[pianotech] Hearing protection

[William Truitt]

Well, you know Diane, you only get ONE chance to make a first impression!
:-)

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Diane Hofstetter
Sent: Sunday, September 06, 2009 3:20 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Hearing protection


 
 
It's a JOY to hear everybody discussing their experiments with different
kinds of earplugs!  
 
Ten years ago, when I started selling earplugs and trying to convince other
piano technicians to wear earplugs while tuning, one of the responders on
this very thread told me that I would never be able to get members of the
PTG to see the importance of protecting their hearing!
 
My personal experiences with hundreds of kinds of earplugs, and with
different wearers has convinced me that the refrain of the National Hearing
Conservation Association; "The best earplug is the one they will wear"! is
so very true.
 
Also, I have found that different plugs are good for different purposes.
Different protection devices are good for different hearing audiograms.  I
tried the Sensgard and found that the high frequency noise caused by the
device itself made it terribly annoying to me.  
 
Regarding Robin Stevens' post (below): While I was in audiology classes at
Portland State University, we learned how to make impressions during our lab
classes.  We were only permitted to make impressions (even with the lab
clinician, who was an audiologist, supervising us) during the hours an ENT
office would be open. 
 

Diane Hofstetter
 

[pianotech] Hearing protection
Robin Stevens pianobee at bigpond.com wrote:

You must have missed the show on TV called Hospital emergency, or something
like that,  where a "do it yourself" ear plug fitter got the mould in and
they would not come out ;-( after a very painful procedure the doctor
finally got them out. Morel of the story....Get them fitted by a proper
technician! I have used proper ear plugs for two years now and it was the
best money I have ever spent.
You buy expensive tools, why settle for makeshift el cheapo ear plugs.
Robin Stevens ARPT
South Australia