• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

#81
Well, I'm back from my appointment with the ear specialist. I was expecting some permanent hearing loss and well, I have some permanent hearing loss. Fortunately, it's not that bad. I had good hearing until I hit the 6000hz range when my scores totally dropped.

The hearing test had two parts. In the first part, I wore headphones and had to hit a buzzer whenever I heard a tone (more like a high-pitched whine). The tone would be replayed at diminishing volumes (or higher pitches?). Did the left ear first then the right ear. When I was doing the fainter noises, I really noticed the blood rushing through my head - made it really hard to hear.

In the second part, I had to repeat words that were spoken to me - really simply stuff like "oatmeal", "fish", "playground".

Anyways, I'm probably going to spring for the professional earplugs - the molds will be custom but the recommended filters are Etymotic Research's ER-15.

Right now, I'm using Sonic II with a 6db cut but that's barely adequate for my rehearsals. Live shows will probably be louder. :bawl:
 
#82
I've had my appointment too. I forked out for the muso earplugs with the 15db pads and they're Brilliant (they also offer 9db and 25db). You can still hear everything but softer and therefore clearer. They change the tone a little but its not hard to get used to.

I declined the hearing test though. Why? Because it only tested the frequencies between 250hz and 8k. I tried to explain that there's a lot of music that happens below 250hz, and a lot of music that happens above 8k - and she kinda understood. Apparently the audiometer would go a low as 125hz but that's it. They were primarily cncerned with the frequencies that relate to understanding speech. So I told her I'd look around for a more comprehensive hearing test.

Has anyone else come across this?
 
#83
I have used ear plugs for a while, but I am wondering about the custom ones. I use the yellow foam ones. I sprung for a box of 100 pairs from some safety place. I bought the ones that are longer than usual. They offered better protection than the others. I think the regular offer like 29 db protection while the longer ones provide 33 db protection. I make sure I insert these suckers as far as is comfortable (and so as not to damage my ears that way too!). I use either the larege ones or the smaller ones dependng on the situation. I use the large ones all of the time when mowing the lawn and working in the workshop. I don't understand why they make shop vacs so stinking loud!

Do the custom earplus offer more protection, or do things just sound better as opposed to the foam ones?

I can live with the less than optimal sound through the foam ones, I just don't want to lose any more hearing.
 
#86
Are the custom plugs significantly better than the off-the-shelf plugs?
Click to expand...

I tried every type of off-the-shelf ear plugs available. Musician, Swimming, industrial, you name it I tried it (remembering that we seem to have far less brand options here in Oz than you luck Americans). Most as you say cut the highs, some didnt, but I swear some even boosted the bottom end.

To answer your question, "it's no contest". They custom ones MUCH better. As you can tell I'm hard to please and these things are excellent. Since my original post I've even started to feel naked without them. I forgot them at home once and found that I was kicking myself - everything sounded loud and harsh and I went home with ears ringing. I honestly don't know what took me so long to get a pair. I just gotta make sure I don't lose em.
 
#88
My earplugs, the ER-20 are made by the same company that makes the filters for the custom plugs. There was a post on the TBL about my plugs yesterday and, of course, everytime that happens I get hammered. Currently all I have is solid colors. I should have clear and color/clear combinations by Friday

Mike
 
#91
I'll continue to take it one step further, be the Mother Hen that Im becoming known as ....and ask this favor/question. If you keep looking for a solution to protecting your ears, try the most obvious.......turn down. :)

I know, your guitarist/drummer/accordion player won't do it so neither can you. Don't take no for an answer. The shrinking audiences are telling us that THEY are tired of being bombed with high sound pressure levels as well. While we can still hear, we should listen.

Mike........(and others).......some VERY nice points.

RB

:D
 
#92
Very informative thread. I've been noticing the onset of ever-present tinnitus for the past few months in varying degrees of intensity and while I wore plugs occasionally before, I think it better become an all the time practice now.

I've only been a gigging musician for the past year so I've only been exposed to loud amps and drums for that period of time, therefore I think this has been more triggered by the band after working a couple years in loud factories, and my habit of seeing live music ~once a week.

My drummer showed up at practice with the custom moulded plugs yesterday ($170) and said he absolutely loves them so I think I'm going to spring for a pair.

I have a couple questions about these:

Which filters would you recommend? I would like to use the plugs both at practice and when I'm out at concerts or club shows, should I have different levels of db protection? Can you switch filters with a single mould or do you need a different pair of plugs for different filters?

Has anyone ever lost these? $170 seems like an awful lot of money to spend on something that may or may not stay in my ear if I'm jumping around or headbanging.
 
#93
Originally posted by nicoli
Very informative thread. I've been noticing the onset of ever-present tinnitus for the past few months in varying degrees of intensity and while I wore plugs occasionally before, I think it better become an all the time practice now.

My drummer showed up at practice with the custom moulded plugs yesterday ($170) and said he absolutely loves them so I think I'm going to spring for a pair.

Has anyone ever lost these? $170 seems like an awful lot of money to spend on something that may or may not stay in my ear if I'm jumping around or headbanging.
Click to expand...

Are you forced to wear plugs at rehearsal?? If so, I'd consider purchasing a pair of the ear cups like you see loggers wearing. This will send a message to your bandmates that you find the volume level a bit offensive. And believe it or not, the high quality cups actually work. They look just like headphones. The fact that they say "John Deere" on the side is kind of a giveaway.............but it beats going deaf. :cool:

RB
 
#95
Has anyone ever lost these? $170 seems like an awful lot of money to spend on something that may or may not stay in my ear if I'm jumping around or headbanging.
Click to expand...
WHen I said "I hope i don't lose them", I was talking about leaving them behind at a gig or putting them somewhere so safe I can't find em.

There's no way they're gonna fall out while your playing, no hatter how hard you head-bang.

Apparently the filters are interchangable with the single moulds. I like my 15db's for gigs but note that it makes it a bit hard to hear band chatter in between songs (small price to pay). For gigs where the DJ is blaring in between sets, they work nicely. And to my surprise, no one in the crowd has hassled me about wearing are plugs.
 
#96
I think all of the plugs use the same filters from Etymotic Research. The recommended level is -15db. They say that -25db is too much and -9db is too little. I'm currently using off-the-shelf plugs with a -6db cut. They are adequate for rehearsal but I know they will be useless at a show. Even my plugs won't fall out during rehearsal so I'm assuming that the custom molds won't either. With that being said, one of my friends lost the filter (but not the mold) while moshing in a mosh pit.
 
#97
Originally posted by Mike Dimin
Jason,
This is one of the most important threads I've seen here. My wife is in charge of the Audiology Department of a major hospital. She has seen downbeat and grammy award winning players who balk at the $125.00 or so that a custom pair of earplugs cost. Tjhe real question is how much is your hearing and your career worth?

Do not go to a hearing aid dealer. Go to an auduilogist and get an "audiogram." This will tell you just where your hearing is now, a baseline, so to speak. Spend the 125 for the ER-15's or ER-25 earplugs and then get your hearing checked yearly.

Additionally, think of your amplifier as a stage monitor. Play at a low volume, let the PA do the rest for the audience. You'll also find that you feel better the next day. Loud sounds also cause your body stress.

BTW, Jason based on your Magazine" thread.
Besides being an "ask The Pro" on this great site I am also the Associate Editor and columnist for Bass Frontiers Magazine (www.bassfrontiers.com). Feel free to email me with your suggestions. Additionally, many of our interviews are done by fans who submit them for publication. So wew are open to your suggestions and committment to seeing these artists profiled
Click to expand...
'

I have been using the foam type plugs for years now. They work fine. In fact the make it a lot easier to hear the bass and drums.
 
#98
After many years of off and on usage of many different types of over the counter ear plugs this past Monday I had molds made and my custom plugs should be arriving in two weeks. I'd been talking about doing it long enough so like my good friend Funkster, I headed off to UMASS Medical Center in Worcester MA and paid my $110 which is money well spent. I went with the 15db cut but I can order the 25db filters if I choose later on.
 
#100
I used earplugs at a very loud practice, and I found I had to take them out because I couldn't play as well for some reason! My timing was off and I just couldn't get the hang of playing with them in. Has anybody else had this problem? I really want to protect my hearing, but not at the expense of my musicianship!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back