Thanks for watching guys, ACS are easily the best guys for top notch hearing protection for musicians. They're available both in the U.K. And USA too! I wanted to make this video for a long time and I'm so grateful for Jono of ACS joining me in making this happen! IMPORTANT - exposure time states that if you're playing live music with acoustic drums, loud amps and generally a loud environment, you have between 15-30 minutes of exposure time before you start to do damage to your hearing. Hearing damage is irreversible and deteriorates as you age... It's scary, but seriously, make sure you invest in good hearing protection so you'll actually use it! Thanks for watching!
I never leave the house without mine now, absolutely have saved me on many occasions ! Your gig at Nambucca a couple of years ago absolutely slayed my ears
Some folks will inevitably poo-poo this vid as being just an ad and a chance for Bea to get some sponsor. But the fact of the matter is, this is one of the most important vids Bea has ever done. Tinnitus is no joke and is at present irreversible. I myself have low level Tinnitus ringing 24/7 now and also have some moderate high frequency hearing loss not because I was ever a working musician but simply from being a moron as a kid/teenager and listening to excessively loud music on headphones for excessively long periods of time. While I wised up in my mid 20s and turned the volume down, the damage was already done. By that point I was listening at reduced volume levels and tried to limit my listening sessions whenever possible. About 8 years ago on an awesome forum I took solid advice from some great people there and really turned down my headphone volumes. I am finicky with my IEMs and have tons - expensive and mid-priced but all quality stuff. Nowadays, I listen to music at really, really low volumes compared to many folks. While I cannot fix my ears, I have stopped making things worse. You know how you encounter people walking around using mostly those shitty iPhone earpods and you can hear whatever it is they're listening to? Those folks are signing the death warrants for their ears. Just way, way too loud. Which is why IEM usage IMO, under reasonably low volumes is the only way to go - with proper fit, IEMs can provide passive noise reduction and because of hopefully better fit, folks will get great all around frequency response. Finally for me when I listen now at such lower volumes, I find myself concentrating more on the music and I can actually hear better instrument separation with such focus. Sorry for going on, but discussions about Tinnitus and advising folks to avoid it are only positive things. Thanks Bea for bringing this to people's attention. cheers!
Bea, I was a sound engineer for 20 years. Studio, live and also playing in my own bands. I'm 45 now and have realised over the last few years my hearing is trashed. I find it hard to understand conversations in crowded rooms or where there is other background noise. I know it's me because everyone else in the group can hear and understand and I'm the odd one out always asking people to repeat themselves. The ringing in my ears is very high pitched but it's always there. Good on you for bringing this issue to the fore. The young ones need to know and realise that while it feels good to hear the power and noise of rock they're not invincible and in the years ahead it will become a total pain in the arse.
Hi Rabea! Since I don't know if ACS are available in Germany, I'd like to recommend "Dreve Otoplastik", a German manufacturer for custom hearing protection or even custom made plugs for in ear monitoring. Ear impressions can be done at many "Hörgeräteakustiker"-Shops (Those are what we call shops specialized in hearing aids), some are even able to coordinate the whole order for you. otoplastik.dreve.de/ See you in Karlsruhe on Sunday! :-P \m/
I've got Tinnitus from years of gigging without ear protection. I've used these for over 10 years and basically never leave home without them. Saved my life as a musician, really. With thousands invested in guitars and amps, it's just stupid to not protect the most important and irreplaceable instrument we have. Highly recommended!
WOW! One of my favorite youtube guys discussing a subject that has just become a real problem for me. THANK YOU for posting this! I used to have a very mild case of tinnitus and it's recently ramped up. PLEASE if you're watching this - take this advice and the warning. I can tell you - it SUCKS living with this. Don't be a fool and avoid taking care of your hearing.
I have like others have been playing for over 25 years mostly heavy metal without ear protection for the vast majority of the time and now suffer from tinnitus and slight hearing lost in one ear ,so this video is a great lesson and eye opener for all musicians and especially all younger musicians.
mpactdesignmedia you’ll get used to the ringing! In the beginning it used to keep me up at night. After a few weeks that went away. Now I only hear it when I focus on it or when someone talks about tinnitus. It’s been 24 years now.
Dat Fro. i've been wearing ear plugs or headphones since college drumline days. I had a percussion instructor who at 27 yrs old had lost 30% of his hearing from drumming. Drumline, and Drumset. at 19 that made a huge impression on me. He would not let us rehearse until we ALL had plugs in. I always wore them after that even playing guitar in band practices. Thank fully my hearing is still pretty intact at 41. No shame at all in protecting your ears. Glad to see you bringing awareness. Robeast.
@@andrewjackson829 To get into damaging zone through skull the sound pressure should be over 100dbi, that's why workers on airport lanes and helicopter pilots wear big headphones to protect both ears and sphenoid bone from exposure.
Really important video. I'm only 23 but damaged the hearing (permanently) in my left ear several years back at a club. I now take noise plugs everywhere I go, and always use them at every gig, club etc. I agree with the video that not enough is done to raise awareness of hearing protection. Thanks for the vid!
Great video! I gave myself tinnitus as a teen by listening to my walkman way too loud, I wish I had been more aware of the fact that I was doing permanent damage.
You guys know that Paul Gilbert ist wearing a hearing aid,lately? Apart from his tinnitus,which he's suffering for years,he has also lost part of his hearing in one ear.And he's not the only famous musician with hearing problems,EVH,Pete Townsend or Myles Kennedy also suffer from tinnitus and/or hearing loss. So don't take this stuff lightly.
Man, this really opened my eyes. The fact that damage done to your ears is irreversible is absolutely terrifying. I'm a bass player in a band that plays a show about once a month, so that's not the biggest issue for me. The bigger issue is all the metal music I listen to, and the concerts I go to, and especially the ones in smaller clubs where they don't care about how high the volume is. I've been using these cheap €25 Vater earplugs. Might consider getting molded ones. I'm 22 years old and I'd love to have my hearing intact for a few more years haha!
Great video Rabea, this is something everyone should see even if they aren't a gigging musician. I've had the ringing for about a year now and it sucks, really wished I wore earplugs. It's also good to note that even if you're just listening to music, do not turn turn it up full for long periods of time like I did. Its also waaaaay better for your hearing if you listen to music on a stero of sorts instead of headphones. I only listen to soft music at low volumes in headphones for the most part now, no more slayer for me haha. Believe me you don't want tinnitus guys, protect your ears \m/
The number one priority for any performing musician, avid show goer or a person dealing with loud environments should be adequate ear protection. Often when I go to festivals I see that probably over 50% of people have no ear protection at all, I've even seen a dad with his kid on his shoulders and the kid had no hearing protection what so ever and that was at a large festival concert. So please people don't be foolish and protect your hearing.
Tinnitus isn't only physical, if you get it bad it can really fuck you up and lead to anxiety issues. Recently it's come out that Inspiral Carpets drummer who took his life may have done so because of bad tinnitus. Some gigs have been silly loud in the past and I wish I had some ear plugs at the time I must admit, but you do look a right tool stood there with them in, it needs to become gig going fashion!!
Been suffering with the exact same thing Reb. Have the exact same ear plugs now, such a flat rate response. Literally sounds like someone has turned the whole mix down. £160 including impressions. Worth every penny.
I had this acs service done at my college and it was so Worthit ! the ear plugs are really high quality and I don't like listening to live music without them anymore :)
Very important video - being a sufferer of tinnitus since childhood its one of the most fearful and anyone diseases. (Constant ringing that accompanies bursts of mild deafness for short periods it is not worth gigging without any hearing protection) these days I have learned to deal with it however my live gigging days are over. Be smart and look after your hearing..... one of the best investments you can do for your self!! Great vid Rabea
For your smaller venues, it pays to invest a little bit of money in an X32 or something so you can always use your ear rig. Even when we play a hole in the wall bar, we use ears. If the PA can feed monitors, it can feed your ear rig.
Thank you for making a video such as this one! I am almost complelty deaf ( a concert would be as loud as a whisper to my left ear to give you an idea) on the left side because of a desease that affected my brain when i was one year old and basically "killed" my left ear nerve. Since then I have an 80sB loss in my left ear. Due to the fact that it's the nerve that doesn't work anymore (yes my eardrums and everything else work just fine) prosthesis won't solve my problem, so basically i'm never gonna hear sounds as a regular person. Now i'm pretty sure that some that watched this video thought that this won't happen to them, that they will never suffer of hearloss, but eardamage can also come from something like i've been through, something you weren't expecting. So please if you have the chance, take care of your ears! Not only if you're a musician. protect your ears whenever you need to!! Thank you again Rabea for spreading awareness on this topic! I really mean it
Can't stress how important this is. I've been playing in bands since I was 14 and my ears actually buzz. It's a low hum like an idling car outside your house. It can make it impossible to sleep when it's really bad. Get your ear plugs guys.
I heard about these guys through my drum teacher. As I'm a drummer and doing a music course at college I got a pair and wear them whenever I play, even if it's just a few minutes and it really makes a massive difference. I've found these even make it easier and clearer to hear other people you're playing with or watching. Really worth the money, I never play or go to a gig without them
Glad to see this idea being promoted. My dad had terrible hearing loss from years of working around machinery but also from being a musician. Hearing loss takes its toll on everyone around the person - if you watch TV or movies, listen or perform music with them they will want everything louder, brighter, etc and it can affect you, almost like second hand smoke.
Really good off you bringing up the subject! I've had tinnitus since I was 13 and molded ear plugs have really saved me for the past 15 years. Cheers from Sweden!
I should have watched this video when it came out 2 years ago. This last week, my bass player and I decided to use earplugs for live shows, not only for rehearsals. Thanks for the info, Rabea!
ive never heard something so scientific and complicated but understood it so well, that guy explained how sound goes through the ear and how it causes damage incredibly well
I was blown away by how informative this video was. Thank you so much Rabea for doing this! I can't tell you how many other musicians need to hear/see this! Amazing work. Please people, share this video everywhere everyday. Thanks again!
Thanks Rabea, I have constant tinnitus and have been looking for new earplugs. I'm only 10, but still play my 3 instruments (cornet, piano and electric guitar) and I think they caused it all along with emotional things and tend to listen to music. Thanks for helping me to find a great pair of earplugs.
I have a Tinnitus since i was 13. stupid me played one of my first gigs with the monitor sound WAY to loud. Its aweful. The constant ringing in my ears and sometimes even dizziness. This is no joke, wear ear plugs kids! Great video Bea!
+Rabea Massaad This is such a coincidence! Thank you for uploading this! I went to the doctors today about the ringing in my ears and they can't help basically. I'm having a problem where my ears start ringing even louder than usual if I sing for only an hour in my garage. The doctor suggested singing in a bigger room but I don't have a bigger room as the other rooms aren't sound proofed. Do you have any suggestions ? Like I thought about sound absorption materials that might make up for the small room but I don't know if that would work?
Very very well made video Bea. As a House/Techno DJ I've been a big fan of ACS products for a very long time. Their top spec in-ear monitors have been on my wish list for ages.
I use Mack's high fidelity ear plugs. It's just what I found in a music store for 20 bucks and they've since served me well. I hear the music just fine and my ears aren't ringing afterwards. I always carry them on my keychain too. I'll never rehearse or go to a gig without them. I've gotten comments like "What are you doing?! This is metal!". I told them I'm making sure I can keep listening to metal for a loooong time.
I've got a pair of earplugs like these. They work fantastic! Also they feel really Great and works for a long time. I have hade mine for 7 years or so.
Great to see one of my heroes serious about hearing protection. Very informative video! I'll investigate getting custom earplugs. My ears work with pretty much none of the off-the-shelf shapes.
I've used earplugs for years and have been careful about looking after my ears, but after a nasty ear infection I seemed to be producing a lot of wax, I was advised to get my ears syringed and my tinnitus started quite dramatically during that same procedure, the doctor said it should fade after a couple of days but 5 years later it is still there. I''m absolutely gutted!
Sound advice (intended). I damaged my hearing at a Black Sabbath concert in '83. For 5 days after I had extremely loud whistle noises 24/7... then it slowly subsided to the constant hiss/high pitched tone I have had since. I think the problem is that when you're young your entire life experience tells you that any damage your body might take will heal again. But it wont. These days I prefer earplugs that kill the entire experience to no plugs at all... and while not cheap - molded custom plugs are now affordable. So I am getting some. Mind you, it was a very good concert. Ian Gillan on vocals and Bev Bevan on drums. It was just loud AF.
Hmm, I've always heard a little bit of hiss/white noise when a room is COMPLETELY quiet, even when I was a kid. I'd finish watching the original TMNT tape/rerun at night, turn off the living room TV then rush to my room (I was young and skeptical of the dark _>). Long story short, is when it is dead quiet I can hear noises. When doctors would check my ears during regular check ups they didn't pick up on anything, and as long as it isn't completely quiet I don't hear anything..
I saw sabbath in Mid 80’s or so. It was so loud I literally stuffed popcorn in my ears. It was loud, tinny, and they were completely burned out. Just standing there waiting for their own gig to end.
Great video with a great message. I'm an old rocker, now in my 60's and my hearing is shot. My ears ring continuously, and it sucks. Like the guy from ACS said in an area where there is a lot of background noise it is very hard to hear someone talking. Get earplugs!
Well, I'm 56 and have a steady constant ringing in my years from, 1- my job from being in the military, working on the flight line around jets, 2 - then 20 years working guitarist. I can say it's not a ringing per say, it's more of a constant hissing sound. Some nights it gets so loud it's hard to sleep, or during the day it's sometimes hard to concentrate when i need to. Sleeping with a fan at night helps buffer the white noise. Wish i would have known about hearing protection when i started playing in the early 70's
I met this guy from ACS when I was in uni, and had the same process done. I've had my ear plugs from ACS for about 4/5 years, best 100 odd pound I've ever spent.
I always took care of my ears, never played loud enough for anyone to hear me in another room, never in a band and never listened to headphones with the volume over half way. I woke up deaf in my left ear one time, I regained my hearing but I have tinnitus now. No doctor knew exactly wtf happened but Im guessing some sort of infection.
Tension in the neck can be a killer... Acupuncture is generally advised, apparently miraculous for some people although it didn't do it for me (I don't remember not having tinnitus...). Were you stressed at the time?
Rabea, this is class mate! Chockful of good info and advice from Johnno. Thanks so much for highlighting this vital issue for all of us: performers and audience members alike. Nice one!
Fascinating video with a very clear explanation as to the potential dangers of exposure to loud noise over an extended period. Definitely should be taught in schools.
I saw this title when I made a bit of a funny remark on another video. The tinnitus grabbed me the last few years I have very mild ringing in my ears and the last week it's gotten a bit worse (I was composing an 80s synth track with a lot of mids and a 16th bass line) and that played over and over again (not even that loud just TV level really) but I am now at the point that I even hear it over my typing. Tomorrow I have to record another song and frankly a bit worried, so I have been looking into these too. Glad you like em so I will definitely get my ears molded and get a pair. I am 44 it's really quiet amazing that I last till my 40th without hearing damage. But I wish I would have been more careful too! So great message to all the peeps who still have good hearing.
The best piece of musical equipment I have ever bought, so worth it, the frequency response is fantastic, it's just like a drop in gain. I have chronic tinnitus so these are essential, essential equipment for any serious musician.
My left ear is jacked from standing on the right side of my drummer for years. I sing and play guitar, so I hate not hearing myself. Good to know there's a product this good out there
I got some of these earplugs, lost one as well but I had to get them again. They're amazing and absolutely worth the money. Flat response and they sound it. I actually got a hearing test with them in and out, and it was exactly flat response, it was incredible, exactly 15dbs quieter. Essentially, if you can get them, go for it!!!
I feel just as thankful and appreciative as you looked when you were thanking Jono. Thanks dude. I understood loud sounds for prolonged times damages hearing, but this was an amazing explanation. Great vid man.
thank you bea for putting out this video. I don't know how many people are really paying attention but this is a very serious issue....I wish I knew about tinnitus when I was younger and now am paying the price for my ignorance and my own arrogance.... tinnitus can be quite debilitating.... and the one thing we love the most suffers. thanks for bringing attention to this serious topic! ☺
About 9 months ago, I was awoken from my slumber to what sounded like a jet turbine inside my head. Since then, I've dealt with non stop ringing in my ears. I highly recommend anyone watching this get some type of ear plug that works for you to prevent this. Great video!
Really interesting video I always wear earplugs when on stage and still feel I might have lost some of the ability to hear higher frequencies every Musicians should watch this and have there own set of custom earplugs.
This is an awesome vid Rabea!! I had no idea about this company but will try to get my hands on a pair of the ear plugs asap!! You may have just saved me from permanent damage, Thanks!!
I live with this issue and it sucks! to all young musicians really take care of your ears. Cause once you get it that's it you will suffer from tinnitus forever.
Great video. I've already ruined my hearing simply by going to gigs! I've always had issues with ear protection cutting out mids and highs. Great to know these exist.
A poignant topic you bring up, but the awareness most definitely needs to be spread considering the era of music we live in now. I had mild tinnitus from a very young age and it wasn't all that troublesome, most outside sources of sound would mask it. Until 8 years a go when I woke up with acute, chronic tinnitus that never left. I'm sad to say that it rid me of the joy of creating music and my only relief was alcohol and benzodiazipines, which helped dull the noise. These were extreme measures, but it was either that or permanent insomnia. After these 8 years, I've dialled back my medication and alcohol consumption, now that I've 'accepted' my condition. I still have to sleep with a fan on and take mild medications. Almost a decade and and I'm still suffering. I don't usually open up about this topic because I know nothing can be done at present, I just thought I'd share this in the hopes that you'll all be wary of this topic and how debilitating it can become. Also, please do not be under any illusion that a visit to an E.N.T specialist will help. Every one of them told me "learn to live with it". Only took 8 years, nearly a third of my life. Keep your hearing safe everyone!
i got my custom fit earplugs from Alpine, which i initially bought for when riding my motorbike.. i got the fitting done at a motorcycle event and then decided on selecting the db-range a bit on the lower side, so i can also use them for going out or gigging.. already over 10 years ago i was wearing ear-plugs when going to festivals or bigger parties and people looked weirdly at me, and by now it's much more common and friends told me they wished they had started using them back then, when i did.. still it's better too late than never :)
Hi Bea, I really love your work. Personally I'm experiencing Tinnitus for a while now. I would like to know if you can hear your Tinnitus over everyday sounds like speaking, driving, the TV etc. Did you notice a change over time? How long did it take you to get used to the ringing?
Good on you, Rabea. There totally needs to be education about this. Why not in school? I have a semi-permanent headache from tinnitus after a couple of very loud gigs. People absolutely need to take this seriously. Tinnitus is a one way, no exit street.
One of the most important videos I've watched in a long time! Never liked wearing plugs but think I'll invest in some and save my hearing in the future!
Excellent video. This really should be the first thing anyone who who wants to listen to or perform music learns about and takes seriously. I remember working with patients at UCLA in the 80's. The staff started to see increasing numbers of young people presenting with permanent sensory-neural hearing loss. In the charts it was noted as "WMD" for Walkman Deafness. Gotta be iPod/iPhone etc etc deafness now. So, exposure to high volumes is destructive and can happen in a number of different environments, including listening with headphones. If you take your hearing health seriously you can enjoy listening to music naturally for a long time. If you really love music and destroy your hearing, what's the point?
As the dad of a young drummer, thank you very much for this. I have a daily struggle from years of concerts; the 'shrieking bats' are a constant companion these days.
I have mild tinnitus as well. Too long playing guitar at silly volumes. If you don't have the cash for full on proper ear plugs, I can recommend Earpeace plugs. They keep a lot of the high end and very comfortable. My tinnitus has been getting better now I'm not blasting my ears regularly.
Great video, back in the day people had this macho thing where wearing ear plugs at a concert or a gig was weak. Good to see theres option like ACS where you dont lose all the sound when playing or listening at a show . Cool vid :)
Great video man, more people needs to be aware of this. Personally, I recently backed a kickstarter for something called "dBud", which is supposed to be a volume adjustable earplug with a range 15-30db. Really looking forward to seeing how well it works.
Mate this is great. Thanks so much for this video. I’m stupid for not wearing earplugs and now I as well have permanent tinnitus and im paying the price every single second 24/7. But I’m also pissed off that no one had told me this when I was young. No one has a clue about this condition and no one really cares until they get it. At school they go on and on about how important it is to wear a seatbelt when driving or this or that and no one EVER said anything about tinnitus or hearing loss. And still to this day most of my musician friends dont wear ear plugs and im literally begging them to do so cause I care for them and dont want to hurt their ears like I did. They just think that it’s normal not to wear ear plugs. If you don’t, you are literally gambling your hearing.
I had my monitors done with 64 Audio. Brilliant company. In any case - I lost a bunch of weight and as it turns out, the ear canal is also affected. Things you learn. I'll have to do another set of impressions and send my monitors out for a refit.
It's really cool that you put out this video today given that tinnitus is in the news today because of the inquiry into Craig Gill's death - the drummer from the Inspiral Carpets. He was suffering from very bad tinnitus. I have a writer friend who's very successful these days but it's a real fight for him coping with the condition. He used to write in a coffee shop as the background noise masked it. I don't envy him
I'm a huge proponent of always having IEMs. You can set up a really good travel monitor rack and then not have to worry about it. Set up an X32 Rack with wireless packs of your choice and you're home free. You can set your own mix from your phone and it all fits in a really small rack case. 10/10 would recommend.
There are some of us with some mild hearing loss but (mercifully) without tinnitus but struggle in some situations. For instance you're in a restaurant and have difficulty hearing conversation, even if someone is only 18" away. The ambient noise eclipses the vocal frequencies making it hard to understand someone talking. This type of ear plug with mild db attenuation will help you hear detail better. While not in the UK, LA or NY I purchased a set of the Etymotic molded ear plugs and I keep them with me (in a small belt pouch) wherever I go. I started with -25db, and for general (even music) purposes that was too much attenuation. I now have -15db filters which is better. But for conversations and general use I think I'd even prefer -7 or -10db. With the audiologist fee included they cost $250USD. After a few minutes of wearing them you forget you have ear plugs in. Everything sounds normal, just softer. They do a great job of filtering ambient noise. The only downside (for me) is when I'm eating. While chewing I can hear the sounds of my jaw and can barely hear anything else at that moment. So I have to stop chewing for a moment is someone is trying to say something to me. Also as a side benefit, I would say I am a poor singer. Part of the reason is that I have difficulty hearing my own voice. With the ear plugs in, I can hear the sound vibrations of my voice in my head and I'm told that my singing improves dramatically. As a musician I've been wearing cheap drug store ear plugs for years and I think has saved most of my hearing. But the custom molded ones are a league apart from the cheapies. But if you're in front of loud speakers, plugs are a must.
I have had bad Tinnitus in my left ear for 30 years due to not wearing ear protection when I was a touring drummer. I know the exact day it happened too. Our onstage sound guy (stage wedges back then) had set up all our monitor mixes during production rehearsals and the idea was that these levels would never be touched. He used to track the other guys in the band as they moved around the stage and for some reason one night he decided that I would like to hear more of the guitarist. Of course the inevitable happened and as the guitarist approached me the volume increased in my wedges but so did the feedback - I was treated to a stupidly loud high pitched squealing noise on my left hand side for about 30secs (we were mid song so I couldn't duck or run). I came off stage that night to find that my balance had gone and the whole World was in mono. After a few days things reverted to stereo, the on stage monitor sound man was fired, but the ringing in my left ear never went away. I can hear it now over traffic and general every day living but in a silent room at night it is almost unbearable. I do feel better by the ocean as the background sibilance seems to cancel it out. Look after your ears ... Tinnitus is (for the moment) incurable and it is not fun.
Please take the advice given in this video. I have tinnitus, it's depressing, irritating and it never goes away. Well done Rabea for highlighting this.
I dammaged my hearing when checkin a loud amplifier in a small room. since then I have had a ring in my ear for years. now the ringing stoped, but it can come back whan close to loud noise. (more over I can't dive no more.) thanks for the video, it was useful.
Bea, you should talk to ACS and see if they can keep hold of your ear impression or you could ask them to send it along with the ear plugs so you can bypass the ear mould stage in case of loss! Also I'd make more than one pair.
In my experience ear protection helps a little but there's frequencies in the low end that you still get the full amplitude anyway. The best thing you can do is turn down the volume, mute the drums or play in a band without drums ideally, or play the electronic drums.
I had a job 25 years ago where I was around loud machinery. I always wore my hearing protection and I always had my crew wear them as well. However, it wasn't enough to protect my hearing. I have much of the same hearing loss that Jono described. It's worth it to get GOOD hearing protection.
I've got constant tinnitus in both ears- and now often high pitched screeches a few times a week since having a nasty Motorbike crash last year where I smashed my head into someones lovely wheel arch followed by concrete at 50mph- and never really thought about hearing damage or the effects of it till now- my eardrums are fucked and I get really dizzy So cheers for this Bea! Didnt know this existed!
When I was really young I had a terrible ear infection which really fucked up my hearing, but then when I was 14 the injury to my ears healed really really quickly all in one go and now I have CRAZY sensitive ears. My tinnitus seems to have gone away though thankfully. Please wear earplugs people!
Sure wish this tech was around back in the 70s, 80s...being a hard rocker back then has caused me significant hearing loss in my left ear..(guitarist always on the right side of the stage)..Very important to be protected in rehearsals as well as live stage..audience participants too. Thanks for bringing out this important topic.
People used to laugh at me wearing earplugs for gigs. If only they could hear me laughing now......
I "hear" what you did there.
Ah, I get it, you killed 'em. ;)
😭😭😭
Connor Chen he’s actually telling the truth tho
i see what you did there ... if id been aware of ear plugs 30 years ago i would have heard it too
Thanks for watching guys,
ACS are easily the best guys for top notch hearing protection for musicians.
They're available both in the U.K. And USA too!
I wanted to make this video for a long time and I'm so grateful for Jono of ACS joining me in making this happen!
IMPORTANT - exposure time states that if you're playing live music with acoustic drums, loud amps and generally a loud environment, you have between 15-30 minutes of exposure time before you start to do damage to your hearing.
Hearing damage is irreversible and deteriorates as you age...
It's scary, but seriously, make sure you invest in good hearing protection so you'll actually use it!
Thanks for watching!
I never leave the house without mine now, absolutely have saved me on many occasions ! Your gig at Nambucca a couple of years ago absolutely slayed my ears
Some folks will inevitably poo-poo this vid as being just an ad and a chance for Bea to get some sponsor. But the fact of the matter is, this is one of the most important vids Bea has ever done. Tinnitus is no joke and is at present irreversible.
I myself have low level Tinnitus ringing 24/7 now and also have some moderate high frequency hearing loss not because I was ever a working musician but simply from being a moron as a kid/teenager and listening to excessively loud music on headphones for excessively long periods of time. While I wised up in my mid 20s and turned the volume down, the damage was already done. By that point I was listening at reduced volume levels and tried to limit my listening sessions whenever possible.
About 8 years ago on an awesome forum I took solid advice from some great people there and really turned down my headphone volumes. I am finicky with my IEMs and have tons - expensive and mid-priced but all quality stuff. Nowadays, I listen to music at really, really low volumes compared to many folks. While I cannot fix my ears, I have stopped making things worse.
You know how you encounter people walking around using mostly those shitty iPhone earpods and you can hear whatever it is they're listening to? Those folks are signing the death warrants for their ears. Just way, way too loud. Which is why IEM usage IMO, under reasonably low volumes is the only way to go - with proper fit, IEMs can provide passive noise reduction and because of hopefully better fit, folks will get great all around frequency response.
Finally for me when I listen now at such lower volumes, I find myself concentrating more on the music and I can actually hear better instrument separation with such focus.
Sorry for going on, but discussions about Tinnitus and advising folks to avoid it are only positive things.
Thanks Bea for bringing this to people's attention.
cheers!
Bea, I was a sound engineer for 20 years. Studio, live and also playing in my own bands. I'm 45 now and have realised over the last few years my hearing is trashed. I find it hard to understand conversations in crowded rooms or where there is other background noise. I know it's me because everyone else in the group can hear and understand and I'm the odd one out always asking people to repeat themselves. The ringing in my ears is very high pitched but it's always there. Good on you for bringing this issue to the fore. The young ones need to know and realise that while it feels good to hear the power and noise of rock they're not invincible and in the years ahead it will become a total pain in the arse.
Rabea Massaad on
Hi Rabea!
Since I don't know if ACS are available in Germany, I'd like to recommend "Dreve Otoplastik", a German manufacturer for custom hearing protection or even custom made plugs for in ear monitoring.
Ear impressions can be done at many "Hörgeräteakustiker"-Shops (Those are what we call shops specialized in hearing aids), some are even able to coordinate the whole order for you.
otoplastik.dreve.de/
See you in Karlsruhe on Sunday! :-P \m/
I've got Tinnitus from years of gigging without ear protection. I've used these for over 10 years and basically never leave home without them. Saved my life as a musician, really. With thousands invested in guitars and amps, it's just stupid to not protect the most important and irreplaceable instrument we have. Highly recommended!
“Watch out for your ears, Watch out for your ears!”
- Jimi Hendrix， 1967.
Watch out for drugs. Watch out for drugs. I wish he could have played till he were a hundred years old.
WOW! One of my favorite youtube guys discussing a subject that has just become a real problem for me. THANK YOU for posting this! I used to have a very mild case of tinnitus and it's recently ramped up. PLEASE if you're watching this - take this advice and the warning. I can tell you - it SUCKS living with this. Don't be a fool and avoid taking care of your hearing.
I have like others have been playing for over 25 years mostly heavy metal without ear protection for the vast majority of the time and now suffer from tinnitus and slight hearing lost in one ear ,so this video is a great lesson and eye opener for all musicians and especially all younger musicians.
mpactdesignmedia - yes once it’s gone it’s over
mpactdesignmedia you’ll get used to the ringing! In the beginning it used to keep me up at night. After a few weeks that went away. Now I only hear it when I focus on it or when someone talks about tinnitus. It’s been 24 years now.
Dat Fro.
i've been wearing ear plugs or headphones since college drumline days. I had a percussion instructor who at 27 yrs old had lost 30% of his hearing from drumming. Drumline, and Drumset. at 19 that made a huge impression on me. He would not let us rehearse until we ALL had plugs in. I always wore them after that even playing guitar in band practices. Thank fully my hearing is still pretty intact at 41. No shame at all in protecting your ears. Glad to see you bringing awareness. Robeast.
RNA MUSIC doesn’t the sound still go thru ur head though? So you’re still getting damage?
@@andrewjackson829 To get into damaging zone through skull the sound pressure should be over 100dbi, that's why workers on airport lanes and helicopter pilots wear big headphones to protect both ears and sphenoid bone from exposure.
Really important video. I'm only 23 but damaged the hearing (permanently) in my left ear several years back at a club. I now take noise plugs everywhere I go, and always use them at every gig, club etc. I agree with the video that not enough is done to raise awareness of hearing protection. Thanks for the vid!
Great video! I gave myself tinnitus as a teen by listening to my walkman way too loud, I wish I had been more aware of the fact that I was doing permanent damage.
Same here man
I'm a teen who likes to listen to music with my ear buds at the highest volume and the ringing started two days ago lol :')
Same here. Sony MegaBass - the worst device EVER. I destroyed partially my hearing with this piece of crap at the age of 19-20...
You guys know that Paul Gilbert ist wearing a hearing aid,lately? Apart from his tinnitus,which he's suffering for years,he has also lost part of his hearing in one ear.And he's not the only famous musician with hearing problems,EVH,Pete Townsend or Myles Kennedy also suffer from tinnitus and/or hearing loss. So don't take this stuff lightly.
Also Andy Timmons, whose hearing got so bad it was painful for him to listen to music. Scary stuff
Man, this really opened my eyes. The fact that damage done to your ears is irreversible is absolutely terrifying. I'm a bass player in a band that plays a show about once a month, so that's not the biggest issue for me. The bigger issue is all the metal music I listen to, and the concerts I go to, and especially the ones in smaller clubs where they don't care about how high the volume is.
I've been using these cheap €25 Vater earplugs. Might consider getting molded ones. I'm 22 years old and I'd love to have my hearing intact for a few more years haha!
Great video Rabea, this is something everyone should see even if they aren't a gigging musician. I've had the ringing for about a year now and it sucks, really wished I wore earplugs. It's also good to note that even if you're just listening to music, do not turn turn it up full for long periods of time like I did. Its also waaaaay better for your hearing if you listen to music on a stero of sorts instead of headphones. I only listen to soft music at low volumes in headphones for the most part now, no more slayer for me haha. Believe me you don't want tinnitus guys, protect your ears \m/
The number one priority for any performing musician, avid show goer or a person dealing with loud environments should be adequate ear protection. Often when I go to festivals I see that probably over 50% of people have no ear protection at all, I've even seen a dad with his kid on his shoulders and the kid had no hearing protection what so ever and that was at a large festival concert. So please people don't be foolish and protect your hearing.
Tinnitus isn't only physical, if you get it bad it can really fuck you up and lead to anxiety issues. Recently it's come out that Inspiral Carpets drummer who took his life may have done so because of bad tinnitus.
Some gigs have been silly loud in the past and I wish I had some ear plugs at the time I must admit, but you do look a right tool stood there with them in, it needs to become gig going fashion!!
thank you so much for bringing more attention to this problem.
Been suffering with the exact same thing Reb.
Have the exact same ear plugs now, such a flat rate response. Literally sounds like someone has turned the whole mix down. £160 including impressions.
Worth every penny.
Super happy that you're raising awareness of this issue, Rabea!
I had this acs service done at my college and it was so Worthit ! the ear plugs are really high quality and I don't like listening to live music without them anymore :)
Very important video - being a sufferer of tinnitus since childhood its one of the most fearful and anyone diseases. (Constant ringing that accompanies bursts of mild deafness for short periods it is not worth gigging without any hearing protection) these days I have learned to deal with it however my live gigging days are over. Be smart and look after your hearing..... one of the best investments you can do for your self!! Great vid Rabea
For your smaller venues, it pays to invest a little bit of money in an X32 or something so you can always use your ear rig. Even when we play a hole in the wall bar, we use ears. If the PA can feed monitors, it can feed your ear rig.
Thank you for making a video such as this one! I am almost complelty deaf ( a concert would be as loud as a whisper to my left ear to give you an idea) on the left side because of a desease that affected my brain when i was one year old and basically "killed" my left ear nerve. Since then I have an 80sB loss in my left ear. Due to the fact that it's the nerve that doesn't work anymore (yes my eardrums and everything else work just fine) prosthesis won't solve my problem, so basically i'm never gonna hear sounds as a regular person.
Now i'm pretty sure that some that watched this video thought that this won't happen to them, that they will never suffer of hearloss, but eardamage can also come from something like i've been through, something you weren't expecting. So please if you have the chance, take care of your ears! Not only if you're a musician. protect your ears whenever you need to!!
Thank you again Rabea for spreading awareness on this topic! I really mean it
Can't stress how important this is. I've been playing in bands since I was 14 and my ears actually buzz. It's a low hum like an idling car outside your house. It can make it impossible to sleep when it's really bad. Get your ear plugs guys.
Mox_au im 18 lol get it
I heard about these guys through my drum teacher. As I'm a drummer and doing a music course at college I got a pair and wear them whenever I play, even if it's just a few minutes and it really makes a massive difference. I've found these even make it easier and clearer to hear other people you're playing with or watching. Really worth the money, I never play or go to a gig without them
Glad to see this idea being promoted. My dad had terrible hearing loss from years of working around machinery but also from being a musician. Hearing loss takes its toll on everyone around the person - if you watch TV or movies, listen or perform music with them they will want everything louder, brighter, etc and it can affect you, almost like second hand smoke.
Really good off you bringing up the subject! I've had tinnitus since I was 13 and molded ear plugs have really saved me for the past 15 years. Cheers from Sweden!
I should have watched this video when it came out 2 years ago. This last week, my bass player and I decided to use earplugs for live shows, not only for rehearsals. Thanks for the info, Rabea!
ive never heard something so scientific and complicated but understood it so well, that guy explained how sound goes through the ear and how it causes damage incredibly well
As someone that played in bands for 20 years, I wish I had this technology 20 years ago. I am now more or less deaf in one ear. Great advice Rabea.
I love how passionate this guy is
I was blown away by how informative this video was. Thank you so much Rabea for doing this! I can't tell you how many other musicians need to hear/see this! Amazing work. Please people, share this video everywhere everyday. Thanks again!
Love seeing these details regarding sounds and music. Good to see that you're keeping them ears sharp, mate!
Thanks Rabea, I have constant tinnitus and have been looking for new earplugs. I'm only 10, but still play my 3 instruments (cornet, piano and electric guitar) and I think they caused it all along with emotional things and tend to listen to music. Thanks for helping me to find a great pair of earplugs.
Also, I have grommets in my ears and I'm wondering if they can scan with them being there.
Damn, BEA KEEP TAKING CARE OF YOUR EARS!!! lol if you can't hear = no bea music= me sad without bea music 😢
Also respect man doing us all well by spreading awareness×
I have a Tinnitus since i was 13. stupid me played one of my first gigs with the monitor sound WAY to loud. Its aweful. The constant ringing in my ears and sometimes even dizziness. This is no joke, wear ear plugs kids! Great video Bea!
+Rabea Massaad This is such a coincidence! Thank you for uploading this! I went to the doctors today about the ringing in my ears and they can't help basically. I'm having a problem where my ears start ringing even louder than usual if I sing for only an hour in my garage. The doctor suggested singing in a bigger room but I don't have a bigger room as the other rooms aren't sound proofed. Do you have any suggestions ? Like I thought about sound absorption materials that might make up for the small room but I don't know if that would work?
Major props for making this video Bea, such an important topic! Jono was bang on the money about occupational health and education, and lack thereof!!
The importance of this video can not be overstated. Well done, Rabea!
Very very well made video Bea. As a House/Techno DJ I've been a big fan of ACS products for a very long time. Their top spec in-ear monitors have been on my wish list for ages.
This might just be the most important video you've made for us musicians. Thanks! Time to find out whether they're also available in the Netherlands.
I use Mack's high fidelity ear plugs. It's just what I found in a music store for 20 bucks and they've since served me well. I hear the music just fine and my ears aren't ringing afterwards. I always carry them on my keychain too. I'll never rehearse or go to a gig without them.
I've gotten comments like "What are you doing?! This is metal!". I told them I'm making sure I can keep listening to metal for a loooong time.
I've got a pair of earplugs like these. They work fantastic! Also they feel really Great and works for a long time. I have hade mine for 7 years or so.
Great to see one of my heroes serious about hearing protection. Very informative video! I'll investigate getting custom earplugs. My ears work with pretty much none of the off-the-shelf shapes.
What a great guy. He is very convincing and he really knows how to explain things.
I've used earplugs for years and have been careful about looking after my ears, but after a nasty ear infection I seemed to be producing a lot of wax, I was advised to get my ears syringed and my tinnitus started quite dramatically during that same procedure, the doctor said it should fade after a couple of days but 5 years later it is still there. I''m absolutely gutted!
Sound advice (intended). I damaged my hearing at a Black Sabbath concert in '83. For 5 days after I had extremely loud whistle noises 24/7... then it slowly subsided to the constant hiss/high pitched tone I have had since. I think the problem is that when you're young your entire life experience tells you that any damage your body might take will heal again. But it wont. These days I prefer earplugs that kill the entire experience to no plugs at all... and while not cheap - molded custom plugs are now affordable. So I am getting some.
Mind you, it was a very good concert. Ian Gillan on vocals and Bev Bevan on drums. It was just loud AF.
Hmm, I've always heard a little bit of hiss/white noise when a room is COMPLETELY quiet, even when I was a kid. I'd finish watching the original TMNT tape/rerun at night, turn off the living room TV then rush to my room (I was young and skeptical of the dark _>).
Long story short, is when it is dead quiet I can hear noises. When doctors would check my ears during regular check ups they didn't pick up on anything, and as long as it isn't completely quiet I don't hear anything..
Born Again was my very first concert.
Worcester, Mass in 1984.
I saw sabbath in Mid 80’s or so. It was so loud I literally stuffed popcorn in my ears. It was loud, tinny, and they were completely burned out. Just standing there waiting for their own gig to end.
Great video with a great message. I'm an old rocker, now in my 60's and my hearing is shot. My ears ring continuously, and it sucks. Like the guy from ACS said in an area where there is a lot of background noise it is very hard to hear someone talking.
Get earplugs!
Well, I'm 56 and have a steady constant ringing in my years from, 1- my job from being in the military, working on the flight line around jets, 2 - then 20 years working guitarist.
I can say it's not a ringing per say, it's more of a constant hissing sound. Some nights it gets so loud it's hard to sleep, or during the day it's sometimes hard to concentrate when i need to. Sleeping with a fan at night helps buffer the white noise. Wish i would have known about hearing protection when i started playing in the early 70's
I met this guy from ACS when I was in uni, and had the same process done. I've had my ear plugs from ACS for about 4/5 years, best 100 odd pound I've ever spent.
I always took care of my ears, never played loud enough for anyone to hear me in another room, never in a band and never listened to headphones with the volume over half way. I woke up deaf in my left ear one time, I regained my hearing but I have tinnitus now. No doctor knew exactly wtf happened but Im guessing some sort of infection.
Lol same thing happened to me years ago.
You may have a different kind of tinnitus, no one is safe but taking precautions reduces the chances of getting T
Alexander - moms said you would go blind but maybe they should have said you would go deaf
Tension in the neck can be a killer... Acupuncture is generally advised, apparently miraculous for some people although it didn't do it for me (I don't remember not having tinnitus...). Were you stressed at the time?
Rabea, this is class mate! Chockful of good info and advice from Johnno. Thanks so much for highlighting this vital issue for all of us: performers and audience members alike. Nice one!
Good job Rabea. An important subject that should really be talked about more. Especially in the music community.
Also I looked on the website and wonder site which model did Rabbea get? I'm guessing it would be the PRO27 s ?
Fascinating video with a very clear explanation as to the potential dangers of exposure to loud noise over an extended period. Definitely should be taught in schools.
I saw this title when I made a bit of a funny remark on another video. The tinnitus grabbed me the last few years I have very mild ringing in my ears and the last week it's gotten a bit worse (I was composing an 80s synth track with a lot of mids and a 16th bass line) and that played over and over again (not even that loud just TV level really) but I am now at the point that I even hear it over my typing. Tomorrow I have to record another song and frankly a bit worried, so I have been looking into these too.
Glad you like em so I will definitely get my ears molded and get a pair.
I am 44 it's really quiet amazing that I last till my 40th without hearing damage. But I wish I would have been more careful too! So great message to all the peeps who still have good hearing.
The best piece of musical equipment I have ever bought, so worth it, the frequency response is fantastic, it's just like a drop in gain. I have chronic tinnitus so these are essential, essential equipment for any serious musician.
My left ear is jacked from standing on the right side of my drummer for years. I sing and play guitar, so I hate not hearing myself. Good to know there's a product this good out there
I got some of these earplugs, lost one as well but I had to get them again. They're amazing and absolutely worth the money. Flat response and they sound it. I actually got a hearing test with them in and out, and it was exactly flat response, it was incredible, exactly 15dbs quieter. Essentially, if you can get them, go for it!!!
I feel just as thankful and appreciative as you looked when you were thanking Jono. Thanks dude. I understood loud sounds for prolonged times damages hearing, but this was an amazing explanation. Great vid man.
thank you bea for putting out this video. I don't know how many people are really paying attention but this is a very serious issue....I wish I knew about tinnitus when I was younger and now am paying the price for my ignorance and my own arrogance.... tinnitus can be quite debilitating.... and the one thing we love the most suffers.
thanks for bringing attention to this serious topic! ☺
About 9 months ago, I was awoken from my slumber to what sounded like a jet turbine inside my head.
Since then, I've dealt with non stop ringing in my ears.
I highly recommend anyone watching this get some type of ear plug that works for you to prevent this.
Great video!
Really interesting video I always wear earplugs when on stage and still feel I might have lost some of the ability to hear higher frequencies every Musicians should watch this and have there own set of custom earplugs.
This is an awesome vid Rabea!! I had no idea about this company but will try to get my hands on a pair of the ear plugs asap!!
You may have just saved me from permanent damage, Thanks!!
I live with this issue and it sucks! to all young musicians really take care of your ears. Cause once you get it that's it you will suffer from tinnitus forever.
Great stuff!! My left ear is down 80dB so I wear a hearing aid on that side. Look after your ears!!!
Great video. I've already ruined my hearing simply by going to gigs! I've always had issues with ear protection cutting out mids and highs. Great to know these exist.
Definitivly will check these out, thanks for sharing this Rabea.
I got a pair of the ACS plugs a couple of years ago and they are incredible, 100% recommend, invaluable if you value your ears and mental health
A poignant topic you bring up, but the awareness most definitely needs to be spread considering the era of music we live in now. I had mild tinnitus from a very young age and it wasn't all that troublesome, most outside sources of sound would mask it. Until 8 years a go when I woke up with acute, chronic tinnitus that never left. I'm sad to say that it rid me of the joy of creating music and my only relief was alcohol and benzodiazipines, which helped dull the noise. These were extreme measures, but it was either that or permanent insomnia. After these 8 years, I've dialled back my medication and alcohol consumption, now that I've 'accepted' my condition. I still have to sleep with a fan on and take mild medications. Almost a decade and and I'm still suffering. I don't usually open up about this topic because I know nothing can be done at present, I just thought I'd share this in the hopes that you'll all be wary of this topic and how debilitating it can become. Also, please do not be under any illusion that a visit to an E.N.T specialist will help. Every one of them told me "learn to live with it". Only took 8 years, nearly a third of my life. Keep your hearing safe everyone!
i got my custom fit earplugs from Alpine, which i initially bought for when riding my motorbike.. i got the fitting done at a motorcycle event and then decided on selecting the db-range a bit on the lower side, so i can also use them for going out or gigging..
already over 10 years ago i was wearing ear-plugs when going to festivals or bigger parties and people looked weirdly at me, and by now it's much more common and friends told me they wished they had started using them back then, when i did.. still it's better too late than never :)
Hi Bea, I really love your work. Personally I'm experiencing Tinnitus for a while now. I would like to know if you can hear your Tinnitus over everyday sounds like speaking, driving, the TV etc. Did you notice a change over time? How long did it take you to get used to the ringing?
i have a permanent tinitus lately and love the guitar and this video helped me so much thank you
Your London gig rekt my right ear lol
Luigi Masella Same here man!!! I was there as well.
It was awesome
Good on you, Rabea. There totally needs to be education about this. Why not in school? I have a semi-permanent headache from tinnitus after a couple of very loud gigs. People absolutely need to take this seriously. Tinnitus is a one way, no exit street.
One of the most important videos I've watched in a long time! Never liked wearing plugs but think I'll invest in some and save my hearing in the future!
Excellent video. This really should be the first thing anyone who who wants to listen to or perform music learns about and takes seriously. I remember working with patients at UCLA in the 80's. The staff started to see increasing numbers of young people presenting with permanent sensory-neural hearing loss. In the charts it was noted as "WMD" for Walkman Deafness. Gotta be iPod/iPhone etc etc deafness now. So, exposure to high volumes is destructive and can happen in a number of different environments, including listening with headphones. If you take your hearing health seriously you can enjoy listening to music naturally for a long time. If you really love music and destroy your hearing, what's the point?
As the dad of a young drummer, thank you very much for this. I have a daily struggle from years of concerts; the 'shrieking bats' are a constant companion these days.
I have mild tinnitus as well. Too long playing guitar at silly volumes. If you don't have the cash for full on proper ear plugs, I can recommend Earpeace plugs. They keep a lot of the high end and very comfortable. My tinnitus has been getting better now I'm not blasting my ears regularly.
Great video, back in the day people had this macho thing where wearing ear plugs at a concert or a gig was weak. Good to see theres option like ACS where you dont lose all the sound when playing or listening at a show . Cool vid :)
Great video man, more people needs to be aware of this. Personally, I recently backed a kickstarter for something called "dBud", which is supposed to be a volume adjustable earplug with a range 15-30db. Really looking forward to seeing how well it works.
Great video. I almost lost hearing in my left ear due to a perforated ear drum. Thankfully I'm still in the game
Great Info, thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Mate this is great. Thanks so much for this video. I’m stupid for not wearing earplugs and now I as well have permanent tinnitus and im paying the price every single second 24/7. But I’m also pissed off that no one had told me this when I was young. No one has a clue about this condition and no one really cares until they get it. At school they go on and on about how important it is to wear a seatbelt when driving or this or that and no one EVER said anything about tinnitus or hearing loss. And still to this day most of my musician friends dont wear ear plugs and im literally begging them to do so cause I care for them and dont want to hurt their ears like I did. They just think that it’s normal not to wear ear plugs. If you don’t, you are literally gambling your hearing.
I had my monitors done with 64 Audio. Brilliant company. In any case - I lost a bunch of weight and as it turns out, the ear canal is also affected. Things you learn. I'll have to do another set of impressions and send my monitors out for a refit.
It's really cool that you put out this video today given that tinnitus is in the news today because of the inquiry into Craig Gill's death - the drummer from the Inspiral Carpets. He was suffering from very bad tinnitus. I have a writer friend who's very successful these days but it's a real fight for him coping with the condition. He used to write in a coffee shop as the background noise masked it. I don't envy him
I'm a huge proponent of always having IEMs. You can set up a really good travel monitor rack and then not have to worry about it. Set up an X32 Rack with wireless packs of your choice and you're home free. You can set your own mix from your phone and it all fits in a really small rack case. 10/10 would recommend.
There are some of us with some mild hearing loss but (mercifully) without tinnitus but struggle in some situations. For instance you're in a restaurant and have difficulty hearing conversation, even if someone is only 18" away. The ambient noise eclipses the vocal frequencies making it hard to understand someone talking. This type of ear plug with mild db attenuation will help you hear detail better. While not in the UK, LA or NY I purchased a set of the Etymotic molded ear plugs and I keep them with me (in a small belt pouch) wherever I go. I started with -25db, and for general (even music) purposes that was too much attenuation. I now have -15db filters which is better. But for conversations and general use I think I'd even prefer -7 or -10db. With the audiologist fee included they cost $250USD. After a few minutes of wearing them you forget you have ear plugs in. Everything sounds normal, just softer. They do a great job of filtering ambient noise. The only downside (for me) is when I'm eating. While chewing I can hear the sounds of my jaw and can barely hear anything else at that moment. So I have to stop chewing for a moment is someone is trying to say something to me.
Also as a side benefit, I would say I am a poor singer. Part of the reason is that I have difficulty hearing my own voice. With the ear plugs in, I can hear the sound vibrations of my voice in my head and I'm told that my singing improves dramatically.
As a musician I've been wearing cheap drug store ear plugs for years and I think has saved most of my hearing. But the custom molded ones are a league apart from the cheapies. But if you're in front of loud speakers, plugs are a must.
ACS moulded ear plugs were a life changer for me! Very comfortable and can hear everything so clearly, just at a lower volume :)
MikeHarrison888 did you need an appointment for the impression?
Atomic Lag Got mine done at Boots... if you're in the UK
MikeHarrison888 not in the UK, but did you have to make an appointment? I'm going to get it done soon
I have had bad Tinnitus in my left ear for 30 years due to not wearing ear protection when I was a touring drummer. I know the exact day it happened too. Our onstage sound guy (stage wedges back then) had set up all our monitor mixes during production rehearsals and the idea was that these levels would never be touched. He used to track the other guys in the band as they moved around the stage and for some reason one night he decided that I would like to hear more of the guitarist. Of course the inevitable happened and as the guitarist approached me the volume increased in my wedges but so did the feedback - I was treated to a stupidly loud high pitched squealing noise on my left hand side for about 30secs (we were mid song so I couldn't duck or run). I came off stage that night to find that my balance had gone and the whole World was in mono. After a few days things reverted to stereo, the on stage monitor sound man was fired, but the ringing in my left ear never went away. I can hear it now over traffic and general every day living but in a silent room at night it is almost unbearable. I do feel better by the ocean as the background sibilance seems to cancel it out.
Look after your ears ... Tinnitus is (for the moment) incurable and it is not fun.
Please take the advice given in this video. I have tinnitus, it's depressing, irritating and it never goes away. Well done Rabea for highlighting this.
Brilliant video, been meaning to invest in decent ear protection for a few years now and this had all the info I needed. Cheers!
I dammaged my hearing when checkin a loud amplifier in a small room.
since then I have had a ring in my ear for years.
now the ringing stoped, but it can come back whan close to loud noise.
(more over I can't dive no more.)
thanks for the video, it was useful.
Very informative, thanks Rabea and Jona.
Great video! Very informative! Thank you for posting.
Great video! This is some comprehensive content. Well done.
Bea, you should talk to ACS and see if they can keep hold of your ear impression or you could ask them to send it along with the ear plugs so you can bypass the ear mould stage in case of loss! Also I'd make more than one pair.
In my experience ear protection helps a little but there's frequencies in the low end that you still get the full amplitude anyway. The best thing you can do is turn down the volume, mute the drums or play in a band without drums ideally, or play the electronic drums.
I had a job 25 years ago where I was around loud machinery. I always wore my hearing protection and I always had my crew wear them as well. However, it wasn't enough to protect my hearing. I have much of the same hearing loss that Jono described.
It's worth it to get GOOD hearing protection.
ACS plugs are great. Been using them for about four years now.
I've got constant tinnitus in both ears- and now often high pitched screeches a few times a week since having a nasty Motorbike crash last year where I smashed my head into someones lovely wheel arch followed by concrete at 50mph- and never really thought about hearing damage or the effects of it till now- my eardrums are fucked and I get really dizzy So cheers for this Bea! Didnt know this existed!
When I was really young I had a terrible ear infection which really fucked up my hearing, but then when I was 14 the injury to my ears healed really really quickly all in one go and now I have CRAZY sensitive ears. My tinnitus seems to have gone away though thankfully. Please wear earplugs people!
Sure wish this tech was around back in the 70s, 80s...being a hard rocker back then has caused me significant hearing loss in my left ear..(guitarist always on the right side of the stage)..Very important to be protected in rehearsals as well as live stage..audience participants too. Thanks for bringing out this important topic.