Earbuds Instead of Earphones at Work

[Falconfox]

Wasn't sure if this was the appropriate place to post this but I was hoping for a little advice. I'm finding going to work to be slightly anxiety producing because there are occasional loud noises from time to time. I work in a receiving dock for a major retailer so there are industrial balers and compactors and such which I generally find far too loud especially with the hearing sensitivity. My question is do y'all think it would be appropriate to block out the occasional sounds with ear buds? It's easier for me to get them in quickly and keep working when I know a loud sound is a coming, definitely takes the edge off from what I can tell. Also I'm trying not to over wear them at work as I have a hard time believing the sounds of opening boxes and general work would be loud enough to damage my hearing, even though I find the sounds to be loud enough to cause me momentary anxiety. Overall I'm thinking I gotta get a new quieter job anyway but in the meantime what do you think?

 

[glynis]

Hi you can download a app to measure sound but the odd loud sound should be ok.
If your around sound above 80db for a lengthy time it would be safer to protect your ears...lots of love glynis

 

[Falconfox]

Unfortunately I still use a old school phone with no apps, just looked up some decibel examples and if a vacuum cleaner is 70 db, which there is no way I could stand, the general noise oughta be lower than that. I'm pretty sure I can talk to my co-worker next to me without raising my voice, I'll have to test that.

 

[Forever hopeful]

Have you tried ear plugs? Good ones you can wear all day? Still hear others but have some protection against the loud noises.

 

[Falconfox]

I just bought some musician ear plugs but I thought wearing them all day might make the tinnitus worse, I got some sound sensitivity too.

 

[erik]

Wearing them for a few hours shouldn't harm things and make them worse. Wearing them everyday, may. However, musician's ear plugs don't fully block out sounds like foam plugs so you are probably fine over extended use and it should impact your sound sensitivity.

I have H and T, and I wear foam when it is super loud (no more than a couple hours max) and musician's ear plugs when I need to lightly block out sounds (for as long as I need them). I have been doing this for the past few years and there has been no change to my T though foam plugs usually spike it after use for a while.

 

[Falconfox]

Sadly I think I bought a pair that was a bit too large for my ear. There were two mid quality options and I opted for the standard model over the smaller size. They are pretty uncomfortable in my ear so I think I'll have to go back the next paycheck and get the smaller model. Bummer.