PROTECT YOUR EARS - ear plugs, hearing loss, deafness

Hey,

okay I'm really worried about my hearing! I use those 24SNR Vic Firth Headphones and doctormade earplugs with 15SNR. When I practise I play in a small room, so if my drums make a noise of 90 DBZ that would make 66 DBZ when I practise. Will that affect my hearing, maybe when I'm older? If i practise 2 hours a day on 6 days a week?

Okay and another question: when playing with bands I use my doctor made plugs. It's so much more comfortable with the plugs, but if i compare the sound level with and without plugs there is not so much difference. But after sessions my ears don't ring, or at least not much.
Do you think I just feel save with my plugs or does 15dbz really make a difference?

Okay, thanks in advance, I might also ask a doctor but what's your experience/thoughts?
 
I played on the road from 1984 to 1996. My ears have been ringing since 1994...24 hours a day/365 days a year, and I have lost a significant amount of hearing. Nothing I do will EVER change that. I became very depressed because of the stupid decisions that I had made earlier in my life regarding my ears. Don't be stupid...use cigarette butts if you have to. Put something in your ears for protection. For any of you drummers out there that suffer from tinnitus. I started taking an SSRI (anti-depressent) 3 years ago. This is not something I'm proud of, but I didn't know what else to do. The drugs don't help the tinnitus, but they help me deal with the ringing. I've read a couple of absurd posts written by a few young and ignorant drummers out there disregarding ear protection. Don't be stupid! Listen to Forrest "Stupid is as stupid does." For all you youngsters that still don't get it...It means that and intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.
 
i have these coby headphones i paid nine bucks for at a value city..



Althought ive been playing the drums for years i know the affects of hearing loss.. when i put the headphones on it takes out the overtones and stuff from my brass cymbals *which are soon getting replaced* and makes them sound like a customs.. but i do have the radio and stuff on when i play.. so idk
 
I steal earplugs from my work (I know it's terrible). I never play without them because I very much value my ability to hear. Fortunately I am tested annually by the medical department where I work and I maintain good hearing every year. Please don't play drums without hearing protection! The only exception is when I have company and I play a quick little something for them but I know even that can be damaging.
 
All the good advice a bit too late for me, I'm afraid. Hello Tinnitus and hearing loss in my right ear........ All others, please heed the good advice on this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: ears

Try the Vic Firth stereo isolation head phones. great sound, 20 desibells isolation and can be connected to MP3 and other players.
 
Re: ears

I know a drummer who played professionally for a long time who's been dealing with tinnitus for a little while now, and for him it's horrible, so make sure you protect your ears. If a drummer plays out a lot, I would invest in a decent "in ear" monitor system. When I practice I've always liked using gun mufflers.
 
Re: ears

Take up the piano instead. You'd have a job damaging your hearing with one of those (unless it fell on your head, I suppose).
 
Re: ears

Take up the piano instead. You'd have a job damaging your hearing with one of those (unless it fell on your head, I suppose).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-shNHaJigM&feature=channel

:p but seriously:

SIH1.gif

gr8 for practicing and that.
 
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Re: ears

- Cheap foam earplugs. Great for a last resort or for just killing a lot of volume - or if you just want to do it on the cheap. Several pairs for $10.

- Rubber flanged tip earplugs - eg the inexpensive Etymotic ER-20 or the Hear-O's or other varieties: slightly flatter (but not "flat") attenuation, good for about 15-20 DB, IMO more comfortable and better sounding. One pair for $10-15

- Isolation headphones - eg Firth or (my preference) Extreme Isolation headphones. I've got a pair of ER-29s that are great when you're recording or playing along to tracks. On their own they cut a significant amount of high-end. One pair - about $30-70

- Custom molded earplugs - eg Westones or Sensaphonics. Flat attenuation, several reduction options (-9, -15, -25 + solid -29 plug that's not flat), custom fit. I just got a pair a week ago and all I can say is I wished I'd done it long ago. Very comfortable, fantastic sound quality. Does require a trip to an audiologist for the mold. One pair (custom mold, your choice of one set of filters (I went -15) and a solid plug) - $140-$180

I used to switch between flanged tips & iso headphones; the custom plugs are absolutely the best and most comfortable thing I've ever used.
 
Re: ears

I use shooting range earmuffs. They are comfortable and seem to work the best out of all of the options (avoid the water-filled ones...if you get some, you'll know why). They look kind of silly when you play live, though, so invest in some foam ear plugs, too. Both of these can be found at a sporting goods store in the hunting section.
 
Re: ears

You can also buy hearing protectors at your local home improvement store in contractors quantity packs. Cheaper That way!
Huh! What did you say!
 
Re: ears

I just use the cheap foam earplugs. I've grown accustomed to hearing low frequencies on the set and don't feel comfortable playing without them anymore... especially the high ends of cymbals! If I forget them I'll stuff some bog roll in my ears if need be....
Ideally I'd like some in ear monitors though.
 
I use in ear monitors and they are truly great !
 
I wouldn't have it any other way. I use vic firth headphones and ear-plugs when I play and record. When I rehearsed with a band, I used ear-plugs. Now if I could only get that headphone sound on my cheap drums. It's like when I see people use ipods and they put those ear pieces right in their ear. I use those 'old' style headphones for my ipod.
 
The first few years I played drums, I didn't use any sort of hearing protection, and, being a young drummer, I played as hard and loud as I could. This has led to a pretty annoying and sadly permanent case of tinnitus that, when exposed to any loud, sudden noise, flares up and becomes nearly painful. This is now almost 25 years later.

I began to use shooting headphones as a matter of course when practicing, and foam or rubber earplugs when performing live. My newest set is reversible, with an "open" side for quieter gigs, and a "closed" side for loud gigs. I simply don't compromise on this issue any more.

If you're just beginning to play drums, I strongly advise researching and picking up some kind of hearing protection. It doesn't have to be expensive - most sporting goods stores stock earplugs or shooting muffs for very reasonable prices. If you've been playing for a while without them, I still suggest you look into it before you end up like like me, missing words and unable to hear parts of the music we all love.
 
Sorry if i missed this...But is there a company out there that makes a In-ear device with a belt clip microphone set up???

Basic ear plugs just ruin the dynamics IMO... It would be nice to be able to adjust the ambient db level...you know?
 
I had a bit of a scare the other day.

Though I usually use my Vic Firth isolation headphones, I was at a friends house jamming on his gear without any protection. Afterward we were outside and I knocked over a golf ball that bounced down his driveway onto the road. I couldn't hear it bounce... Nothing!

After reading through a few of these horror stories I understand the danger is very real. Even though I've always done my best to protect my ears, I still feel as if they are slowly deteriorating.

Is hearing protection really enough for us drummers? Or are we all doomed to suffer to a certain degree. Not that it isn't worth it...
 
Another with hearing loss and tinnitus here. I'd tried using both ear plus and loo paper in earlier years but didn't like the sound.

The hearing issues become a hassle if I'm anywhere with a lot of ambient noise - music or loud talking. I can't socialise in those situations because most of the time what I'm hearing is, "rararararararararara". My contribution to the conversation is usually, "WHAT?", "SORRY?" and "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! CAN WE GO SOMEWHERE QUIET?". Either that or smile and nod.

I now play in a quiet band and now my ears don't ring after playing. It only me took 34 years to do something about it ...
 
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