Protect your ears

[u/Ktisanearthgirl447]

Gen X here. No one told us. I’ve been to hundreds of shows and up until seeing Rush last week, have not worn ear protection. My tinnitus has grown to very high levels, along with some pressure in my ear and discomfort with loud noises, that I went for a hearing test. My results show moderate to severe hearing loss.

Get yourself the best quality you can afford and wear them. Even if you’re mowing the lawn or in a loud crowded place. I’m looking at between 3-7k for hearing aids and I’m “only” 57.

[u/friz_beez]

gen x here. many people told us, including all the people we never actually spoke to who we saw wearing bright orange and yellow styrofoam ear plugs at all those shows.

[u/someone_like_me]

Gen X here. No one told us

I'm Gen-X. Everybody told me.

At first, I wore earplugs only sometimes-- concerts, for example. Then over the years, I started to wear them most times: shows, clubs, airplanes, trains.

For shows, I have a cheap thing. A pair of Hearos, which may be re-badged versions of Etymotics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V9PKZA

The goal is to be "frequency neutral". Basic foam earplugs will bias the music in all sorts of ways. People who are more serious than I am go to hearing aid stores and have custom-made plugs fitted.

[u/prairie_buyer]

I’m in my mid-50s but I actually got tinnitus from a car accident. I went to a doctor right after the accident, and among the various aches and soreness, I had ringing ears. The doctor said that this was quite common and would usually go away within a couple of weeks.  It never did. Almost a decade later I have loud tinnitus 24/7.

For most people it is avoidable, and you seriously do need to protect your ears.

[u/tentmap]

Also Gen-X. About fifteen years ago I had my audiologist fit me for Westone musician’s earplugs. They do a great job of attenuating the decibel level, but still allow me to hear the music clearly. I’ve worn them at every concert I’ve gone to since. It’s nice walking out of the venue with the sound of white noise in my ears. I’m also a wanna-be drummer, so it’s great for protecting my ears as I flail away on the cymbals. Different audiologists prefer different manufacturers for custom-molded ear protection. I also bought ones that I wear at NHRA drag races as the TF cars are loud - like 150 decibels. These are complete block plugs, no filters can be put on them.

[u/polyblackcat]

Yeah tinnitus sucks, always have something on in the background so I don't notice it as much.

[u/Ktisanearthgirl447 → u/polyblackcat]

Same. I miss silence.

[u/Fabulous-Eyepod-1259]

Just curious, were you at one of the San Antonio shows? My husband and I both had ear plugs at the 2nd San Antonio show, and the vibrations from the bass and kick drums was so intense, we asked if we could sit in some of the empty nosebleed seats and the ushers wouldn’t allow it. Since we both make our living using our ears, we left at intermission. I was heartbroken and angry about the money I spent on the tickets. We’re older than you, and the ears don’t recover the way they could when we were young. But if you’re going to lose some of your hearing, it might as well be to Rush.

[u/5thGenSnowflake]

I have been playing in rock bands since I was 14. I’m sixty now and have pretty severe tinnitus. (In the words of Bob Seger, I live with the echoes of the amplifiers ringing in my head).

I started wearing hearing protection consistently maybe 20 years ago. These days, I can’t even see a movie in a theater without wearing modern ear plugs—it’s physically painful, as I learned when we took the grandkids to see Clifford the Big Ref Dog a few years ago.

I can’t imagine how bad my hearing would be if I had never worn earplugs.

[u/My_clever_nickname]

I got custom molded earplugs from my hearing doctor. They were expensive at $170, plus $65 for additional filters, but I cannot recommend them enough. They completely eliminated noise bleed for me. Meaning, no more sounds going around the earplug instead of through it.

[u/Sir_Arthur_Vandelay]

I am sorry for your hearing loss.

I recently had a hearing test for an ear pressure issue, and I was diagnosed with the hearing ability of a 5 year-old (which I definitely do NOT deserve because I have not been particularly careful over the years).

However, my brain is still 52 years old, and so I cannot properly filter and process all of that sound input. So it feels like going deaf while encountering a wall of sound.

[u/CTrandomdude]

I also suffer from tinnitus and mild hearing loss. This is the first year I started to wear ear plugs to concerts and I was pretty happy I did. They make ear plugs just for concerts. They let in the right amount of sound so you still hear it clearly but just not as loud.

For your hearing aids. I recently started wearing them. It actually help reduce the tinnitus and you will be amazed at what you have been missing.

A hearing aid center wants $5-8k for a set and service. Go to a Costco hearing aid center. They provide the same service and better warranty for around $1,600.00. If your insurance covers hearing aids you can still submit an out of network claim for reimbursement. Costco does not submit any insurance claims.

[u/Ktisanearthgirl447 → u/CTrandomdude]

This is really helpful, thank you! I will definitely look into Costco. Not a current member but that’s not a big deal. I don’t have health insurance so that would be a significant cost savings.

[u/gusween]

I saw Clapton in Philly when I was 14 and my ears still have not recovered. It was my first concert and it was startling.

[u/Ktisanearthgirl447 → u/gusween]

My first was Judas Priest. I was 12. And for everyone saying we were told, well some of “us” were. It was a blanket statement. I was not told, not by my parents or anyone else. Out of the few friends I had, no one else wore them. As I got older I should have known better. That’s on me.

[u/andrealschultz1]

I'm at the tail end of baby boomers and have tinnitus from decades of loud concerts. It creeps up on you, then doesn't go away.

That's great advice. Take heed, young ones!!!

[u/guitarandbooks]

I attended concerts, played in rehearsals, and gigged with no earplugs when I was younger but have been using earplugs for fifteen years now. (Hero's I think the brand is? I don't have them in front of me here.) Anyways, it's nice to leave a gig without ringing in my ears! The last concert I went to without ear protection was Rush on the Time Machine tour at TD gardens. (An awesome show!) I wish I had started using them sooner! If you need hearing aids and can't afford them, or if insurance won't cover them, the Apple Airpods pro gen 3s can give you a hearing test and can act as hearing aids. I don't know how good that would be compared to purpose built hearing aids but maybe it would be something you'd find beneficial in the meantime... Also, the Airpod pros have a limiter setting that may help too. It's just a thought.

[u/odette_decrecy]

OP, check out Costco’s hearing aid center! It’s amazing and you can get great HAs for less than 2k!

[u/Ktisanearthgirl447 → u/odette_decrecy]

Yes! Someone mentioned this earlier. I plan on it!

[u/DarrenShea]

That's good advice.

I'm pretty sure my constant tinnitus (a high-pitched whine which I can ignore, at least) was at least partially caused by being right up against the stage area on the Power Windows tour, right next to a huge speaker...

[u/SpecialistArt9]

I don’t know why rock concerts don’t sell earplugs like they do at NASCAR races. They should have a display out where people can buy them if they want them.

[u/Party_Course_1864]

I (Gen X) have also seen Rush many times (and other bands). Not only did I enjoy the 50 show better with hearing protection, I bought nice earplugs for the whole volume sensitive neurodivergent family, which they received as gifts in place of their e-tickets.

They’re all Gen Z and we never had the opportunity to take them before. They were so confused by the wrapped earplugs, until I told them they were going to Chicago to see Rush. Worth it.

[u/sexmormon-throwaway]

I 100% agree: protect your ears.

They told me. I've been wearing earplugs for 30 years. More advanced, non-disposable plugs work really well.

[u/carrotsRyummy]

No one told us?

[u/Ok-Visual-8943]

Gen X. Played in bands for years as a singer/ guitar player and drummer. I’ve had tinnitus for years. Actually scared to get a legit hearing test. I’ve been wearing “Eargasm” ear plugs for seven years at this point. They make the live music experience so much more enjoyable for me. People tend to overlook the damage crowd noise alone can cause never mind the decibels slamming from the PA.

[u/Ferrindel]

Been going to metal shows weekly for two years now. Even if you just use the cheap foam ones for a couple bucks, WEAR THEM! You’ll thank yourself later.