Hearing Protection

[Rockytime]

I am very much hearing impaired. Having recently visited my audiologist, she said my hearing had decreased some since my last visit. She recommended hearing protection when using my shop equipment. I have the typical heavy hearing protectors I used at the shooting range but they are bulky and uncomfortable quickly. I used foam plugs for riding but they are not real comfortable either. I ordered these on Amazon. Just received them so do not know how effective they are. They are comfortable though. The bluetooth sets are useless to me as I can no longer decipher music. So I'm wondering what others are using.

[OCtoolguy]

31 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

I am very much hearing impaired. Having recently visited my audiologist, she said my hearing had decreased some since my last visit. She recommended hearing protection when using my shop equipment. I have the typical heavy hearing protectors I used at the shooting range but they are bulky and uncomfortable quickly. I used foam plugs for riding but they are not real comfortable either. I ordered these on Amazon. Just received them so do not know how effective they are. They are comfortable though. The bluetooth sets are useless to me as I can no longer decipher music. So I'm wondering what others are using.

Les, back in the days when I was seriously competing in 3 gun military shooting, I had earplugs that were molded to my ear canals and then I used a good pair of muffs designed for indoor pistol shooting. The combination of the two worked very well. I had pretty good hearing until one night when my reserve outfit was out on maneuvers at Fort Irwin, Ca. We were supporting a tank outfit and it was after dark when they started firing. I was standing behind and to the rear of two M-48A1's and they fired simultaneously. The sky turned bright yellow. I couldn't hear for two days and I have tinnitus ever since. I sold tools in and around body shops for 40 years, I wore headphones to listen to the rock and roll music up close, I hung out at the drag strips when Art Arfons ran his jet dragster and then all the pistol shooting (500 rounds of .45acp) every Sunday for practice, I have done everything in the world to ruin my hearing. But, I still hear fairly well. Except for when my wife speaks to me. For some reason, I just can't hear her. LOL!

 

[Rolf]

I have two pair of muffs one is just ordinary the other is Blue tooth and I listen to Pandora music. I use them with any power equipment, indoor and outdoor.

 

[lawson56]

I wear shop style ear muff I bought a Lowe's.They work pretty good.The sound is drowned out to a whisper.

[kmmcrafts]

I have a couple pair of work tunes noise cancellation head phones.. Bought them way back when I started my lawn care business.. Use them a lot for several summers.. hoping the bright yellow would fade away and make them not stand out on my head like a big yellow jacket bee.. but no luck... still bright yellow 

Edited December 15, 2018 by kmmcrafts

[Foxfold]

I have the foam ear plugs and I put my hubbys ear defenders on as well. He has severe tinnitus since a viral infection 20yrs ago so I know how vital protection is.

[bandaideman]

I use work tunes head set and listen to the radio during all noisy activity and a pair of regular. The tunes I have had for about 15 years now.  The right speaker no longer works, most likely wet from sweat and shorted out. I dried them out and cleaned them up and they worked another 2 days. I still use them just not stereo but mono works. Found also not I have to have te antenna touching my bald spot on the head and works better. Battery door fell off. Well Christmas is coming. They are comfortable and keep noise down

[Rockytime]

Sounds like you've gotten your money out of them. I hope Santa is good to you!

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I wear these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWICGMY?tag=s4343sdfd-20 have for a long time and have a few pairs scattered around the shop and even outdoors when I cut the grass or my neighbor uses that annoying leaf blower. That person is very anal he needs to get every blade of grass or every leaf off the sidewalk. usually running for over an hour. 50 X100 lot. Really is annoying.

I never wear anything with music because I feel it is a huge safety hazard. You are drowning one frequency out but blasting so many others into your ears. People just do not get it. But to each their own and then you read these posts. I can not do two things at once. Concentrate on machinery in the shop and listen to music. Just me I guess. 

 

Worked in construction for 43 years so there always was noise of all different types. Use to use the foam throw away plugs and they worked well. hearing is still good to this day. Eyes not so much. Knees and shoulder nope not good. Back lets not go there. 

Edited December 16, 2018 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Charlie E]

3 hours ago, Foxfold said:

I have the foam ear plugs and I put my hubbys ear defenders on as well. He has severe tinnitus since a viral infection 20yrs ago so I know how vital protection is.

Bless his heart on the severe tinnitus. I'm listening to mine right now. I nearly had a nervous breakdown, or maybe I did, when I first started noticing it. Had to use Klonopin to sleep for a year or two. Thankfully I'm used to it now. I do try to use ear protection now though.

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, Charlie E said:

Bless his heart on the severe tinnitus. I'm listening to mine right now. I nearly had a nervous breakdown, or maybe I did, when I first started noticing it. Had to use Klonopin to sleep for a year or two. Thankfully I'm used to it now. I do try to use ear protection now though.

Do you hear different sounds in either ear? When mine is really acting up, I hear a jingling chain in one ear, and birds chirping in the other. I have found that if I use any kind of decongestant or antihistamines it really aggravates mine. Mine is the worst in the morning when I first get up.

[Foxfold]

32 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

. I have found that if I use any kind of decongestant or antihistamines it really aggravates mine

My husband,Tony, finds a  tremendous difference when the air pressure changes. He finds having background noise on helps a bit.  But I find it really sad when, if I ask him what he'd like for birthday/Christmas, he quite often says ''An off switch''   

[Charlie E]

2 hours ago, octoolguy said:

Do you hear different sounds in either ear? When mine is really acting up, I hear a jingling chain in one ear, and birds chirping in the other. I have found that if I use any kind of decongestant or antihistamines it really aggravates mine. Mine is the worst in the morning when I first get up.

I do get that somewhat, but it's always worse in my left ear. Goes from high pitched ring to what I describe as grasshoppers in a field on a hot day. Lately I've also periodically got the sound of tiny bubbles popping in my right ear. I've had several very loud jobs plus a lot of shooting shot guns in the past so I'm pretty sure what caused mine. So glad I kind of wore a mental callus to it. Mental anguish trumps physical ailments. Hate to complain when there's so many worse things people have to live with though.

[OCtoolguy]

5 minutes ago, Charlie E said:

I do get that somewhat, but it's always worse in my left ear. Goes from high pitched ring to what I describe as grasshoppers in a field on a hot day. Lately I've also periodically got the sound of tiny bubbles popping in my right ear. I've had several very loud jobs plus a lot of shooting shot guns in the past so I'm pretty sure what caused mine. So glad I kind of wore a mental callus to it. Mental anguish trumps physical ailments. Hate to complain when there's so many worse things people have to live with though.

Amen to that Charlie. I look around me every day and thank God that I am in as good of shape as I am. Life is truly not fair and all we can do is the best we can do.

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by octoolguy

[Charlie E]

1 hour ago, Foxfold said:

My husband,Tony, finds a  tremendous difference when the air pressure changes. He finds having background noise on helps a bit.  But I find it really sad when, if I ask him what he'd like for birthday/Christmas, he quite often says ''An off switch''   

I've longed for that switch too! It is helpful knowing so many others deal with the same thing.