Earplugs - Noise cancellation

ok, this saturday i attended a VERY loud disco

i didnt know how loud it was till i got inside

but damn

i think it was over 126dB because i'm suffering from high frequency loss and experiencing a VERY intense tinnitus, can't stand it damnit.

i'm gonna go to the doctors tomorrow to see if i can repair or undergo some treatment because i don't want the tinnitus to affect me my whole life


but

do you know of anywhere i can get GOOD noise cancellation (atennuation) EARPLUGS? (i suffer from high sensitivity to common sounds too, "hyperacusia" we call it here..), i need something to use everyday so i can at least tolerate outdoor sounds...

any help will be appreciated

Do you want active noise canceling?

Permanent hearing damage doesn't occur unless it's long term exposure. Your high frequency hearing will come back in a week or so...

yeah but the tinnitus will not go away.


@iewed: active noise cancelling would mean a big apparatus with a battery, wouldnt it? then no, i'd prefer passive attennuation.

i've been looking for some etymotic er-20's but idk if anybody has them..

digital_blue said:

Permanent hearing damage doesn't occur unless it's long term exposure. Your high frequency hearing will come back in a week or so...

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it was +3hrs. of exposure

Niko said:

[quote author=digital_blue link=1225149395/0#2 date=1225151564]Permanent hearing damage doesn't occur unless it's long term exposure. Your high frequency hearing will come back in a week or so...

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it was +3hrs. of exposure[/quote]

I wouldn't consider that much... I've sat in front of a concert speaker for nearly 7 hours once. Freaking thing was probably pumping at least 110db... I got my hearing back a week later...

Niko said:

[highlight]i think it was over 126dB [/highlight]

Click to expand...

Well Smart ass why did you not leave then ?? ;D ;D

http://www.espamerica.com/ if you are looking for active electronic noise cancellation. And no, they don't have to be big, they are basically a big hearing aid-size, and run on a hearing aid battery.

I have a pair of analog ESP electronic noise-canceling earplugs, and they are GREAT.  Very comfortable, you forget you have them in.  I use them with shotgun and other types of shooting, and they give great protection from loud noises, as well as increased perception of quieter noises for me.  Not sure how well they'll work with constant noise over 130dB, because above a certain threshold they can't keep up with canceling the noise and actually shut off to protect from that noise.  Like with a gunshot, they cut off for a very short time, while the noise from the gunshot is present, and then cut back on again.  So I'm not certain how they would function with a constant noise that is too high, but see my last paragraph here for that.

Also, like I mentioned, for me they boost quiet noises.  But with the output volume being adjustable, you can just turn down the volume and it should help with quieter noises as well.  Say for example that I set them to 70dB, they amplify everything below and cut down everything above that volume, and the set level is adjustable.  They can also possibly custom set a pair to give a different volume range, such that maybe it'll always be a lower volume than the standard plugs, but they can give you more answers about your specific needs.

But the company is owned by a good friend of mine named Jack (we became friends only after having business dealings first, in full disclosure), and he's a great guy, and could answer all of your questions about them and see if they are right for you.  He won't lie and try to sell you the things if he doesn't think they'll help you.  I haven't tried in quite a while, but every time I've ever called the company, Jack answers the phone himself.  Hope this helps, good luck with your hearing.

digital_blue said:

[quote author=Niko link=1225149395/0#4 date=1225152144][quote author=digital_blue link=1225149395/0#2 date=1225151564]Permanent hearing damage doesn't occur unless it's long term exposure. Your high frequency hearing will come back in a week or so...

Click to expand...

it was +3hrs. of exposure[/quote]

I wouldn't consider that much... I've sat in front of a concert speaker for nearly 7 hours once. Freaking thing was probably pumping at least 110db... I got my hearing back a week later...[/quote]

110dB to 130dB isn't just ~20% more noise, it's 100 times more noise.  Literally 100x as loud at 130dB as it is at 110dB.  And 130dB for 3 hours is enough to cause damage, I've seen ~120dB quoted as the level necessary for damage from short-term exposure.

pullbangdead said:

[quote author=digital_blue link=1225149395/0#5 date=1225152323][quote author=Niko link=1225149395/0#4 date=1225152144][quote author=digital_blue link=1225149395/0#2 date=1225151564]Permanent hearing damage doesn't occur unless it's long term exposure. Your high frequency hearing will come back in a week or so...

Click to expand...

it was +3hrs. of exposure[/quote]

I wouldn't consider that much... I've sat in front of a concert speaker for nearly 7 hours once. Freaking thing was probably pumping at least 110db... I got my hearing back a week later...[/quote]

110dB to 130dB isn't just ~20% more noise, it's 100 times more noise.  Literally 100x as loud at 130dB as it is at 110dB.  And 130dB for 3 hours is enough to cause damage, I've seen ~120dB quoted as the level necessary for damage from short-term exposure.[/quote]

I know, 3dB is almost twice the previous amount of energy/intensity.

Those active earplugs are WAY over my budget, i know they're my ears, but i do not have that kind of money.




@wes: won't even bother answering you.

people, anybody got some etymotic earplugs? need to hear somebody's opinion about the er-20's..

Wesdaman14 said:

[quote author=Niko link=1225149395/0#0 date=1225149395][highlight]i think it was over 126dB [/highlight]

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Well Smart ass why did you not leave then ??  ;D ;D[/quote]

...who's the smart ass?