My ear hurts...

[beelzelboss]

My nickel on earplugs - If I recall correctly, the custom molded earplugs that I ended up getting at the audiologist were about $150. That might sound like a lot, and it will be to some, but these fit your ear canal perfectly and have changeable filters that allow for different attenuations depending on where you are. I have both 10dB and 20dB filters - both allow you to hear very clearly. The biggest benefit is that they virtually eliminate background noise (fans/road noise/air conditioners/motors/etc.) and still allow speech to get through. I use them particularly at movies, where the volume is stupidly ear splitting, especially during blockbuster special effect movies and trailers. They work well in all loud noise applications/environments.

Chris

Do they help to make it sound less harsh? I mean what is hurting my ears, the low frequencies or the high frequencies? What does it block out more? I pretty much want something that will work for when I practice with a band and gig, so I can still hear everything, but just at a lower db.

 

[Stumbo]

Do they help to make it sound less harsh? I mean what is hurting my ears, the low frequencies or the high frequencies? What does it block out more? I pretty much want something that will work for when I practice with a band and gig, so I can still hear everything, but just at a lower db.

Check out the TB thread on this topic:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/hearing-loss-ear-plugs-3743/index20.html#post10023511

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Visit an ear specialist ASAP.

Ask anyone who mysteriously lost the hearing from one ear and waited for so long a while to go to the doctors that no clear evidence as of why did it happen (waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop, and then I'm deaf). I'm still blaming the MC accident I had just a month earlier, the docs said nothing...

Chances are that loud music has got nothing to do with the current symptoms unless You have an ear-wax buildup from usind earplugs or earbuds.

Regards
Sam

 

[Popbumper]

Do they help to make it sound less harsh? I mean what is hurting my ears, the low frequencies or the high frequencies? What does it block out more? I pretty much want something that will work for when I practice with a band and gig, so I can still hear everything, but just at a lower db.

Because the dB level is reduced, there is certainly less harshness. What is hurting your ears is most likely the high frequency stuff - the "area" that gets damaged first in hearing loss. As a side note, tinnitus is the brains way of "compensating" since the ears can no longer recognize high frequencies. I have lost everything above 5500 HZ.

The plug filters are broad spectrum - they reduce all frequencies by whatever dB rating that is installed. So, essentially, it's like "everything" gets turned down - which is good - you still get to hear everything, but not as loud. You are able to "live" in louder environments.

Chris

 

[beelzelboss]

Because the dB level is reduced, there is certainly less harshness. What is hurting your ears is most likely the high frequency stuff - the "area" that gets damaged first in hearing loss. As a side note, tinnitus is the brains way of "compensating" since the ears can no longer recognize high frequencies. I have lost everything above 5500 HZ.

The plug filters are broad spectrum - they reduce all frequencies by whatever dB rating that is installed. So, essentially, it's like "everything" gets turned down - which is good - you still get to hear everything, but not as loud. You are able to "live" in louder environments.

Chris

That's sounds good. I'm going to have to get a set. Its funny, I sat down in my car and before I blasted my music, I said to myself "Does it really need to be that loud?" Decided it was no, and went about driving my music nice and low.