Protect your hearing

[Guest akey]

He He saw my name mentioned a few times lol.

I used to have DIY Customplugs with speakers in, but I cant use those with my new scala kit. Now I use the foam earplugs with the scala (speakers in helmet) you just have to set the vol up with the earplugs in.

£40 is a bit cheaper than I have seen other moulded plugs from shows etc so it may well be worth doing, how long from having the moulds done to getting the actual earplugs??

[Jixerman]

hmmmmmm

I have started using them after a recent visit to my NHS audiologist and the suggestion that I should to reserve the hearing still have

Found some disposable foam ones I used to use on the buildings, so I tried em.............and no I wouldnt ride without em now.

Didnt take that long to get used to either

I have a hearing aid and know from experience that you also have to be careful about the material used for the moulds.

I had a very bad allergic reaction to my first mould and let me tell you its very very painful when that happens

Now wondering if on my next visit to audiology I might be able to get some made for me as part of my ongoing treatment as they know which materials to use.

[Jixerman]

P.S

I would suggest that as Lauren is a trainee audiologist she will know what she is doing and how to do it safely without risk of injury to your ear drum.

[TC]

Ah Multi-coloured Monster munch

[Jixerman]

Where?

Im famished

[Guest]

This subject seems to come up a lot, I think a sticky guide is called for. Mods??

Personally, i now have damaged hearing due to not wearing hearing protection. Bit of a bugger when you can't hear people across a dinner table, but dead handy when TheWife is jabbering away

I have tried the DIY custom plugs. Didn't like them, for me they didn't block out enough noise. I use disposables, which I buy in bulk. Cost wise they are £14 for a box of 200 pairs. Thats 7 pence a pair!! Earplugs and hearing protection should have an SNR rating (Standard Noise Reduction), custom ones are 20 something, and the plugs I use are 37. Thats a reduction of 37db. Like Akey, I also use a Scala headset and have no trouble hearing it over the plugs.

Additionally, using earplugs or hearing protection reduces fatigue when being exposed to the noise levels on a motorcycle. The wind noise alone (depending on the helmet) exceeds 80db at 60odd mph...

[Jive]

I've always used disposable ear plugs, I thought about having moulded ones made but thought £50 was not worth it when 200 last me a year. Good luck with your venture and I'd certainly consider using them

[Guest]

how long from having the moulds done to getting the actual earplugs??

 

Generally speaking at work its about 10 day turn around from sending them off to the manufacturers to the department getting them back, I can't see this being any different, so if you said that, then to post them out to the people who ordered them, prob talking 2 - 3 weeks

You're quite right about the allergenic materials as well. Luckily the type of material plugs are made of is a compound sillicon, which is highly non-allergenic (its the type of moulds we make at work for people that have allergies!) only problem with them is for people who have excema or flaky skin in the ear, as the soft material tends to fit more tightly, hence cause the skin to flake more.

Jixxerman, good idea about asking at the hospital if they will make some for you! Hopefully they will, but it depends on the place (and the person you speak to some times!), us motorcyclists tend to try to look after our own!

If you want to make a sticky topic on hearing or anything like that, be more than happy to provide just simple advise (not selling anything!) Theres a fair bit of research out there, done on motorcyclists about the effects of wind noise and we'd be happy to give advise on the pathways and problems associated with Hearing or getting an NHS hearing aid.

Lauren and Jason

[Guest]

Hiya.. we find that we sticky too many things, and theres a big list of stickies before we actually get to forum topics.

The search facility is under used, and does actually work well.

ps i like the thought of them, but im a bit blonde and lose things a lot.... always take couple or three sets of disposables with me... I would be gutted to spend £40 and lose one grr!

[Guest]

Actually, ive been looking around forum, and how about putting summat in the guides,manuals and general info about hearing?

If you want to put something together for us that woud be great Not too wordy and I find pics help

[Guest]

Hiya.. we find that we sticky too many things, and theres a big list of stickies before we actually get to forum topics.

The search facility is under used, and does actually work well.

ps i like the thought of them, but im a bit blonde and lose things a lot.... always take couple or three sets of disposables with me... I would be gutted to spend £40 and lose one grr!

 

That is a fair point Vicki. Should something like that be in guides then?

[Guest]

great minds think alike

[Guest]

Hi,

Ive posted a little guide in the section you suggested (including pretty pictures )

All the best

Jason

[Colin the Bear]

I have trouble with any kind of in ear noise protection. When riding hilly areas and ascending and descending at speed I get ear ache due to the pressure not equalising when swallowing. I did read that most of the damage to the hearing is transmitted through the jaw bone and skull directly into the ear. So blocking the ear hole does little to protect.

Any comment from the audiologists on this would be appreciated.

[Guest]

I usually wear ear defenders when I'm clay pigeon shooting, and find the disposable ones (Moldex Spark Plugs) work better than the ear muffs - so I started to give them a try when on the bike instead of my iPod.

Initially it seemed very strange, almost like I was under water, but now I've got used to it, and find it natural to have them in. That took about a week of riding 3-4 times a day though.

I think the main problem with disposable ear plugs is people using them wrong. I see guys at work ramming them in to their ears before they enter the manufacturing areas. They're not compressed or inserted properly, and can offer no protection like this. They look at me sideways as I stand there rolling the ear plugs between my fingers, sliding them slightly upwards in to my ear canal and holding them in place while they expand. Only once I know they're in right will I enter the manufacturing area.

I'd be interested in a custom set, especially supporting forum members. I may well buy 2 sets, 1 for the bike and 1 for the shooting.

Got a couple of questions though...

- How long do they last? (is there a lifespan?)

- How do I clean them?

- Is there "maximum" time you should wear ear protection of any kind?

Cheers

Horness

[Korben]

I think the main problem with disposable ear plugs is people using them wrong. I see guys at work ramming them in to their ears before they enter the manufacturing areas. They're not compressed or inserted properly, and can offer no protection like this. They look at me sideways as I stand there rolling the ear plugs between my fingers, sliding them slightly upwards in to my ear canal and holding them in place while they expand. Only once I know they're in right will I enter the manufacturing area.

 

See the same thing loads of times... Worn properly disposable plugs are great.

[Guest]

I have trouble with any kind of in ear noise protection. When riding hilly areas and ascending and descending at speed I get ear ache due to the pressure not equalising when swallowing. I did read that most of the damage to the hearing is transmitted through the jaw bone and skull directly into the ear. So blocking the ear hole does little to protect.

 

Hi Colin,

Its an interesting point about the pressure problems when wearing ear plugs. It unfortunately one of those things that some people have more problems with sinuses than other people, its the same effect basically when your flying or diving and you have to equalise the pressure. Some people need to equalise or 'pop' their ears more often than other people and for some its painful. Having something blocking your ear, makes the equalisation even harder Can I ask, if you blow your nose, do you hear better for a little bit?

As to the other bit, it is, in partly true what you say. Some sound you do here through your head and skull rather than through the air in particular low frequencies. Compared to how much sound enters through the ear tho, its next to nothing. By blocking the ear up, you basically turn down the sound entering, in particular the high frequencies, which research shows is much more damaging than the lows. Its one of those tho, because ear plugs are relatively new, there's not much long term research out there, 90% of the short term stuff tho, does report that ear plugs help greatly.

 

Got a couple of questions though...

- How long do they last? (is there a lifespan?)

- How do I clean them?

- Is there "maximum" time you should wear ear protection of any kind?

Cheers

Horness

 

Hi Horness,

If you have any probs putting ear plugs in, pull you're ear up as you put them in, it generally straightens the ear canal, so you can get em in a bit better

They last around 2 - 3 years (your ears grow till the day you die, so they become loose over time)

Clean them in warm soapy water, leave em on the side on a paper towel, dry inside an hour

There isn't really a max time limit. What we usually say if its uncomfortable, take em out. In some people. wearing ear protection for long periods can make them more prone to ear infections, then you just have to leave them out until the infection clears

As an update, I spoke to a supplier today (people that do the plugs for the NHS and its looking good, basically £40 for a standard set, with a choice of 8 colours, or £42.50 for a set with a marble effect or a picture insert

Will now just depend on how much the dreaded insurance is, but you might see me at the moto gp!!!

[Guest]

Thanks Lauren for your reply. I hope everything goes well with the insurance.

Horness

[Quentin]

I'm inetersted in this!

£40 sounds cheap for moulded ear plugs. What effect will they have on my hearing despite the obvious? Will they have a nice flat response across my hearing range, ie say 9dB drop across my full hearing range or will I get everything muffled with some severe drops in certain frequencies?

Oh and do you have different dB level cuts?

Cheers

[stelmer]

I'm interested in this too.

I have hearing problems anyway as I had Glue Ear as a kid and lost a good deal of hearing in my Right Ear.

I could do with a free ear examination too. Been meaning to go to the docs but never get round to it

[learner]

you can get your hearing tested for free at specsavers these days

I have to go every year now as its a work requirement due to all the fan noise from the server rooms I have to work in

learner

[Guest]

What effect will they have on my hearing despite the obvious? Will they have a nice flat response across my hearing range, ie say 9dB drop across my full hearing range or will I get everything muffled with some severe drops in certain frequencies?

Oh and do you have different dB level cuts?

Cheers

 

Hi Quentin,

Sorry for delay, been out enjoying the bank holiday!

No plug offers a flat response, I won't go into great detail, but basically the ear canal amplifies certain frequencies above others naturally, so putting a plug in always reduces these more than others. Best way of putting it is, if in correctly they should sound a bit like you've got ure fingers in your ears, so they do take some time to get used to. The sound shouldn't be distorted tho, or sound muffled. Ive got the attenuation figures for the plugs somewhere, and they do come with differing degrees of attenuation dependant on the filter

Best way to get your hearing checked if anyone is worried about it is your GP. I dont work privately, so I have no idea what the private sector is like at testing peoples hearing, but your GP should be able to sort out an in-surgery hearing test for you.

Jason

[Bill_on_a_bike]

I use ear plugs as often as I can, and much prefer riding with them in, especially on my screaming little 125.

At £40 /pair, are they going to do THAT much better job than disposable foam jobs? Really?

[Quentin]

What effect will they have on my hearing despite the obvious? Will they have a nice flat response across my hearing range, ie say 9dB drop across my full hearing range or will I get everything muffled with some severe drops in certain frequencies?

Oh and do you have different dB level cuts?

Cheers

 

Hi Quentin,

Sorry for delay, been out enjoying the bank holiday!

No plug offers a flat response, I won't go into great detail, but basically the ear canal amplifies certain frequencies above others naturally, so putting a plug in always reduces these more than others. Best way of putting it is, if in correctly they should sound a bit like you've got ure fingers in your ears, so they do take some time to get used to. The sound shouldn't be distorted tho, or sound muffled. Ive got the attenuation figures for the plugs somewhere, and they do come with differing degrees of attenuation dependant on the filter

Best way to get your hearing checked if anyone is worried about it is your GP. I dont work privately, so I have no idea what the private sector is like at testing peoples hearing, but your GP should be able to sort out an in-surgery hearing test for you.

Jason

 

Cheers Jason

I do ask odd questions as I own a pair of ER9shttp://www.audiorelief.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=40 which are (were) pretty amazing until some bloody moron stood on one. Still kinda works but doesn't fit perfectly.

Therefore I'm in the market for a new pair and would much prefere not to spend £160 especially as my new job isn't half as loud. I wouldn't mind seeing the attenuation figures just because i'm anal.

Back to your first post

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THIS ???????

LET US KNOW

thanks

 

Yeah I'd deffinatly buy some for £40 just for general use. If the owner looks after them it would work out cheaper than disposables over 4ish years.

[Guest]

Hey all,

Sorry about the lack of reply, the site for the figures is http://www.earpods.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=64

I dont agree with all the claims on there, after all they are trying to flog their product!!!

All the best

Jason and Lauren