Doc told me I need musicians ear plugs

[noahw1]

I was just going to the link to the HEAR organization but Lo-E beat me to it. That's where I found a link to the doctors office to get my ears checked and some nice custom ear plugs made.

 

[Mike Dimin]

http://www.asha.org/proserv/

 

[wcriley]

I've been wearing custom molded muscians' earplugs for quite a while. They're so comfortable that I forget they're there. My audiologist does not charge to re-make any that aren't immediately comfortable.

Because I have a deep dip around 4K in my hearing, I use -15dB inserts so that normal speech is still discernable. Even at that relative modest amount of reduction, I find that I loose a bit of the low bass and very high frequencies. Probably the F/M curve effect coming into play.

I'd advise not getting the clear ones. They can be hard to find if you drop one in a dimmly lit environment.

 

[swing]

I use Docs Pro Plugs - have done for many years, and many rehearsals and tours.
Perhaps they could be worth trying in the short term?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[shaboda]

I hope you do find the right solution you and things don't get worse as you get older.

I had my left ear drum replaced due to an infection in the inner ear, 3 years ago..

they had to cut me around my ear and go in from the back of ear to fix it... i went for a year with no eardrum at all and it
was a really really horrible experience... I feel for you man.

i always wear ear protection for playing, seeing shows....
luckily i dont need them for every day life.

at the hospital where i had my surgery, there was
a musicians institute the next floor up to get fitted for
custom buds... but i have always used the disposable
foam plugs from lowe's when i play......

maybe there is somewhere like that close by that can
fit you for custom everyday wear plugs?

anyway, just wanted to say good luck and all the best.

Before I go on I guess I need to give you guys more details. I didn't know about all the different kinds of ear plugs that are made.

This isn't to protect my ears from getting damaged, its to protect them from certain sounds that hurt my ears because they're already damaged in a certain way unrelated to music. Tympanosclerosis is basically scarring on the ear drum from infections. Normally the ear drum is flexible like a trampoline, but this makes it harder for the ear drum to move and when I'm around loud noises it actually causes pain. Setting a coffee cup right next to me on a tile counter (loud clank!) or laughing loudly near me, or even just a loud TV or a boom box can give me a splitting headache that can last anywhere from a hour to several days.

I need these for every day life, to protect me from certain noises and loud noises that cause me pain, while letting me still hear whats going on around me and hearing people talk... like say a class room. I have ADD which makes it worse, since that makes it harder for me than other people to ignore annoying noises that break concentration. Since I'm going back to school, its very important that I can concentrate but also hear people talking in a class room. I can't wear something that will just lower ALL sound, only sound within a certain range. That's why the doc wants me to use musicians ear plugs... but I don't know if they're the electric kind or not. Someone in the office told me they don't know what models they use, but they are the custom fit ones by Westone.... even though they make a lot of different ones. They said it would cost a little over $200? $211 I think? I called the Audiology department and the woman there didn't know the name of the model. *sigh* I left a message to someone there who would know but they didn't get back to me before closing.

With that in mind, does anyone know what model they could be talking about? I don't think its one commonly sold for musicians in stores. Its probably tailored more for the medical market.

Sorry, I should have asked what you guys know about these devices and what the different kinds are. I'm just panicking cause I don't want to look like I just got off the short bus. I'm afraid their going to try and fit me with some big cheap clunky old design that looks awful. I have reasonably good health insurance, and I'm pretty sure they'll help with the costs. They told me I can look elsewhere for one and go to them to have it molded for me. But first I think I need to calm down and try to talk to this guy "Chris" about what model they want to fit me with. I saw a picture of one that sounds like what they were describing and it was this giant skin clunky model sticking way out of the ear with a giant cord coming out of it. NO WAY IN HELL am I wearing that!

I'll post again when I know more.

Also, I'm in Richmond Virginia. The shithole that time forgot and the last place on earth to get internet.