have tinnitus from years of concerts and overly loud band practice. I used to use the foam plugs, they weren't enough.

I have a pair of the moulded ones from an audiologist. With 25's you can still hear vocals and high frequencies quite well.

vyse933 · #4 05-16-2010, 09:47 AM

If your drummer isn't holding back. or you have a guitar player with a 210 or bigger and they like to turn it up, i'd say 25's are the way to go

amroach · #5 05-16-2010, 09:57 AM

Well i got 2 guitarists both with with 4x12s and its not quiet even though we don't purposely play loud. so looks like its the ER25, Thanks for the input.

Joe Nerve · #6 05-16-2010, 10:08 AM

Get the 25s.

I've had tinnitus for about 15 years, and it wasn't until the last year that I learned how bad it could get. :/ And I used earplugs once the tinnitus began.

I say this for all who already have tinnitus. There's tinnitus, and there's TINNITUS!!!. For years I've had ringing that was tolerable. Got worse after gigs, but was always present. Since about a year ago I have an almost unbearably loud ring that is set off by any playing at all. It's incredibly depressing. If I'm learning songs, or recording in my place - even at the lowest of low volumes some things will set off a really loud ringing that stays with me the entire day. What USED to be tinnitus to me is now peace and quiet. This is NOT good. I never imagined it could get this bad. Too late (I think) for me, not too late for you guys who aren't experiencing it yet. Get the 25s.

PS. I don't think it's the guitars that do the most damage. Try hitting a cymbal in a quiet space, and then imagine that 5 feet from head for hours at a time.

Joey3313 · #7 05-16-2010, 10:12 AM

When I drum, I play with -25s.

Anything less would just be pointless, really.

DarkArwen · #8 05-16-2010, 10:24 AM

I got some 26's designed for firearms. They screw right in your ears. I found the musician ones to be sorta crummy /(though it could have been the brand). Best $1.97 I ever spent. Trying to keep what hearing I have left. I would recommend going with the 25's.

ggunn · #9 05-16-2010, 10:48 AM

A word of caution about the 25's. Too much reduction can make you feel isolated from the music and therefore be a disincentive for using them. I had 25's at first and then swapped them for 15's after I kept taking the 25's out at gigs.

My band is not an extremely loud one, though. By all means get what works for you, but more is not universally better. 15dB is still a lot of reduction.

singlemalt · #10 05-16-2010, 10:52 AM

Go buy a handfull of earplugs and check them out for levels. I've been using the soft Hearos -33. They work great, very comfortable. I get 7 pair for a couple buck at most any pharmacy. -15 just didn't do for band loudness. I've almost always have ear plugs in my pocket. I get handfuls from the safety guy, but the industrial plugs are not as comfortable.

The latest band is very loud, I couldn't do it without earplugs. I don't feel like I'm missing anything, and because I get asked to turn up my bass, I do, and its fun to play with the power and feel of a cranked up rig. I don't get to do that at home.

I hesitate to go get a fitted pair, because I'm cheap and lose stuff pretty quick. How many of you guys with fitted pairs think it was worth the extra dough?

Years of carpentry and loud bands seem to be catching up with me, any sawing, routing, or average band level music will cause problems. In the shop I use the full headphone style. I have yet to try that at a gig.

Worse is the persistent squishy liquid sound I've had for months since getting a head cold. Like water inside the ear that won't drain. I've tried massage, antihistamine, decongestants, even quit chewing that sugarless gum for a month. (that was like quitting smoking, I missed my chew).

Anybody else dealing with the squishy liquid sound? Is it a part of the tinnitus?

ggunn · #11 05-16-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singlemalt

I hesitate to go get a fitted pair, because I'm cheap and lose stuff pretty quick. How many of you guys with fitted pairs think it was worth the extra dough?

I do. Fitted plugs do a much better job of isolation than the universal ones. A solid plug of silicone fitted to your ear canal is much better at blocking sound than those rubber membranes.

singlemalt · #12 05-16-2010, 12:30 PM

Since we're on the subject, how much do the fitted plugs run? I was intrigued at being able to different filters into the same fitted pair.

Anybody have a favorite brand?

Does Costco hearing dept do these?

Joe Nerve · #13 05-16-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggunn

A word of caution about the 25's. Too much reduction can make you feel isolated from the music and therefore be a disincentive for using them.

You can get used to them. Just takes a little adjustment time, and then it's fine.

After blowing some cash on somewhat expensive "musician" plugs I started using the 33db drugstore ones. They work best for me.

engedi1 · #14 05-16-2010, 12:58 PM

I just use the cheap ones you get at walgreens that give you 20 plugs for like, $3.00. How much are the fitted kind? I too would be worried about losing them.

ggunn · #15 05-16-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

You can get used to them. Just takes a little adjustment time, and then it's fine.

I gave them plenty of chance; they just were too much reduction. Did I mention that we aren't that loud a band? The 15's are perfect for me.

duff beer · #16 05-16-2010, 06:09 PM

I have 15's and they work fine for me...but we don't play that loud. If we were louder I would not hesitate to get 25's.

I have very mild tinnitus and use my ear plugs all the time in order to prevent further damage...cutting grass, using power tools, etc. I've even used them when travelling in a car without AC and the windows need to be open on the highway.

By the way, for the first time today I noticed some extra ringing after whacking a crowbar with a hammer for a half hour. I didn't realize how loud that can be until after I was done. Now I have added one more task to the "wear ear plugs" list.

singlemalt · #17 05-17-2010, 10:16 AM

Massaging steel beams into place with a sledge hammer, that's like a gun shot. Instant ringing. Any steel on steel banging is too loud. And those powder actuated Hilti tools, they are a gun shot.

I looked into the fitted ear plugs. There's a place that sends you a do-it-yourself mold kit for $15 or free with your purchase. Then you send the results back to them and they make the plug. That looked like tons of fun!

"honey, quick, squirt this large syringe of goo into my ear!" But its probably exactly what the hearing guy does.

About $160 for the plugs and a filter of your choice and a solid plug. Other filters were extra.

I think I'll stick with the Heros -33 softies for now.

Anybody else have the squishy, wet ear thing going on? Its not water in the outer ear canal, its inside and I can't seem to get it to drain.

engedi1 · #18 05-17-2010, 11:56 AM

As someone with chronic allergies, I only feel the squishy ear thing when really congested. You probably need to treat the allergies aggressively.

ggunn · #19 05-17-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singlemalt

I looked into the fitted ear plugs. There's a place that sends you a do-it-yourself mold kit for $15 or free with your purchase. Then you send the results back to them and they make the plug. That looked like tons of fun!

"honey, quick, squirt this large syringe of goo into my ear!" But its probably exactly what the hearing guy does.

I would never try that myself. Here in Austin a while back an audiologist's assistant filled someone's ear up with that goo and forgot the cotton ball that goes in first. When she pulled the plug out, the patient's tympanum and middle ear bones came out with it. Also, if your jaw is not set right while the stuff is hardening the mold won't be accurate and your plugs won't seal. To do it right takes someone who knows what they are doing.

singlemalt · #20 05-19-2010, 09:54 AM

Ouch! I bet she just got out the pliers and pulled harder!

They send a little foam plug with a string attached for removing the moulded plug. (Probably another lesson learned the hard way!)

And they send enough stuff for two tries on each ear.

It looks like one of those things that could have me rolling on the floor laughing, with a big hard rubber thing stuck in my ear.

But I'm a DIYer. My home built cabs rock!

I'm still looking for more info on the squishy ear thing. Seems like lots of folks are dealing with it. We live in a fruit growing area, so this time of year the pollen kills.