What do you use for hearing protection?
 

When I used to work on/around USAF fighter jets, I never wore hearing protection. I was young and stupid. I'm paying for those sins now twenty some odd years later. I really have a hard time hearing conversation in crowded restaurants. I want to make sure it doesn't get any worse.

Do you wear hearing protection when you use machinery? If so, which do you use, the spoungy things to stick in ears or the eighties style headphones?

I use the little sponges on a cord only because I got them from work. I'd rather have the the real headphone type. (wish I could wear them around the house)

Wish I had years ago.....worked in a canning co. Thousands of cans on a production line clanging into each other non-stop. Along with over 400 Grateful Dead shows over the years......I now have permanent Tinnitus.

Me too, I use the headphone type.
Steve

I've got a set of custom made earplugs I got made at a local hearing aid place for $25.... Well worth the money... they don't pop out like those stupid foam ones...

What?

Headphone type. I get absolutely no benefit from the in-ear foam type. When we go shooting if all I have is the foam type my ears will be ringing for three days guaranteed, even if we're outdoors, is that normal???
Simple hearing tests conclude I have little to no loss of any particular frequencies, BUT, as someone mentioned above, trying to hear a conversation in a crowded room, forget it.

seriously. i have done some damage already.

now, (too little too late) i wear the cheap foam ones 100% of the time around machinery. i need to seriously commit and even wear them around impact wrench. i grab the earplugs by the handful from my contractor.

Depends on the noise environment you are in. The type goes from the foam inserts to full ear coverage (similar to earphones). I have tinitus (cosntant ringing in my ears; I use ear protection anything in an environment over 80 dba (includes snow blowers/thowers). Cotton does not work.

I caught a deal on the Ryobi active headphones around Christmas. They allow you to hear "normally" until things get loud, then they compress the audio instantly. I'm very happy with them.

to riff on the old saying, "you have 25 cent ears?"

Shooting it is proper ear muffs. At rehearsal with the funk band I wear these:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - ER•20 High Fidelity Earplugs

I use the foam plugs riding my motorcycle and in the race car. It actually allows me to hear the machinery better by reducing the exhaust noise and external sounds. I use them doing yardwork as well and when my fiance and dog are snoring :-)

Seriously guys... Get the custom made ones... Well worth the money... I wear them shooting, mowing, at concerts....

Stihl headphone type for real noise

foam type for minor, or short duration noise

At concerts?

What's the point of going then?

For shooting, I use both the foam and electronic muffs. Doubling up has helped alleviate a bad flinch I developed last fall when shooting inside with only a crappy pair of old muffs.

Garret if you are close enough to the stage your ears are still ringing even with the earplugs...

I-Pod.

I use the in the ear foam ones only when I have no other choice. Mowing the lawn, shooting, any regular power tools, over the ear hearing protection.

48 years of playing in bands hearing a snare drum go off in my ear a thousand times a night has really screwed my ears up. If I'm not facing you sometimes I don't know what you said. I use protection while shooting, but wearing plugs while playing kinda makes it lose it's sizzle. I don't count so I depend on being able to be sensitive to what I hear. I used to kid my wife about my hearing being gone in her tonal range but it is effecting all my ranges now. I know it sounds corny but I worry about being "deaf Grandpa" in the future to my grandkids. I've decided to retire from playing in 3 years when I get my first SS check. I've had a good run. Time to quit before I'm deaf as a post.