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Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

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Over a year ago I agreed to get my hearing tested

E NT diagnosed tumor on auditory nerve
Not terminal and cure meant deafness in that ear
2nd opinion from hearing aid spealist aid have severly congested eustacian tubes
Ill schedule ENT again and keep TB posted
 
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Over a year ago I agreed to get my hearing tested

E NT diagnosed tumor on auditory nerve
Not terminal and cure meant deafness in that ear
2nd opinion from hearing aid spealist aid have severly congested eustacian tubes
Ill schedule ENT again and keep TB posted
Good luck
 
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Ok, I finally joined the party. I got the Entymotic plugs rated at 20db, and so far, so good. I used them at practice last week and am very surprised at how well they actually work. Comfortable too.

I have in different db ratings. This highest the closed 30db is for leaf blowing or detonating ordinance if you play hurt locker on the weekends. :) I use the cable between saves from losing. No discomfort since they are made for your ears. Foam distorts the music sound enough for me to not want to use. Frequencies are missing, timing can sound off. I wear when I go to concerts or clubs too. Often the volume in the audience sound is way louder than my peeps are making on stage.
 
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As promised back in April

I visited ENT as I had suffered severe congestion in my ears

As before he said probable tumor

I took CT and MRI$$$$$

Result showed no tumor present

Some anatomical anomalies in my sinuses treatable with surgery and possibly tubes in ears


I carried burden of tumor for over 2 years Glad it's behind me

Still have tinnitus in both ears due to over exposure and age

Please protect your hearing
 
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Hi all, I've been using Etymotic ER20 universal plugs for 15 years or so but am interested in some earplugs with less attenuation for playing lower volume jazz rather than going completely plug-less like I have been in those situations. I will probably spring for custom plugs with a -9dB filter within the next little while but wanted to know if there are any good universal plugs with similar attenuation that would do in the meantime? Thanks!
 
Hi all, I've been using Etymotic ER20 universal plugs for 15 years or so but am interested in some earplugs with less attenuation for playing lower volume jazz rather than going completely plug-less like I have been in those situations. I will probably spring for custom plugs with a -9dB filter within the next little while but wanted to know if there are any good universal plugs with similar attenuation that would do in the meantime? Thanks!

I use the Westone custom plugs, and switch back and forth between the 15 and 25 db filters. There is a 10db filter also available that may work for you. I've been happy with the Westones and have been using them since around 2000. Had to get new molds a few years ago since my ear canal changed shape a little over time.
 
I use the Westone custom plugs, and switch back and forth between the 15 and 25 db filters. There is a 10db filter also available that may work for you. I've been happy with the Westones and have been using them since around 2000. Had to get new molds a few years ago since my ear canal changed shape a little over time.
Glad to hear it! I will look into those in future. At the moment I'm asking about universal (i.e. non-custom) plugs though.
 
Glad to hear it! I will look into those in future. At the moment I'm asking about universal (i.e. non-custom) plugs though.

I've been interested in the same thing, and have been experimenting with cutting a foam plug in half lengthwise, and also using Etymotic tri-flange ear tips with a piece of wooden match stick inserted into the hole. Both give reduced attenuation in comparison to non-altered ear plugs (I also use the ER-20 in louder situations).
 
Well, custom Musician's hearing protectors as mentioned are the only way to go to get quality sound and a 25 db cut in over-all volume. When your play at 120 or more on stage, you can lose 25db and still "feel" it and have more than enough to still do damage (over time). So unless you are into playing some jazz, you better watch it. The worst part, is that when you get old, you will not be able to listen to loud music because it will cause a lot of pain and irritation because of the damage. I have read that low frequencies actually can cause more damage that high freqs. because the fine hairs in the ear ALL get damaged with low end, whereas the high Fz's do kill the smaller hairs only and leave the larger ones alone. Cotton and bees wax - old school. The sailors on the USS Constitution (old ironsides) back in the 1700's 1800's would used this method and use their classy sailor ties to keep the cotton and wax plugging up their ears. Dispite this, most would lose much or all of their hearing within like 6 weeks of being on that ship. Can you imagine? Cannons firing all the time at well over 150 - 160 db! Plugs not cool? Neither is saying "what?" all the time or a hearing aid that needs the batteries changed all the time. Not cool at all.
 
So I recently went in to my audiologist (SEVERE loss, especially in low frequencies, in both ears :( - getting hearing aids) to talk about getting some Westone's and she asked a curious question: Did I want her to submit the order to Westone or would I want to submit it directly myself (she'd do the molds either way). She didn't indicate that there was any significant cost difference either way. What did you all who have Westone's do?
 
I always use ear plugs to save what little I still have when playing with folks. My early years were without ear plugs, sheesh. Then my right ear was totally taken out by a Meniere’s like disease, with icing on the cake of permanent tinnitus, sounds like a water fall thank goodness. Left ear I’ve lost a bit, but somewhat workable. It is still a major pita to learn a song and also get the key right, so I’m out of the bands, oh well, (good song), headphones at a reasonable volume and I can still rip it up


Rollin ‘n Tumblin is my fav if one knows about Meniere’s, there is a fit, quite violent, knocked me out once hitting some furniture.



BC ;)
 
Dr said i had a bit of tinitus in right ear developing.
I just ordered the ER-20's off Amazon.
The thing I am curious about is as the the singer will I be able to hear and be able to stay in pitch and tune with song correctly.
We will see.
Got to save those ears though!!
 

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