Danny-B
After repeatedly saying 'what?' in nearly every conversation, I realized that I may have damaged my hearing from playing guitar and performing in shows. Had it checked out and even though I am sixteen, I have already lost hearing over all frequency's. Had a mold taken of my ears and am currently wearing a set of ProtecEars custom made plugs. They work brilliantly! No frequency loss, just dB attenuation.
What do you guys use for ear protection when playing? Does everyone even use ear protection?
AlanRatcliffe
Shortly after getting a drum kit with a loud Pearl free-floating snare (and almost immediately giving myself tinnitus), I invested in a pair of E.A.R earplugs. I never played without them after that and these days I make sure to keep the volume levels sane.
Heath
I have a set of ear protectors , moulded , paid by the medical aide , practise and gigs I have them in . I did however get them becuase I worked in a steel manufacturing plant. But I suspect they will last for years
vic
Danny B wrote:
After repeatedly saying 'what?' in nearly every conversation, I realized that I may have damaged my hearing from playing guitar and performing in shows. Had it checked out and even though I am sixteen, I have already lost hearing over all frequency's. Had a mold taken of my ears and am currently wearing a set of ProtecEars custom made plugs. They work brilliantly! No frequency loss, just dB attenuation.
What do you guys use for ear protection when playing? Does everyone even use ear protection?
Mold in the ear can cause some loss of hearing, especially if it was in the inner ear. There are a few sites which you can consult on the topic.
[deleted]
Great that you're already looking to save your ears, Danny - the earlier the better. I also use a set of custom-moulded Noise-Ban Elites, and I'm very happy with them: attenuation, but everything's crystal clear. I think they're really important...
Renesongs
I lost the better part of my hearing in my early 20s courtesy of the SADF having to spend 1 day every 2 weeks discharging loud weapons with no ear protection whatsoever. Wish I could sue the bastards. I will probably lose the rest of my hearing by the middle of the year, I stupidly booked golden circle tickets to see Deep Purple ☹ On a more serious note the best ear protection is to keep it down at rehearsals, make the drummer use those practice sticks ...things? Be as loud as you like on stage as long as you are behind the the PA speakers and your monitors are moderate. (no crowd surfing)
Manfred-Klose
I always have earplugs with me.
Even when i just go out for the night, you never when there would be a 22'' bass speaker around........
Rene@ i will be joining you in golden circle, but with my earplugs dough.......
21Fretter
It's a pity most of us only realize to protect our ears once they are already screwed. I got myself a nice bit of tinnitus going from the Metallica coke fest a couple of years ago. I just use those general yellow squishy ear plugs for when i play drums or go out. I do have DOC Pro-plugs which are for surfing but they apparently are pretty solid for music as well though.
DonovanB
I always practice with ear plugs now.
I asked
Brady Blade this question once at a seminar and everyone laughed at me. He said it was very important to protect your ears (obviously) and that he uses plugs in practice and the in-ear monitroing at gigs helps cos you can keep it at your own level as desired
doc-phil
I use Macks foam earplugs... they're not as good as the custom made ones, but they do claim to reduce the volume by 32dB. I use them whenever I go to any clubs or gigs. It's taken my ears a good year and a half to recover from the last bad experience I had with loud music; and I feel naked without them if there's anything playing louder than a Vuvuzela! My friends laugh at me now... too bad they won't be able to hear me laughing at them when they're 60. ?
FatBoy
I've also caught myself saying "What? Huh?" etc a lot these days. I have booked an appointment with an Audiologist for Monday. Want to get me ears tested and will probably then get earplugs too.
DonovanB
My wife is partially deaf in one ear, I find myself shouting sweet nothings instead.
Its not fun.
IceCreamMan
I have lost hearing in both ears (right side more so) from years of riding motobikes without wearing protection...in the early days no one thought to wear ear plugs. Additionally walkmans on high volumes playing van halen did not help either ...
I now ride wearing plugs and scoping out ear protection when jamming
excellent topic by the way
Riaan
I've also caught myself saying "What? Huh?" etc a lot these days. I have booked an appointment with an Audiologist for Monday.
Every now and then, my wife would say "it's time to have your ears syringed, you don't hear me when I talk". To which I usually reply "there's nothing wrong with my ears, you're mumbling". So I asked a colleague to look in my ears, thinking it was a wax problem. My ear canals were clear, and he sent me off to the audiologist. I have a noticable drop off in the frequencies where speech occur. Probably the result of 30 odd years of working with power tools and some shooting without ear protection. And listening to loud music on my iPod.
And I've never even played in a band... ☹
Garth-S
I recently got myself a pair of Etymotic ear plugs, and wow, they work great. The overall volume comes down without losing the high frequencies. I got them from Take 2.
[deleted]
The great thing is that getting fitted for custom plugs at an audiologist will (almost certainly) be paid for by your medical aid. And they're the best plugs to get. ?
Danny-B
Stratisfear wrote:
The great thing is that getting fitted for custom plugs at an audiologist will (almost certainly) be paid for by your medical aid. And they're the best plugs to get. ?
It's weird having your head filled with that rubbery stuff though ?
[deleted]
Hahaha, yes. Unless you get off on that kind of thing...
Heath
Leather lace rubber and whips
