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I have been researching ear protection lately. The cheap plugs do a great job protecting you, and are quite comfortable, but badly distort the sound. For me, wearing them to a loud concert defeats the purpose of going, since they make the music sound so bad.

I just bought a pair of the "Sonic II" earplugs, which cost about $13 in Seattle -- I have not used them live yet, but in tests on my stereo they do a much better job of preserving the sound quality. However they do not feel very comfortable, I am not convinced I will be able to keep them in for hours at a time.

The ultimate solution is having an audiologist custom-fit a pair of musician's earplugs. This runs about $100 to $150.

There is some good information on the web at HEARNET (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) at http://www.hearnet.com/, but note that this site is sponsored by the company that makes the high-end plugs.

I also just found the following article at http://www.locationsound.com/psreport2/hearing2.html It is part 2 of a three part series. You can find the other two parts at the URL above...

Tinnitus FAQ (10/98)

Protect your hearing + http://www.earsurgery.org/tympan.html

Production Sound Report - Summer 1996

How's Your Hearing?

                                                           by Dick Topham, President
(This article is the second in a three part series covering hearing damage.)
According to an article by Leigh Silverman originally appearing in the January 1989 issue of Audio Magazine, "With over 125 types of hearing protectors in the market today, it's not difficult to find one to suit your individual requirements. Hearing-protection devices (HPDs) come in many shapes and sizes, and you will need to experiment, through trial and error, in order to find one that offers the optimum comfort and protection.

"There are three different types of HPDs. Earplugs are inserted directly into the ear canal and come in various types of material, including foam, rubber, wax, plastic, and fine mineral fiber. Earmuffs are worn over the head, with a cup over each ear. Canal caps are held against the outer ear by a headband. Earmuffs and plugs both provide high attenuation, but most musicians and recordists choose earplugs for their combination of convenience, cosmetics, and comfort.

"The most important thing to remember when trying various earplugs is to find a brand that will provide a tight seal. As Elliott H. Berger of E.A.R. Division has pointed out, sound can easily pass by a loosely fitting plug, lowering attenuation by 5 to 15 dB. A well-fitting plug will reduce the sound pressure level anywhere from 20 to 35 dB. All HPD manufacturers supply Noise-Reduction Ratings (NRRs), indicating their product's effectiveness. Always read the accompanying instructions in order to get the proper fit and to ensure maximum attenuation. Foam plugs, such as the E-A-R or Husher brands, provide a comfortable fit and high protection, and can be purchased at any drugstore. They're not messy, like wax inserts, and mold to any ear canal. Rubber plugs — such as the Sonic II, manufactured by North Co. — can be used regularly. Although these don't offer the comfort of E-A-R plugs, they have a built-in diaphragm which slightly reduces the muffled effect often associated with hearing protectors. Richard Sanders, manager of the bands White Lion and Overkill, finds that Sonic II earplugs help him endure what he terms "painful" rehearsals. Custom-made ear molds provide less attenuation (usually 15 dB), but since they are designed specially for your ear and therefore can provide maximum comfort. While no plug can deter sound from entering your inner ear via skull bone or tissue, custom ear molds are designed so that the plug does not vibrate within the ear canal, thereby transmitting the vibrations to the cochlea.

"Though not cosmetically suitable for performing musicians, earmuffs are often used by roadies and sound engineers. Rich Breen, head recording engineer for Manowar, notes that the group always carries aircraft protectors with them. "They're the only band that gave me a pair of hearing muffs in the studio," he says. Earmuffs don't provide much low-frequency protection, but they work better than earplugs in the range around 1 kHz. During rehearsals, they also provide an excellent alternative for people who are unable to wear earplugs due to excessive wax buildup. It should be noted that, for maximum attenuation (up to 40 dB), a combination of earplugs and earmuffs can be used. However, the attenuation achieved by both devices worn simultaneously does not equal the sum of the attenuation of each device when worn individually.

"Canal caps should not be used as a substitute for earplugs or earmuffs because they provide minimum protection and comfort. However, for someone exposed only intermittently to high noise levels, they can be easily worn around the neck and don't have to be inserted into the ear canal.

"In addition to lessening the intensity of sound waves entering your inner ear, HPDs can also help you discriminate sounds better in noise environments exceeding 85 dB. The ear, like an amplifier, goes into a distortion mode at high levels. This phenomenon is called clipping. An HPD reduces the sound level so that the ear can function adequately. According to Dr. Gordon of H.E.A.R., "Just as an amp can clip at high output levels, the transducers in your inner ear can also distort by having the input energy at too high a level. By putting earplugs between the inner ear and the sound source, you can avoid that clipping." HPDs also cut fatigue, allowing musicians and recordists to work for longer periods.

"One complaint often heard from rock musicians is that HPDs make them feel as though their head were in a barrel. This condition is called the occlusion effect. When the ear canal is blocked, sounds conducted through the skull are more easily heard, causing the HPD-wearer's voice to resonate inside his head. Inserting an earplug deeply into the ear canal diminishes this muffling sensation, but no earplug can completely skirt the occlusion effect. As Dr. George Haspiel says, "The more stuffed up you feel, the better job the plug is doing." Elliott H. Berger, however, adds that inserting a plug more deeply will offer increased protection as well as diminished occlusion. Members of Manowar avoid the sensation of stuffiness by wearing one earplug, alternating ears daily.

"Some recent developments have been made in HPDs to reduce occlusion. Etymotic Research has designed an earplug called the ER-15, which attenuates at low frequencies as much as it does at high frequencies. This custom-fit ear mold blocks out 15 dB, and it can provide the listener with clearer, more balanced reception. It is recommended by the manufacturer for "the person whose hearing is not really at risk, but who would prefer to hear without discomfort at amplified music concerts." Another recent development is now available from Sensaphonics. This custom earplug has a flat response (attenuation is constant at all frequencies), knocks out 23 dB, and has a built-in valve that allows for ventilation within the ear canal. Dr. Santucci notes that all custom earplugs shrink and need to be replaced every 10 to 12 months.

"But hearing conservation goes beyond earplugs and earmuffs. It is an attitude, and an awareness. Dr. Santucci recommends that anyone exposed to loud music on a regular basis take precautions. First, educate yourself as to the possible dangers. Next, measure your sound environment with respect to loudness, duration, and proximity to the sound source. Reduce your exposure by wearing personal ear protectors and by taking longer breaks between loud playing or listening sessions. (Studio engineers and musicians should use headsets which have independent volume controls.) Also, have annual or semiannual hearing checkups for air-conducted and bone-conducted sound, speech understanding, and proper functioning of the middle ear and Eustachian tube. These checkups will help ensure the effectiveness of your program and will monitor any hearing problems unrelated to loud sounds. Finally, use common sense. As bassist Jay Morse advised, "Anyone who goes to dance clubs, rehearsals, or concerts should listen to their ears. If things sound too loud — they are." End of quoted article.

Foam plugs or earmuffs are fine for non-critical monitoring if they provide between 25 and 30 dB attenuation. With both plugs and earmuffs, the attenuation goes up to 41 dB. In post production when mixing effects, use foam plugs rated 25 to 31 dB for dialog, or for music use those rated 15 or 25 dB. ER plugs are custom molded to your ear and can be acquired from most hearing aide dispensers. The initial cost is around $100 for making the mold and one filter set. A second filter set will run about $45.

Many live sound (concert) participants now use ER 15s or ER 25s during set up and only remove them temporarily for "sound check." It should go without saying that in all venues such as music video production and commercials, ear protection should be used. Certain live concert performances can also be hazardous to the ears, especially when you are positioned close to speakers.

OSHA has developed recommended sound level criteria based on Dr. Aram Glorig's research conducted at the House Ear Institute. Unfortunately, these guidelines are not always followed because they lack specific attention to music or other dynamic media sources of sound. OSHA addresses ambient workplace SPLs for time periods of 15 minutes to 8 hour duration's. Figures given are for daily exposures per working day over a 40 year working life.

Table with OSHA sound level criteria

 Daily        Sound
 Duration in  Level, dBA
 Hours     SPL
 8            90
 6            92
 4            95
 3            97
 2            100
 1.5         102
 1            105
 .5           110
 .25         115

Information taken from Audio Magazine, January 1989. In 1990, I met with Dr. William F. House and Dr. Glorig in order to obtain their evaluation of experiments and tests that I had done by Dr. Gary Sokolich relating to SPLs delivered via headphones that would not cause hearing damage in people with normal, healthy hearing. Dr. Glorig agreed with our findings which stated that 106 dB should not be exceeded when using headphones continuously for periods of up to one hour. I recently read an article in "Mix" magazine which very convincingly stresses the need to protect our hearing. In summary, the article states that while hearing loss can be the result of a physical disorder, and resistance to hearing damage does vary from person to person, such loss most often results from exposure to high level impulse waveforms or sustained high level sound.

DJEMBE-L FAQ Hearing, vol. 13b  (last revision 06/01/08)