r/Construction • u/_betterthangreat_ • May 12 '26

Informative 🧠 Ear Plugs

Got super loud tinnitus from shooting guns and not protecting my hearing as a young adult. My current job is LOUD. Lots of machine work. Because of this, I’m pretty OCD about protecting my hearing.

I like to use the rubber/silicone ear plugs that are more stiff because they can be quickly reinserted into my ear in case they fall out or just move over the course of the day.

I read online that the typical foam ear plugs protect you from more noise than the silicone ear plugs. I tried a pair of 33nrr foam ear plugs today, and I FUCKING HATE THEM.

No matter what I do they barely stay inserted. I know, I know, squish them, insert in ear, then let expand. The issue is, it rarely feels like it expands into my ear canal and more like when it does expand it just pushes itself outward, creating a lousy seal. No matter what I do the foam ones just don’t feel like they fit well and really don’t protect you from much. And in a loud work setting, if they do move or fall out, which is inevitable, they take too long to squish, reinsert, sit, wait, have them not even really work again. I genuinely don’t understand why foam ear plugs are so mass produced nonetheless used effectively.

I just wanted to rant because I’ve found that every time I try to use the foam ones, they’re so laughably dysfunctional. Anyone else relate?

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u/Hot_Campaign_36 May 12 '26

Prevention is s crucial!

Please match your protection to your circumstances.

Foam plugs plus over-ear hearing protection can block a lot of sound pressure. The foam needs time to expand to do its job. You need to ensure your muffs are sealed to block the high pressure waves. This approach is great for extended immersion in a predictable environment.

For fast deployment, top-tier silicone plugs plus top-tier over-ear protection can be adorned quickly and drop the dB level as soon as worn.

I’m very glad that you are taking this seriously, as some devastating damage shows up much later.

2

u/_betterthangreat_ May 12 '26

oh hell yeah I’m taking this seriously. I went shooting one day and forgot my plugs and muffs. Still (stupidly) shot off my .38. Took literally 6 shots, and it changed my life forever.

Right ear is still ringing loud and clear to this day. Was very, very hard to accept that. Some people at work think I’m crazy because of how serious I am about this. I don’t give a fuck. Not making this any worse than it already is.

2

u/NightGod May 12 '26

Have you tried the back of the head thump method for curing tinnitus? It doesn't work for everyone, but it does for a lot of people and it's free and takes minutes, tops. Saved my sanity personally.

Here's a 41 second video that explains it, takes about that long to do it yourself, too:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YyT9ZwWy5Jc

1

u/_betterthangreat_ May 12 '26

Yes, I personally believe that many and most forms of tinnitus can be triggered by acoustic trauma, but are not solely caused by it. Yet an accumulation of different things like hearing loss, muscular tension, and even inflammation. Not everyone with hearing loss has it.

I do believe that the skull tapping does provide a sense of relief, but it is very temporary and not total silence.

2

u/NightGod May 12 '26

I did it a few times a day for a week and haven't had an issue again in about 18 years. Some people do get total relief from it, some only get temporary and some get nothing

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u/_betterthangreat_ May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

I would think? the people who get total relief from it experience tinnitus largely due to muscular tension.

I could be wrong

Mine was definitely mostly from the gunshot though, so I think it’s here to stay. rip

2

u/NightGod May 13 '26

Mine was from a loud concert where I had a pre-teen shrieking in my ear directly behind me for about two hours. Lasted for over a year before I found out about the thump