[CAUT] Hearing Protection

[Wimblees@aol.com]

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It's interesting that Bob brought this up right now. I was just about to  
send out a e-mail to ask about the comfort of these things. For several months  
now I've been bothered by loud noises, not only tuning the upper register of  
piano, but also loud crowd noise, and the organ at church. I sit in the back 
row  of our choir loft, which is right in front of the pipe organ. It drives me  
crazy. I leave for the postlude, especially when the organist plays something 
 loud and fast, which he usually does. He's great player, and I can't ask him 
to  tone it down, because when I've been down in the sanctuary, the sound is 
just  right. 
 
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I went to the University Speech and Hearing  
Center, and got a hearing check up. My hearing is fine, except it drops off a  
little in the high register, which is normal for someone my age (60). But the  
audiologist said I did have tenuitis (sp) So I got a pair of custom made ear  
plugs. It only cost $100. Compared to what some of you are paying, I guess I 
got  a pretty good deal
 
But what I was going to ask is, how long does it take to get used to these  
things? They don't hurt, but it is irritating to have them in my ear.  I also 
found that there are several positions to put them in. If I put them in  all 
the way, I can't hear the subtleties of unisons or intervals. So I have to  put 
them in only half way. I also found that if I put in just my right ear, and  
leave the left one out, I can hear better. 
 
Any of you have this experience?
 
Wim 
 
In a message dated 10/28/2005 12:21:15 AM Central Standard Time,  
hullfam5@yahoo.com writes:

I'm  looking at two brands of earplugs for hearing
protection: E.A.R. inc.   and Etymotic.  Both have ER-
25 and maybe ER-15 filtered plugs that  are custom
moldable to fit.  Etymotic has a do it yourself  mold
kit; and E.A.R. sends you to an audiologist type to
get the  impression done for some $.  Etymotic plugs
are 152.00 with free  molding kit while E.A.R plugs are
130.00 plus but maybe about $35 that will  have to be
paid to someone to get the impressions done. 

I have been  using some Etymotic ER-20 (not custom)
that I bought at the convention  (cheap ones).  They do
pretty well but quite a few pianos still bother  me
while tuning the higher octaves.

I'm interested in your  experiences with either of
these brands or others and what level of filter  you
have found to be good. 

Thanks, 
Bob  Hull





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