Ear Plugs and Clubbing

[Bill Weir]

Hi!
I'm an audio engineer and now have T. I hate to have to tell you this but there are no earplugs that can protect you in the typical nightclub environment. The best protection will only lower the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) by about 30 db. Assuming the sound is typical, it's going to hover around 105 db A when measured using long term averaging, slow response on a meter. This means there will be peaks well in excess of 120 db"A" weighted. Weighting the scales of measurement on the sound meter gives more accurate readings. "A" weighting approximates what your eardrum is sensitive to... meaning sound with the deep bass filtered out. "C" weighting includes the bass and is generally 15-30 db higher than an "A" reading. So, 105 db A (typical nightclub or major concert translates into 130 db "C" or more including the bass. How long do people generally stay in the average nightclub? Too long! 4 hour stay is average. A concert is generally 2.5 hours. Many people will stay in the club all night until they are "OK" to drive and be back in public LMAO. The drugs people do screws up their judgement and desensitizes them to physical sensation and people damage themselves without realizing it. Sound levels pretty much everywhere are TOO loud IMO. Instead of the industry standard 105 db A (Live Nation SPL cap) I like to keep it at 96-98 for people. Why so loud? Above 96 db the fight or flight response begins to kick in and you get that rush of excitement you get at a concert. It's a lot of what people pay for. Deep bass goes in through bone transconductance. You don't "hear" it with your eardrum you feel it This is how it is possible to have bass with headphones. If this transconductance did not occur, the long wavelengths that make bass would not have enough distance to unfold when using headphones. So, earplugs DO NOT protect you from low frequency damage. Not even a little bit.

So, on the one hand, you're going to have 100db + peaks getting through your earplugs in the range above 100 Hz (low note on a 4 string bass guitar is 41.7 Hz) and the bass below will pressurize your cochlea like nothing is even there, straight through the bone. Some of the subwoofer arrays I have installed in places must have security grating around them to keep people from getting within ten feet of the subwoofer array because the array produces well over 150 db down at 35Hz at 1 meter distance and would make them nauseous or in some extreme cases even worse than that.

I can say this definitively from direct personal and professional experience. If you value your hearing and do not want your tinnitus to increase, avoid these places or if you must go limit your exposure considerably.

 

[VRZ78]

My EarDial has not arrived yet, but my understanding is they are invisiable like the earasers. Earasers do protect more in the higher end as that's where most damage occurs, but I would wear the killnoise or 3m plugs if you're going to a night club.

My EarDial has not arrived yet, but my understanding is they are invisiable like the earasers. Earasers do protect more in the higher end as that's where most damage occurs, but I would wear the killnoise or 3m plugs if you're going to a night club.

Did you receive your Eardials ? How invisible are they compared to other plugs ?

 

[lolkas]

Did you receive your Eardials ? How invisible are they compared to other plugs ?

They are not much visible at all. Honestly, you can go with foam 32 or 33db plugs that are same color as your skin. If properly insearted - not more visible as eardials + have much better protection

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

Did you receive your Eardials ? How invisible are they compared to other plugs ?

They have been sent and on their way to me now. I've worn the earasers on probably 30+ dates and only once has a girl noticed them because they won't even inserted correctly, and the eardials look even more invisible.

They are not much visible at all. Honestly, you can go with foam 32 or 33db plugs that are same color as your skin. If properly insearted - not more visible as eardials + have much better protection

The difference is you can probably hear and enjoy conversation wearing the eardials. If you're operating heavy machinery or using power tools of course foam plugs are more useful.

 

[Zinnia]

I posted this in a dating thread the other day which might help ☺ If you want the best, get custom made and be careful!

-
I looked pretty hard but use these for my ear protection. All of them are almost invisible.

- Earasers Musician Earplugs
Very discrete and good for a medium volume location such as a noisy restaurant. These offer the best experience if you want protection but also want to hear your date/partner well. Keep in mind they are the most expensive, and the rubber they are made of seems to deteriorate.

- 3M E.A.R Clear Earplugs
Seem to offer more volume reduction than the Earasers, especially in the low end so better if you're at a bar that plays music with more Bass.

- Killnoise Clear Earplugs
Very similar to the 3M plugs, but slightly less discrete. Their longer nose allows you to move in/out of the ear to create more/less filtering if required.

I keep the 3 sets in a small little pouch on my keys that the Killnoise plugs came in

Lastly, I have 1 more pair coming from kick starter which is EarDial: They are shipping to me this week so can't comment on their ability to protect, but they are supposed to be around 20DB reduction which would make them similar to the Earasers, but look like they have a better seal as well. They have an app even for your iphone/android that will tell you if you're safe as well.

Wow, you're set with lots of plugs. Can I ask... have you had all these done w/ audiologists or maybe made some impressions yourself?
Did the making of your impressions go smoothly? Like deep impressions (less occlusion) and no touching of the ear drum?

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

Wow, you're set with lots of plugs. Can I ask... have you had all these done w/ audiologists or maybe made some impressions yourself?

All these plugs that I use are standard off the shelf plugs. I've not had custom made plugs made as of yet. I just went on a search for the most discrete looking plugs I could find. I still plan to get a set of ACS custom made plugs, but have not got around to it yet.

As a way of update, I mostly use the ear dials plugs now. They are pretty much invisible, seem to provide a good seal and very comfortable. They are great for bars (again, I would use something stronger for a night club or power tools).

 

[TuneOut]

I went to a pub back in April which was the first time I was in that sort of environment since I developed T back in January. I was not wearing ear plugs on that occasion. I was only in there about 10 minutes and had to leave as my ears were hurting and since then I have had an increase in my T which I am still hoping is just a spike.

I want to go clubbing in a few weeks plus my favourite cousin is getting married in a month and she will have a band etc and I want to protect my ears in the best way possible so what are the best type of ear plugs to buy?

Clubs are a ticket to lifelong T. NOT WORTH IT. This is a *serious* matter.

 

[Zinnia]

All these plugs that I use are standard off the shelf plugs. I've not had custom made plugs made as of yet. I just went on a search for the most discrete looking plugs I could find. I still plan to get a set of ACS custom made plugs, but have not got around to it yet.

As a way of update, I mostly use the ear dials plugs now. They are pretty much invisible, seem to provide a good seal and very comfortable. They are great for bars (again, I would use something stronger for a night club or power tools).

Ah, I see. Just looked up the ear dials too. A lot of products out there.

 

[Michael Leigh]

DO NOT protect you from low frequency damage. Not even a little bit.

Hi @Bill Weir,

Thank you for writing such an interesting and very informative post on sound levels and hearing protection. I am an Audiophile and have been telling people as others do in this forum, about the dangers of sound levels in nightclubs and at concerts. Not to put too much trust in hearing protection as sound can reach the inner ear by bone conduction. Even low bass is harmful as you've rightly said. I am particularly against the use of "headphones" at any level when someone has developed tinnitus due to "noise trauma". However, some people with "noise induced" tinnitus use headphones and have no adverse effects but personally, I do not think it's worth taking the risk using them.

Thank you for sharing your expertise it is much appreciated.
All the best
Michael

 

[Fabrikat]

I've worn the earasers on probably 30+ dates and only once has a girl noticed them

Whew! 30+ dates, with different women each time? I am impressed and very jealous. Clearly, those fancy earplugs of yours have turned you into a complete chick magnet as well! Must be something in that tropical Cairns air.

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

Whew! 30+ dates, with different women each time? I am impressed and very jealous. Clearly, those fancy earplugs of yours have turned you into a complete chick magnet as well! Must be something in that tropical Cairns air.

Since writing that post I would have gone on over 100+ dates. Do not let anybody tell you Tinnitus can stop you from dating girls

 

[Marko Nakovski]

@Bill Weir Hello mate, tnx for your detail information.As far as I understand, speaking about the best quality ear protectors can protect only 30db. So night clubs have from 90-110 db. I dont understand almost nothing about this, but from simple logic is this mean that 70 db are getting to your ear beacuse ear protectors only save about 30db from 100 ?? For people like us who have tinnitus what dB is considered to be safe ? I was wondering what is the reasonable loudness that cannot heart us.

 

[Krish230]

Clubbing caused my tinnitus - have a look at my old posts and I was in serious despair. Since then, every clubbing/loud music event has made the T a bit worse.

Please be careful if you're gonna go clubbing!

The earplugs I use are the Flare Audio Isolates and they do a fantastic job, though no earplugs will protect you 100% from a night of clubbing.

 

[Bobby B]

There are studies showing that the powerful bass sound waves - not cut well by plugs - are agitating the liquid and cells inside the cochlea and making hair cells less able to withstand high frequency soundwaves

The combination of powerful bass and piercing high frequncies are what makes clubbing dangerous even with plugs - there is more to it than just Db numbers

 

[newarrior]

Tinnitus won't stop you from getting dates but hearing loss and the need to avoid loud places will greatly limit your social life....Hearing loss makes conversations hard to hear and increases social isolation which leads to depression and dementia...Tinnitus and hyperacusis DO go hand in hand with hearing loss

 

[1MW]

The second time my tinnitus relapsed was when I went to a wedding with custom made silicone earplugs.

I wore earplugs but the destruction was made.

The better is if you have tinnitus to avoid loud places even with earplugs.

Earmuffs like Peltor X5A are marginally better than earplugs.

 

[Julien87]

Do you mean you had a permanent worsening of your T after attending a wedding party with plugs in?

 

[Michael Leigh]

The better is if you have tinnitus to avoid loud places even with earplugs.

Some people think the wearing of earplugs, earmuffs and ear defenders, will protect them from loud noise exposure, that could make their tinnitus or hyperacusis worse. Some go further and invest in high quality custom made earplugs and think, they are perfectly safe to go clubbing where loud music is likely to be played. One can do this but caution should be applied. If external sound is loud enough, even the best hearing protection will not stop loud sounds passing through the skull and being transferred to the inner ear by bone conduction.

Michael

 

[1MW]

Do you mean you had a permanent worsening of your T after attending a wedding party with plugs in?

I lost about a year of my life to heal from this event.It was a semi-permanent worsening.

 

[Morg]

I think many of us with moderate to severe tinnitus would say clubbing is a "no way in hell, it's not worth it."

I know one of the best things we can do is to try and keep on enjoying life and activities, but do you really want to risk making it worse?

Just my .02c.