[bmullen]

Alright, I've messed up and now have permanent hearing damage and tinnitus after rocking and rolling for several decades (now in my sixtys). I'm playing out a lot nowadays and my ears are ringing even worse, and its way past time to get very serious on the matter. I've tried musician earplugs but they are "stuffy" and also I have to remove them between songs in order to have a conversation. Question: has anyone tried using one of the active battery-powered ear protection devices such as:

https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/mp915.html

What sounds most appealing about these is that you do not have to pull them out to hear soft conversation between songs. Wondering if any sax players use these? I presume that you still get that sound of the sax (and my background vocals) that transmits through the bones of your skull which you can get used to???

FYI, my monitor is one of those clear plastic soundback-type things (AKA The Note Bandit) that clips onto a mounted microphone (or, when I use my wireless mic, clamps to my music stand). It beats lugging around a separate floor or stand monitor and that sound that bounces back is crisp with good high end frequencies (relatively, since I've lost so much hearing).

Should I also consider an in-ear monitor instead? But that brings with it a whole 'nother set of gear to lug around and fiddle with, no? Do these do much ear protection? But then again I'd have to keep pulling them out of my ear between songs. Sorry for so many questions here and thanks for any light anyone can shine on this.

 

[soybean]

Earasers are excellent hearing protection. Not stuffy. Not expensive. (better than the Eargasm plugs).

https://www.earasers.net/

 

[PigSquealer]

Here's the eargasm soybean is taking about.
https://eargasmearplugs.com/
Waiting for a reply from friend that plays in some kind of punk/metal band. Extremely loud and obnoxious music. Use powered ear plugs that worked pretty good from what I'm told.

 

[PigSquealer]

Hear ya go!
https://www.inearz.com/

 

[bmullen]

Shortly after posting my inquiry I decided to order a pair ($250), I am desperate for relief. Will have them tomorrow (Saturday) and will begin testing them at rehearsal on Monday. Will provide feedback in this forum on how they work out. Thanks for the tips!

 

[zelda]

I use Peltor Tactical 6-S Slimline noise-cancelling electronic ear muffs for goose hunting. I'm not sure how practical they would be for musicians. They have a noise reduction rating of 20-dB.

 

[bmullen]

Got the ear plugs today. I can't believe it but I actually like them! I liked the tone of my sax with them in my ear, that's a good start. Liked the boost in conversation level when set to their lower (9 dB) setting, and they seemed to work nice when I did the hardest clapping of hands that I could muster with the 15 dB setting and also separately blowing my horn as loud as possible. Not very comfortable in my ear though, so I may now take the next step and go with custom ear molds that will fit onto the Music Pro ear plugs since I'm gigging so much now.

 

[PigSquealer]

Not very comfortable in my ear though.

It takes a couple three weeks to get used to the rubber plugs. No different than the molded ones. It's like wearing a ring or bracelet. It just takes a little time to get used to it. Keep them clean and dry. That will help reduce the chances of any irritation. A partly closed battery door hurts about:15 later
The #10 battery will last 7-10 days depending on use. Bulk packs of 48 are $10 @ Costco @hearing aid services. You don't need membership for pharmacy.

 

[bmullen]

It takes a couple three weeks to get used to the rubber plugs. No different than the molded ones. It's like wearing a ring or bracelet. It just takes a little time to get used to it. Keep them clean and dry. That will help reduce the chances of any irritation. A partly closed battery door hurts about:15 later
The #10 battery will last 7-10 days depending on use. Bulk packs of 48 are $10 @ Costco @hearing aid services. You don't need membership for pharmacy.

Thanks for the tip, perhaps I'll try and give the rubber plugs a chance. Hard to tell what size my ear canal is in order to determine if I should wear the large or the small plug, how does one measure ear canal size other than by fit (with neither feeling comfortable yet, but especially the large). Good tip on Costco, I'm not a member and don't want to join!

 

[PigSquealer]

Hard to tell what size my ear canal is in order to determine if I should wear the large or the small plug, how does one measure ear canal size other than by fit (with neither feeling comfortable yet, but especially the large).

Providing they're not loose go with the smallest. To small they leak sound through too. FWIW I have the same plugs on a $3600 custom 20+ channel bluetooth hearing aids. Been using using aids for almost 35 years. I've had custom cast inner and outer ear types. The plugs work really good just dry your ear and plug between sets with tissue until you get seasoned.

 

[PigSquealer]

Thanks for the tip, perhaps I'll try and give the rubber plugs a chance.

So now that you've had them a few weeks are they more comfortable? Anything new to report in use?

 

[milandro]

Alright, I've messed up and now have permanent hearing damage and tinnitus after rocking and rolling for several decades (now in my sixtys). .

I am very much in the same boat.

I have a question, why are you using earplugs now? Tinnitus is not going to go away or get any worse now that you have it, you (and I) have it and I will (unfortunately) keep it until I am no more.

There is no cure ( despite the claims of many who like for many affections will sell us anything ) and I've lived with it for years now.

Some folks actually say they can fight off tinnitus with sending a sound to your ears. Tinnitus is a very puzzling affection and although there are many hypothesis to how it happens ( it takes places even with people not exposed to nerve damaging sounds) there is no convincing cure.

You don't actually " hear" the sound you " feel" it in your head, much as the brain " feels" the phantom limb pain

https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2010/01/11/tinnitus_the_ea/

" treatment" cmes in many shapes one is this

 

[motteatoj]

Got the ear plugs today. I can't believe it but I actually like them! I liked the tone of my sax with them in my ear, that's a good start. Liked the boost in conversation level when set to their lower (9 dB) setting, and they seemed to work nice when I did the hardest clapping of hands that I could muster with the 15 dB setting and also separately blowing my horn as loud as possible. Not very comfortable in my ear though, so I may now take the next step and go with custom ear molds that will fit onto the Music Pro ear plugs since I'm gigging so much now.

which did you buy?

 

[bmullen]

So now that you've had them a few weeks are they more comfortable? Anything new to report in use?

Apologize for the delay in response. I ended up equipping the Etymotic Research MP9-15 WITH CUSTOM EARMOLDS. Went through quite the process of fitting the earmolds. Initially the whole MP9-15 with custom molds getup jutted out of my ear too much, not good from a vanity point of view. Sent them back twice. Got the molds back but I don't like the way the MP9-15's now sit in my ear with the adjustable switch near the back of my ear (the ridge on my ear interferes with easy access to the switch) rather than the bottom of my ear. I had really liked easy access to the adjustable switch. But I bought the custom molds anyways even if I wasn't satisfied. They are comfortable. Not really sure that I like them, sometimes still sound too stuffy but not always, sometimes I pull them out and sometimes not. As you know sound-level volumes vary considerably from gig to gig. Am still in what I consider an evaluation phase, if I had easy access to the switch I'd be much happier than I am now.

 

[bmullen]

I am very much in the same boat.

"I have a question, why are you using earplugs now? Tinnitus is not going to go away or get any worse now that you have it."

Just trying to prevent further damage to my ears, granted that the tinitus won't go away, nor will my existing hearing loss.

 

[bmullen]

Bought the Etyymotic Research MP9-15 battery-powered earplugs, have had custom earmolds made for them.

 

[bmullen]

Bought the Etymotic Research MP9-15 electronic earplugs.

 

[hakukani]

I have a pair of the etymotic custom plugs. Not the active ones. I find I can hear conversations and wear them comfortably for hours==without having to 'get used' to them. Best investment I've made, although I still suffer from tinnitus.