Hearing Loss and Protection

[rebeccac]

Reading with interest as I’ve been an avid gig and festival goer for many years, as well as nights out, resulting in me getting pretty bad tinnitus. It’s at a manageable level now but has put me off going back to Glasto, even though I would always wear my earplugs (by the sounds of it I need to invest in some Loop ones!). I don’t think there is much awareness around hearing damage, I’ve never seen anything anywhere and I am hyper aware these days. The NHS or govt should really be pushing the message as there’s going to be a hearing issue crisis in the next ten years or so

[iamsam]

18 hours ago, rebeccac said:

Reading with interest as I’ve been an avid gig and festival goer for many years, as well as nights out, resulting in me getting pretty bad tinnitus. It’s at a manageable level now but has put me off going back to Glasto, even though I would always wear my earplugs (by the sounds of it I need to invest in some Loop ones!). I don’t think there is much awareness around hearing damage, I’ve never seen anything anywhere and I am hyper aware these days. The NHS or govt should really be pushing the message as there’s going to be a hearing issue crisis in the next ten years or so

Don't let it put you off. It is manageable with some decent plugs and giving your ears a break in between the loudest sets.

[Jack01825]

Anyone else here have quite bad tinitus at a young age and still go to gigs/festivals?

Edited Wednesday at 10:12 AM by Jack01825

[Metal Monkey]

11 hours ago, Jack01825 said:

Anyone else here have quite bad tinitus at a young age and still go to gigs/festivals?

Not young but have tinnitus and go to gigs and festivals. Always wear earplugs at gigs. Always take them to festivals but often forget to wear them which doesn’t help. 

[charlierc]

11 hours ago, Jack01825 said:

Anyone else here have quite bad tinitus at a young age and still go to gigs/festivals?

Had it since I was about 18/19 due to earphone abuse, hence why I still wear full over-ear headphones and cannot wear pods or buds.

 

I still go to gigs but wouldn't be able too without earplugs. Annoyingly it's more expensive to get the plugs I like now, but then that could be said about a lot of things in this world compared to ten or so years ago.

[tigger123]

I started getting ringing after a few nights out in a row, so looked into which earplugs to get and came across these:

 

https://www.acscustom.com/uk/products/pro-series/pro-17/

 

Now they're pricey, but £149 to save your hearing feels worth it to me. Its equivalent to one or 2 nights out in terms of cost. You go to Boots or similar, get impressions of your ear canals done and then custom earplugs sent to you a few weeks later. Now clearly they're not as good as listening to music without protection, but they are leagues ahead of any other earplug I've ever used. Secret is to use them for half hour before you go to a gig/club/start playing drums/Djing etc as you become acclimatised to them and then the difference isn't nearly as noticeable.

 

Cannot recommend them highly enough

[StoneCircle]

I have severe hearing loss and tinnitus due to Ménière's Disease surprisingly, not too many loud gigs and festivals! My hearing aids have custom molds which I wear to gigs with the sound turned down low. This gives me the same protection as custom earplugs. 

 

There is help and advice available at the festival from the Deaf Zone stall very near the Info Point near the Meeting Point/TonyBenn Tower. You can also get basic earplugs at the Info Points should you forget to take any with you. 😊

[Jack01825]

11 hours ago, charlierc said:

Had it since I was about 18/19 due to earphone abuse, hence why I still wear full over-ear headphones and cannot wear pods or buds.

 

I still go to gigs but wouldn't be able too without earplugs. Annoyingly it's more expensive to get the plugs I like now, but then that could be said about a lot of things in this world compared to ten or so years ago.

 

Ahh i undeerstand , do you have a link to the ones you use? 

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, Jack01825 said:

 

Ahh i undeerstand , do you have a link to the ones you use? 

Etymotic ER20-SMF-C High Fidelity Reusable Earplugs [Clamshell Box] Ultra-Comfortable Hearing Protection for Concerts, Festivals, Sports Events, -20dB even volume reduction, Frost Tip Standard SIze: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

 

Of late, I've been using these. I used to use ACS ones but they seem to have branched into making customs instead.

[Metal Monkey]

23 hours ago, tigger123 said:

I started getting ringing after a few nights out in a row, so looked into which earplugs to get and came across these:

 

https://www.acscustom.com/uk/products/pro-series/pro-17/

 

Now they're pricey, but £149 to save your hearing feels worth it to me. Its equivalent to one or 2 nights out in terms of cost. You go to Boots or similar, get impressions of your ear canals done and then custom earplugs sent to you a few weeks later. Now clearly they're not as good as listening to music without protection, but they are leagues ahead of any other earplug I've ever used. Secret is to use them for half hour before you go to a gig/club/start playing drums/Djing etc as you become acclimatised to them and then the difference isn't nearly as noticeable.

 

Cannot recommend them highly enough

I’ve got these, they are really good. I’ve had the same pair for years which I don’t think is recommended but they still fit ok and it still sounds great wearing them. 

[Ayrshire Chris]

I’ve been going to many many gigs for over 55 years. In the early days after seeing heavy rock bands such as Zeppelin Sabbath, Deep Purple in theatres my hearing would be dull, even the following morning. In more recent times  sound levels are obviously controlled more. 
For at least ten years now I’ve had intermittent ringing in my ears. The damage has been done, I take ear plugs to the festival but have to admit rarely use them. Worst last  year was what the other stage was blasting out before Jamie Webster came on.