Ear Plugs for Movie Theaters?

[del]

I hope this is the correct place to ask this, but I have been wondering if ear plugs would be protective for loud sounds in a movie theater? I never used any before, though I remember covering my ears at certain saloons of the movie theater we have here. I think they have a problem with their sound system because I wasn't the only one who felt discomfort because of it. I haven't been to those saloons to watch anything, hate 3D.

Anyways, I like to go and watch movies (2D ftw) there but I want to take precautions, so would ear plugs be okay? What type? And is there anything I should know about them?

 

[Zug]

Hey @del , I wear musician's earplugs at the movies, mostly because they have filters, so I can still hear the dialogue, etc. I should say that the last movies I saw were Star Wars, The Hateful Eight and Deadpool. I don't know if I would wear plugs on a more dialogue-based movie.

I carry around an Alpine set. You can buy on the Internet and they come with a Keychain kind of case. http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Hearin...id=1455807910&sr=8-1&keywords=alpine+earplugs

Hope it helps!

 

[del]

Hey @Zug thank you for the info. But I had a sudden realization that... I cannot even put earbuds to listen music, they hurt my ear and always fell.

Are these soft? Easy to insert? (And sorry for awkwardness I am pretty noob at this stuff.)

 

[AnxiousJon]

That general style is soft, but after prolonged usage they can irritate the canal unless you keep the canal dry with q-tips. Prolonged usage should be avoided though as it cause increased sensitivity to sound(so they say). So yeah, they are safe and comfortable for something like a movie.
Talk more about how earbuds hurt. Are your canals too small for the earbuds? Are you just talking about the junk apple earbuds, or are these in-ear earbuds that are like earplugs? How about regular foam earplugs? Do those hurt?

 

[del]

Talk more about how earbuds hurt. Are your canals too small for the earbuds? Are you just talking about the junk apple earbuds, or are these in-ear earbuds that are like earplugs? How about regular foam earplugs? Do those hurt?

"I don't know" is my answer for all those questions D: Something similar to image below came with my phone as earbuds, I tried to put them, it didn't feel comfortable and they dropped quickly. So I usually use headphones.

Plugs and buds seems similar so I took a wild guess. Also as I said I never tried any kind of earplugs to avoid sound or water before so I don't know what kind would work or would it hurt. <.< I will google what's a foam earplug.

 

[AnxiousJon]

Hahaha wow, never used foam earplugs! Far out!

 

[Zug]

Hey @Zug thank you for the info. But I had a sudden realization that... I cannot even put earbuds to listen music, they hurt my ear and always fell.

Are these soft? Easy to insert? (And sorry for awkwardness I am pretty noob at this stuff.)

I don't wear earbuds either. Those are much softer, made to adapt to your ear. I favor them over the foam types because of the filter. It you'll give you a more natural feel for the sound.

I suggest that you go to a musical instruments store, they may have some there for you to see. I bought mine over the Internet.

 

[del]

I suggest that you go to a musical instruments store, they may have some there for you to see.

Thank you, I will do so next time I am out ^^

 

[linearb]

I don't go to the movies a whole lot, but I saw Star Wars recently, and actually took a dB meter with me because I'd read that theaters could be really loud these days (like 100 dB+). This was a 3D showing at a major chain.

Average sustained volume levels throughout were 72-76dB, up to more like 82-87dB during battle scenes. I did not register anything at 90 or above.

Based on that, I think that theaters are probably safe for most tinnitus folks without plugs, and definitely safe with plugs. I did mostly wear plugs during the movie, but more from the perspective of "I dislike loud noises", than "I am worried about permanent damage".

 

[del]

Thank you.

We have two movie theathers here, I usually go to the one at the culture center. They have 3 old and 5 new saloons. The movies in the new saloons are always louder than the movies in the old saloons. Also those new saloons are smaller than the old ones, like a 'pocket cinema' or something like that. They seem to have a problem with how to manage the sound system at those, I remember warning them few times but no luck.

I noticed the difference because I have been taking kids of my friends and the ones in the neigbourhood to movies at some weekends, and at some point there was a lot of movie watching in my life. Now there is so less... *shakes a fist towards to 3D plague and new trend of dubbing everyting*

 

[kmohoruk]

I don't go to the movies a whole lot, but I saw Star Wars recently, and actually took a dB meter with me because I'd read that theaters could be really loud these days (like 100 dB+). This was a 3D showing at a major chain.

Average sustained volume levels throughout were 72-76dB, up to more like 82-87dB during battle scenes. I did not register anything at 90 or above.

Based on that, I think that theaters are probably safe for most tinnitus folks without plugs, and definitely safe with plugs. I did mostly wear plugs during the movie, but more from the perspective of "I dislike loud noises", than "I am worried about permanent damage".

Thats interesting.....

Do you think its still ok to go if you have mild H? Or would you say avoid movie theatres all together?

Before this all happened with me, I was never the biggest fan of movie theatres because I found them to be very loud...and expensive (we have big famous players theaters here) - so for me it's not really a loss.

But my girl friend really likes seeing movies and would like to go sometimes. I've debated using those silicon mouldable ear plugs that you can buy at drug stores as they allow you to hear sound, it just feels like everything is turned down a bit. I used to use them for concerts back in the day and they worked great

 

[linearb]

Thats interesting.....

Do you think its still ok to go if you have mild H? Or would you say avoid movie theatres all together?

I'm afraid I don't know enough about hyperacusis to have an opinion, but maybe some other folks here who have more experience with H can relate?

 

[Zug]

I'm afraid I don't know enough about hyperacusis to have an opinion, but maybe some other folks here who have more experience with H can relate?

I had pretty bad H when my T started, it's much better now. Most advices I got for it boil down to gradual exposure. As I like dumb silly explosive movies, I still wear my musician's earplug when going to the movies, or if I find myself in a loud place. Don't overuse the earplugs, but it beats going out with them than not going out at all (at the begging I would avoid even a trip to the mall as the ambient music would seem too loud for me).

 

[HiThere]

I don't go to movies that often, but for years now, I will only see movies with foam ear plugs in. There have been a few times where I have forgotten ear plugs and in a pinch, I've used tissues wet with a bit of water to make them fit better. I have H, the main reason I wear ear plugs in movies, but I've always found (have had T since birth) that loud environments ramp up the volume level of my T much higher for days afterward.

 

[jeanoroid]

Always wear plugs at the theater. Radians custom molded type.
If it's one of the loud movies inside a monster theater I will bring my compact earmuffs as well.
The plus side is I never hear babies crying or people talking!

 

[jeanoroid]

This type of earplug works best for me. Custom mold and way cheaper than the ones the audiologist sells you.
They don't hurt like the foam plugs but they zap shrill frequencies right out of the mix...
At least a pair at all times in my pocket..

 

[jeanoroid]

Oy that's a big image. Sorry.. :-(

 

[Zora]

@jeanoroid how much db do they reduce and how much do they cost?

 

[Dontrike]

I went to the movies recently to see Captain America 3. The movie itself wasn't all that loud, but holy crap the trailers were like twice the volume of the movie, at least when it came to things like explosions. Now the theater recently updated itself so that could be part of it. I didn't seem to have any ill effects from the movie, but during the trailers my tinnitus was on my mind.

 

[Alue]

This type of earplug works best for me. Custom mold and way cheaper than the ones the audiologist sells you.
They don't hurt like the foam plugs but they zap shrill frequencies right out of the mix...
At least a pair at all times in my pocket..

View attachment 10129

Where do you get that type of earplug?

 

[Brandon Wilson]

I don't go to the movies a whole lot, but I saw Star Wars recently, and actually took a dB meter with me because I'd read that theaters could be really loud these days (like 100 dB+). This was a 3D showing at a major chain.

Average sustained volume levels throughout were 72-76dB, up to more like 82-87dB during battle scenes. I did not register anything at 90 or above.

Based on that, I think that theaters are probably safe for most tinnitus folks without plugs, and definitely safe with plugs. I did mostly wear plugs during the movie, but more from the perspective of "I dislike loud noises", than "I am worried about permanent damage".

In my experience I've never had a movie theater make mine worse besides once when I went to a movie with extremely loud surround sound. I'm still gonna bring my plugs just in case though.

 

[Russell Smith]

Also avoided movies for the last 10 years like the plague but recently went to a movie as I had got myself a set of moulded acrylic ear plugs which I was told wouldwork well . I have the highest or best filter in them and can still hear talking but really brings the volume down so as I dont notice a reaction when I leave , ie tinitus louder .
I`ve only been twice still I wont go again as I`m so used to not going ,just wait for it to come out on dvd.

As for cost , here in south africa they cost me R 12oo-oo , so about 89 us dollar .
Aslo use them around the house if I`m doing something which may be too loud fit great as they are moulded to your ear and really block out noise well.

Dont bother with foam ear plugs if you have T , they dont work at all!

 

[TuneOut]

Dont bother with foam ear plugs if you have T , they dont work at all!

Hi Russell. Can you expound upon this statement?

 

[Sam Bridge]

Hi Russell. Can you expound upon this statement?

Probably means they muffle sound.

 

[Wojtek Kalka]

ACS Custom 19 ... cost 180 and are really good