Save your Hearing!

[u b k]

been wearing the custom plugs since i was 19, which makes it 18 years now. anytime i'm jamming, out walking the streets of nyc, on the subway, even in most restaurants here... anytime it's even remotely noisy, the plugs go in.

glad to say i can still hear 18k in both ears. granted, it's something like 30db down, but i can hear it. all the normal freqs are relatively flat, no notches.

so get the plugs, and wear 'em religiously, because they're a godsend.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[Vactrol]

I like the Aearo brand of foam ear plugs. It's possible to get a box of 200 pairs in individual "pillow paks" online for around $20 - $30. Amazon has them, search "pillow pak ear plugs". Much cheaper than at a drug store and the box seems to last forever. Permanent ringing and hearing loss happens and its not fun. Don't let anyone hassle you about it, save your ears!

[hduncan]

Originally Posted by u b k

been wearing the custom plugs since i was 19, which makes it 18 years now. anytime i'm jamming, out walking the streets of nyc, on the subway, even in most restaurants here... anytime it's even remotely noisy, the plugs go in.

glad to say i can still hear 18k in both ears. granted, it's something like 30db down, but i can hear it. all the normal freqs are relatively flat, no notches.

so get the plugs, and wear 'em religiously, because they're a godsend.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

Commendable.

How do you clean/maintain/store them? do you carry a little box with you or a baggy of some sort? How do you clean them?

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by DarkEcho

Commendable.

How do you clean/maintain/store them? do you carry a little box with you or a baggy of some sort? How do you clean them?

They come with a little vinyl case (like a change-purse), I just put them (in case) in my pocket when I go to a party/club/bar, etc. Although you can use any case that they would fit in of course.

The filter part pops out of the molded implant part. So you can just put the molded implant part in warm soapy water to clean. The little filter you don't clean and since it's on the very outside of the ear, it shouldn't get dirty or waxy.

[Robobaby]

Everyone should know this. Great post and a great place to draw attention to it.

In addition to the information disclosed thus far I notice that a number of people I know seem to be under the impression that high frequency sound at high amplitude is worse for your ears than low frequency sound at high amplitude. This is simply not true and even though it doesn't seem as pain inducingly loud, slamming bass is absolutely terrible for your ears.

Another thing I notice is that the science in ear health is very advanced and they can tell you the SPL and corresponding time that your ear can tolerate that kind of pressure before it starts to cause irrepairable damage. They can establish this in minutes let alone hours, days, weeks and months so it is very precise.

One thing that startled me was that you can listen to a sound that is not ear destroyingly loud but if you do so continuously for a long period, it will still damage your ear. The damage won't be sudden and traumatic but the end result is much the same. It just takes longer for it to become apparent.

I became very concerned for my hearing after I saw Dillinja several years ago. He has this monstrous (and infamous) soundsystem that he and Lemon D built that goes intolerably loud and is designed to basically put out so much bass that if you stood close enough to the subs you would think they were some sort of futuristic weapon.

Anyway they issued ear plugs but they were crappy foam jobbies and mine kept falling out. I was for all intents and purposes deaf for about a week and it was the first time I became scared that it might be permanent. The ringing subsided but I have no doubt that some damage has been done. I may not notice it but it has been done. A year later I got into music production and I got a pair of custom plugs moulded. I had to have my ears syringed which sounds worse than it actually is. They spray a jet of some warm liquid into your ear. Its not a needle or anything. The sensation is odd and very uncomfortable but not painful. Afterwards some ear wax just falls out in little balls and flakes. The mould was uncomfortable too but again not painful.

I was recommended to do a number of things. I should not be inserting cotton buds deep into my ear to get rid of wax. I was told that I shouldn't insert anything so deep into my ear even if the intent was to clean it because ear wax is essential for ear health, cotton buds are not necessarily clean sterile and can increase the chance of ear infections. You can also compact wax deep in the ear canal and promote infection that way too. The bud can also rupture your ear drum if you insert it far enough. Its fine use a bud to keep the outside of the ear and the 'entry' to the ear canal clean so you don't get caught with yellow flakes sticking out of your sound holes ( ) but I was told that I shouldn't stick buds or fingers in and dig wax out.

In use my plugs do not make everything sound 'underwater' like you would think by sticking your fingers in your ears. You do become very sensitive and aware of your own heartbeat, breathing and swallowing though and you literally can't hear anything when they have been properly inserted and form a seal. I was told to gently twist them to break the seal gradually and then slowly draw them out and this is the most comfortable way of doing it. You can 'pop' them out but you will literally feel the pop and its quite uncomfortable. More so if you have a good seal.

They are quite discrete. Other people won't notice you are wearing moulded plugs unless they get really close to you and look into your ear. They are much more discrete than big sponge/foam jobbies which are clearly visable.

My plugs are my second best music related purchase ever. My first is my Virus B but hey. I do wan't to invest in a pair of custom moulded in ear monitors too in the near future.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by Robobaby

Another thing I notice is that the science in ear health is very advanced and they can tell you the SPL and corresponding time that your ear can tolerate that kind of pressure before it starts to cause irrepairable damage. They can establish this in minutes let alone hours, days, weeks and months so it is very precise.

I believe this is not true since everyone's threshold for damage is different. They basically do a median #'s game on this. It is not precise. Some will get irreversible damage at the same exposure level as another person who's undamaged.

And a tip for those new to ear filters> Put them in an hour or more before you play music or turn things up. If you wait until the band has 'turned on', then the shock/difference between the plugs in/out is drastic, yet if your ears have acclimated for a while with the plugs in, it won't seem nearly as drastic. It's like putting foam plugs in when you get up in the morning, then take them out mid-day and wow, everything is loud and bright!

[msquared]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

And a tip for those new to ear filters> Put them in an hour or more before you play music or turn things up. If you wait until the band has 'turned on', then the shock/difference between the plugs in/out is drastic, yet if your ears have acclimated for a while with the plugs in, it won't seem nearly as drastic.

This is great advice. When I get to a gig, I put my plugs in while I'm still in the parking lot. I forget I have them in before I'm finished loading in my gear and everything sounds totally normal both during the gig and afterward when the plugs are out.

I'm another one of those who wears plugs while mowing the yard (unless I'm using the reel mower). thumbsup

Great thread!

[hduncan]

Great advice!

I just went to see Indiana Jones!

Of course, I wore my plugs!

The movie was pretty entertaining as well. Some parts are a bit over the top- but it definitely has the 'Jones feel.

[Samc]

I have very mixed feelings about this thread because of some of the info/advise being passed out; On one hand this is an extremely important subject and therefore is worthy of discussion. While on the other hand, some posters need to stop playing doctor, and stop passing out info/advise that may (in some cases) prove to be dangerous.

Questions about hearing protection and care, should be directed to a qualified specialist; a doctor or audiologist!

Some of the stuff I've read here gives cause for concern, sometimes even the most banal advise may not be suitable for everyone. Three doctors have advised me not to use the generic foam plugs (especially) for extended periods because they stress my ear canal, and the fact that they're always falling out, renders them almost useless.

Not all damage is irreversible; Not all plugs are suitable or even safe for sleeping, you can damage your hearing in many different ways and under many different circumstances. Don't just 'try' stuff to find out if they are dangerous for you, please get advise and treatment about your hearing health from your doctor.......only from your doctor!

These are the 'attenuators' I use by the way; custom molded with a variable valve which allows the user to adjust performance from -11 to -40 dB, between 63 Hz and 8000 Hz.

[hduncan]

Originally Posted by Samc

I have very mixed feelings about this thread because of some of the info/advise being passed out; On one hand this is an extremely important subject and therefore is worthy of discussion. While on the other hand, some posters need to stop playing doctor, and stop passing out info/advise that may (in some cases) prove to be dangerous.

Questions about hearing protection and care, should be directed to a qualified specialist; a doctor or audiologist!

Some of the stuff I've read here gives cause for concern, sometimes even the most banal advise may not be suitable for everyone. Three doctors have advised me not to use the generic foam plugs (especially) for extended periods because they stress my ear canal, and the fact that they're always falling out, renders them almost useless.

Not all damage is irreversible; Not all plugs are suitable or even safe for sleeping, you can damage your hearing in many different ways and under many different circumstances. Don't just 'try' stuff to find out if they are dangerous for you, please get advise and treatment about your hearing health from your doctor.......only from your doctor!

These are the 'attenuators' I use by the way; custom molded with a variable valve which allows the user to adjust performance from -11 to -40 dB, between 63 Hz and 8000 Hz.

I agree completely, but I think there are quite a few posts that recommend seeing a doctor. And the post of mine that I think you are referring to in this thread was my opinion in response to someone's question about sleeping with plugs, and I said in the same breath that it is a question for a doctor.