The One Hearing Protection: Guaranteed Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Prevention

Often, dentists receive physical consequences from their own practices. In addition to minor hand injuries and torn muscles from operating on teeth, dentists experience continuous exposure to unhealthily loud noises. The sources of the noise they experience originate from the tools they work with and the environment they work in on a daily basis. Tools like the hand-pieces dentists use generate a lot of noise. With continued exposure, dentists risk hearing loss. The number of dental professionals who have noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus grows every year. There is a solution to this: The One dental earplug.

Tinnitus In Dentists

The One is a customized earplug designed specifically for dentists. These earplugs prevent exposure of the ear to excessive noise from both the machines and the natural environment of dentistry operations. The One functions with two filters. There is the primary filter on the outside and the secondary filter in the inside. The primary filter filters general noise from the environment and machines. The secondary filter filters the unwanted noise.

Importance of Using The One Dental Earplug

The major difference between The One dental earplug and any other form of filtered or vented earplug is that our earplug allows for a specific limit of noise exposure. The two filters work simultaneously, thereby controlling the type of noise that ends up in the inner ear.

The secondary filter ensures only the natural voices access the inner ear. Additionally, it only allows up to 85 dB of sound. This implies that only the allowed noise pressure can penetrate the earplug. As for The One dental earplug, the allowed noise includes natural sounds such as of the patient and the surgery crew. This earplug pinches off sound pressure that can damage the sensitive inner ear sensory hairs.

Also, the dental earplug regulates the intensity of the noise that reaches the inner ear. This standardized feature does not discriminate between noise sources. Therefore, even if the noise comes from the natural source, the secondary filter will filter it out. For instance, the earplug cancels noise from the turbines of high pitched hand drills that would otherwise dose the dental professional with noise pressures exceeding 85 decibels. On the other hand, the earplug allows any other natural sound with pressure below 85 decibels into the eardrum. 

Tinnitus In Dentists, a risk associated with loud noise exposure

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5 out of 10 retired dentists experience tinnitus. In the same study, the CDC discovered that only a third of the people suffering from tinnitus seek medical assistance, which can prove quite expensive. With this already expensive medication, only two out of five tinnitus patients successfully recover using this medication while the rest remain in an irreversible state.

Patients with tinnitus hear a constant ringing that is not experienced by others. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. Tinnitus prevention using our earplugs is much cheaper and much more successful.

How Tinnitus In Dentists develops

Several factors cause tinnitus in dentists. However, the major cause is prolonged exposure to of the ear to sound that exceeds 85 dB. This exposure leads to inner ear hair cell damage. Exposing an ear to high-intensity sound causes the delicate inner ear hairs to move in the direction of the sound waves. This triggers the ear cells to produce an electrical signal through the auditory nerve to the brain. The signals sent to the brain translate the waves into sound. In cases where the inner hairs in the inner ear break or bend, the result is a random electrical signal sent to the brain that results in the vast array of sounds that individuals with tinnitus hear.

Tinnitus In Dentists symptoms

The main symptom of tinnitus is the hearing of imaginary sounds not actually present in the environment. Some of the phantom noises associated with tinnitus include the following:

    • A ringing sound, which may become louder or lighter with time.
    • A frequent buzzing sound 
  • A roaring sound.
  • A hissing sound

These sounds may occur in one or both ears. In some cases, the noise may become so loud that it interferes with a person’s concentration. The sound may be irritating, hindering afflicted people from hearing actual sounds in their environment.

Causes of Tinnitus In Dentists

  • Exposure to loud noise

Noisy equipment such as dentists’ hand-pieces can cause tinnitus. Such equipment produces excess levels of noise to the ear. Continuous use of the same equipment by the same dentist without adequate hearing protection puts them in greater danger of developing tinnitus. 

Other causes

  • Age-related causes

As a person ages, they become vulnerable to presbycusis. Such a condition occurs when a person nears the age of 60. The more a person exposes themselves to damaging sounds, the more that person experiences ear damage and a higher potential of developing tinnitus. 

  • Earwax blockage

Earwax protects the ear canal by trapping dirt and other foreign substances, preventing them from entering the inner ear. Ear Wax also prevents bacterial development in the ear. However, when earwax over-accumulates in the ear canal, it may cause ear loss or irritation in the ear canal, which can cause tinnitus. 

Tinnitus causes for dentists

Several scientists have hypothesized different possible causes of tinnitus. Some relate tinnitus to head injuries, acoustic neuroma, blood vessel disorders, and medications like antibiotics and aspirin. In all their arguments, scientists appreciate that the major legitimate cause of tinnitus in dentists is exposure to noise. 

The nature of the working environments of dentists ensures that they cannot avoid exposure to noise without leaving their office. They continuously expose their ears to excessive noise from the equipment they use and in their normal exposure to sounds in their environment. The materials in their laboratories produce a high volume of noise. When exposed to this noise for long periods of time, tinnitus may be triggered, hindering dentists’ performance.

Complications that come with tinnitus

Tinnitus affects every person differently. According to research by the Department of Health and Human Services, a person suffering from tinnitus may experience the following complications:

a. Fatigue

People with tinnitus experience frequent fatigue and may feel unmotivated to complete even the slightest of household chores.

b. Stress can develop from the worry caused by tinnitus. Continued stress will develop into depression. 

c. Sleeping problems

d. Difficulty concentrating

e. Irritability

f. Depression 

General tinnitus preventive measures
  •  Long-term exposure to loud music through headphones can increase an individual’s chances of developing tinnitus. For music listeners, reducing music volume may help reduce chances of tinnitus. However, this preventive measure fails to apply to dentists. They cannot turn down the volume of noise produced by their machines. But they can reduce exposure to noises outside their offices through strict dedication to protecting their hearing. This includes limiting their exposure to sounds that are within their control.
  • Tinnitus can be prevented by routinely taking care of cardiovascular health. Prevention of blood disorder-linked tinnitus achievable through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
  • Dental professionals who have hobbies that are loud, like motorcycle-riding, listening to loud music or spending hours outdoors may find themselves at greater risk. Limiting exposure to sounds over 85 decibels while partaking in these hobbies will reduce the risk dentists being dosed by dangerous decibels outside of the office.

Protecting yourself as a dental professional may seem like a lot of work. It is, however, protection can ensure that you continue working into your golden years. It is imperative that you develop an individualized hearing conservation solution that works for you, whether that includes wearing hearing protection in and outside the office, or if you prefer to wear hearing protection in the office and monitor exposure to sound during recreational activities.

As a last reminder, both to dentists and all people, we leave you with this: tinnitus is permanent until death. Once you develop tinnitus, you cannot repair it. So act accordingly. And choose the best hearing protection.

Hearing Protection In The Movie Theater: Is It Necessary?

The loudest film I’ve ever seen in theaters was an ultra-high-definition IMAX screening of Dunkirk, in 2017, in Columbia, South Carolina. I remember this exact experience because I vividly remember not bringing earplugs. This was a massive mistake and one I believe that I am still paying for to this day. If you are unfamiliar with the film, it begins in an almost surreal environment: paper (tossed from off-screen by Christopher Nolan) is falling from the sky. A young man, Tommy, and his squad are wandering the streets of the town of Dunkirk. At this point in the film, gunshots erupted.

I knew that I had two choices. I could immediately leave the theater, or find some form of hearing protection. This was serious. When the enemy forces dropped a bomb on the Allies, my ears began to physically ache. Something was wrong with my ears. Being in the hearing protection business, I knew that I had made a mistake.

Hearing Protection In The Movie Theatre

Dunkirk was the loudest film of 2017. I wasn’t the only one to voice my pain. Click here to read about others’ experiences.

Eventually, the bombing runs ceased. As I ducked alongside the soldiers, I pulled out a dosimeter app on my iPhone. I understand that there are varying degrees of accuracy with the dosimeter apps. However, studies show that the apps’ measurements differ from calibrated dosimeters’ by less than +1. I found that the output of the theater’s sound system was incredibly worrying. As I looked around me at the nearly full theater, my heart sunk.

The volume raised to nearly 100 decibels during a later bombing run. Hearing damage occurs after 15 minutes of exposure to 100 decibels. Dunkirk is an hour and forty-six minutes long. Over half of the movie involves explosives or machine guns.

I was extremely fortunate in that my brother had brought an extra pair of generic earbuds with him. I crammed these into my ears for the duration of the movie. When the movie alluded to gunfire or a bomb drop, I cupped my ears and slouched in my seat to escape the assault. After the film was over, I knew that I had done something terrible to my ears. For the remainder of the evening, I felt exhausted. I felt like I was hearing through a tunnel.

I had been dosed with damaging decibels. My job is to protect people from getting dosed. And that’s why I’m telling this story: not too dissuade you from going to the movies or enjoying your favorite visual artists. I am recommending that, if and when you attend a showing, you prepare as you would a concert or live event. Bring a pair of earplugs or a handful to pass out. There are damaging decibels everywhere and they will, if not accounted for, cause irreparable hearing damage.

I watched Dunkirk over a year ago. However, I have recently had an incredible experience in a theatre with hearing protection. When you put in a pair of Hearing Protection In The Movie Theatre, the noise around you is muffled which can for many people cause immediate discomfort and take you out of the story that is being portrayed on screen.

Hearing Protection In The Movie Theatre

The One By Big Ear, the worlds first two-part filter system designed to keep damaging decibels out and the noise you need to hear in when you ride. Custom made for each individual’s ears, “The One provides the user with comfort and protection while they ride.

The Solution: What Hearing Protection to Wear in the Theater

There is a solution to this problem. Recently we attended a showing of Venom in Ultra HD Imax, and it was loud! Nearly as loud as Dunkirk with the explosions car crashes and over the top spectacle of alien vs. alien fights. However, this time, I was prepared. I wore a pair of our filtered earplugs called the One I chose a 9-decibel purple filter option and sat through the film. I could hear every line, every movement every person laughing and better, yet I did not feel taken out of my environment.


Hearing Protection In The Movie Theatre

Films are becoming too loud, and you can do something about it.

After the film concluded, I exited the theatre, and I had no issues, no ringing, no pressure in my head, and it did not feel like I was listening to the world through a tunnel. I will from this point on wear my Big Ear hearing protection to every film I attend, and I believe that those who frequent films and live performances should be required by a governing body to wear hearing protection including harsh penalties on those who subject children to damaging decibels without protection.

My recommendation for those reading this is simple, during your next film experience, during the previews (Please do not turn your phone on during the movie) Download a dosimeter and get a reading on the levels in the theatre and send a screenshot of it to us with what movie you saw in the message. If you do this, we will give you a discounted rate on a pair of our filtered hearing protection. It is our mission to eradicate noise-induced hearing loss; however, we cannot do it alone. It takes brave women and men working together to rid the world of this completely avoidable disease. We need to wear Hearing Protection In The Movie Theatre when it’s too loud.

How to find the right hearing protection

Custom Earplugs for Motorcycle Riders

Custom Earplugs for Motorcycle Riders is one of the most often overlooked safety equipment that one can own. It will protect your hearing for life.

Before you get your motor running and get out on the highway, you gear up: boots, gloves, helmet, plus whatever other gear you wear to be safe and comfortable. What are you missing? If you missed earplugs, it’s time to ask yourself why. Earplugs are the safety gear that most of us miss because we’re not aware of their importance or we’ve been misinformed. You want to make sure that your hearing isn’t permanently damaged while you’re on the road to adventure. Tinnitus in motorcycle riders is one of the ways your hearing will suffer if the record isn’t set straight.

When wearing a helmet, an important piece of safety gear, it’s easy to feel a false sense of security where your hearing is concerned. In reality, all of that air rushing into the openings between the helmet and your head creates turbulence that finds its way into your ears. Wearing a helmet alone won’t block sound waves from entering the ear canal and causing damage.

By using earplugs when riding your motorcycle, you are plugging your ears effectively and preventing low-frequency sound pressure from the wind from causing irreparable damage to your hearing. Not only is your hearing protected from wind noise by using some type of hearing protection while riding, but wearing earplugs will also help diminish the effects of the sound of the motorcycle itself.

Many bikes are more than capable of exceeding 85-decibels, a level that is higher than the recommended threshold at which The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) advises for using hearing protection. When you factor in the wind and road noise of more than 110dB you have a deadly cocktail for your hearing. Once it’s damaged, it is damaged for good.

Choosing the best earplugs for motorcycle riding is a matter of personal choice and comfort. You can approach your search for the best earplug by researching then testing different varieties of earplugs. Regular store-bought earplugs, like the type used by construction workers, are an excellent place to start if you’re not yet convinced that custom earplugs for motorcycle riders are worth the investment.

There are many one-size-fits-all earplugs to try in your search to understand the benefits of wearing hearing protection. Many different sizes, shapes, and colors are available, and they’re meant to be comfortable, but nothing works like a personalized custom set.

You won’t be sacrificing the feeling of freedom you love while protecting yourself from permanent hearing damage. Tinnitus in motorcycle riders is a real, and avoidable, result of hearing damage.

Once you’ve experimented with one-size-fits-all earplugs and discovered what’s worked best for you – or not – it may be time to step up to a customized option. Custom earplugs for motorcycle riders are available.

They offer a rider consistent noise reduction and no pressure while wearing a helmet. These earplugs, for example, don’t move out of place when the helmet moves up and down.

custom earplugs for motorcycle riders

Intra-helmet speakers provide the option of having noise reduction first with the ability to still hear your communication or music. For the tech-savvy among us, custom motorcycle earplugs are also available as a custom-molded, wireless Bluetooth unit.

Taking steps to protect your hearing is as easy and as comfortable as getting into the habit of wearing earplugs each and every time you gear up. If you don’t and you do lose your hearing over time, you may no longer be eligible for your motorcycle license. That’s a risk to your freedom that you can prevent.

Being badass on your motorcycle is an important part of your life. So is your hearing. Before you hit the road, you know to take the important and necessary steps to protect your entire body – including your ears.

How to find the best earplugs for you.

Best Earplugs and how to choose in 2019. What are the facts?

Google is the king of the world…the ability to learn information has never been easier, and that ability has allowed us as a species to learn and learn and learn…You get the point you’ve seen blog posts evangelizing the internet all over. But there is a caveat to my love of the internet, and that is the ease of which someone can put information into the world and become an authority on a subject, rank number one and not truly have very much personal experience in a certain subject.

In the case of what we do, which is hearing protection, there is a lot of these non-expert experts owning the space because like crusaders, they were first to land and claim the plot as theirs. We have made it our mission as of a year and a half ago to start talking.

We’ve spent the last 15 years delivering great products to our customers that work and spreading the message of hearing conservation to all walks of life — and doing the walking ourselves before we claim to be experts in our field.  In this post, we will from experience offer suggestions that if applied by whoever’s reading this will allow you to find the right hearing protection for your individual lifestyle. And that right there is where I want to begin.



  1. There is no “best” there is only what works for you. That’s what determines the best hearing protection…its the one that you wear that works. Not the other way around.. someone who claims to have found the best earplugs does not know what you do in your life, only you know that. You can refer to experts(Including us here at Big Ear), but you have to understand what you are trying to accomplish. Are you looking for something that will only filter the sound? Or are you looking for hearing protection that will eliminate the sound and muffle massive decibels because of where you work? Or maybe you are looking for something that will allow you to listen to your music and provide hearing protection. So part one of this read is to go look in the mirror and ask yourself, “What am I looking for?”
  2. Part two is to try absolutely everything! The best approach that we’ve seen is the individual who applies the scientific method and seeks all manner of earplugs(Starting with the cheapest foamies) and working their way up the ladder to triple flange earplugs then wax earplugs then to heat and mold and finally to custom hearing protection if they still haven’t found something that works for them. I can state that custom earplugs are the best but who the heck am I to tell you that unless you’ve tried everything and you’ve seen for yourself because something else might be the best for you.
  3. Part 3 is to put the hearing protection to use for an extended period of time. You’ve gotta really put all kinds of hearing protection through their paces. Some are great in certain environments but too much in others, some are comfortable for short periods of time but suck after a few hours and others work great. Some may claim to work, but as we’ve seen recently, major corporations can supply faulty hearing protection.
  4. And that takes us to part 4 you have to understand the decibels you are facing. There are products that claim certain dB reductions, but if you are wearing a single filter reduction filter that takes down 20 decibels with no non-linear filter and you’re standing in a 120 dB environment, you are still being fully dosed at 100 dB. So understanding the output, you need an earplug to provide you with is crucial to your protection.
  5. And that leads us to Part 5 you have to educate yourself on hearing damage and hearing loss. Whether it’s from our website or all over the web, you have to understand how the human body interacts with decibels and what’s the exposure levels and time you face on a daily basis. Only then can you start searching for the Best Earplugs and how to choose in 2019 and what are the facts out there…but that’s why Google is so wonderful.

I have faith that you will be able to find the right product for your life, but if you are having difficulty, we are here to help. We don’t just want to sell you our products (Although we won’t push you away) It is our goal to help the individuals who turn to our company find what they are looking for no matter what. We travel the world attending trade shows sparking conversations in order to gain insight on who uses what products and why. At these events, we put our ear to the ground (Pun Intended) to figure out what people are looking for and how to deliver that product the best we can.

How to choose the best earplugs for you.

Fire Cracker Ear Plugs

Fire Cracker Ear Plugs – noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by fireworks.

Fireworks are an exciting visual expression of celebration. All over the world, fireworks are used to honor the events that matter most to nations, to communities, to individuals. It’s a treat to enjoy the show that a professional or backyard pyrotechnician has worked long and hard to entertain us with.

The stunning visual show, though, comes with the danger of the sound output from the chemical reactions in the fireworks. Just like we can’t have lightning without thunder, we can’t have the colors of the fireworks without the blast after the fuse is lit.

Fire Cracker Ear Plugs noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by fireworks.

When we think of the hazards or dangers of fireworks, the first group we think to protect is our pets. We know to make sure our companion animals are safely stowed at home on those special occasions when pyrotechnics are involved. We don’t immediately think to protect our hearing from the danger of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by fireworks displays.

What are the Dangers?

At 140-160 dBA (A-weighted decibels), fireworks register as the highest decibel rated activities on the scale provided on the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ (NIDCD) website.

The World Health Organization reports the sound output from fireworks at 150-175 dB. Regardless of which resource you access, it’s clear that the sound produced from fireworks exceeds the recommended noise exposure of 140 dB for adults and 120 dB for children; infants should not be exposed to fireworks at all.

Exposure to fireworks without taking proper precautions can result in tinnitus; temporary or permanent hearing loss; and, rarely, in eardrum perforation. Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by fireworks are preventable.

Wearing Fire Cracker Ear Plugs AND Protect Your Hearing?

The first line of defense is to see the show at a safe distance from where the fireworks are being set off. From 500 feet, you can see the show and not worry about the impact on your hearing from exposure to the sound pressure from the small explosions of each firework being lit.

If you’re after a better vantage point, earplugs and noise-reducing headphones are great options for reducing the effects of the intense blasts on your hearing. If you don’t have your own custom earplugs or you only need a pair for one fireworks show, foam or wax earplugs will still provide good protection. Using headphones is a better alternative to earplugs for children because earplugs may be too big to fit their smaller ear canals. Of course, if you have an infant, the best option is to sacrifice that prime seat until they’re a little older.

If you’re a backyard pyrotechnician putting on a display for family and friends, quieter fireworks are available. Fireworks providers can educate you on which fireworks are amazing to watch without the hazard of a loud bang with each detonation. This doesn’t mean that the quieter fireworks are completely silent: the crackles and whistles of these fireworks may not create the boom that we automatically imagine and remember, but they still create a sound that we need to protect our hearing from.

Getting The right Fire Cracker Hearing Protection

Regardless of which fireworks you choose to dazzle your audience with, as the person closest to the action, you should definitely set the example for your audience and protect your hearing using earplugs or noise-reducing headphones.

Fireworks are the exclamation point at the end of a long and exciting day of celebration. You’ve protected yourself with sunscreen throughout the day against burning, worn a lifejacket on the boat in case you fall in and forget how to swim, kept your baseball cap or straw hat on to protect against sunstroke.

As the sun goes down and the show’s about to start, it’s time to put in your Fire Cracker Ear Plugs or pop on your headphones to prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by fireworks.


How To choose the right hearing protection



Noise-Induced Hearing Loss At The Gym

Who would have ever thought that while you are at the gym exercising getting healthy and really working hard that you are causing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss at the Gym and a simple set of custom ear plugs is the solution?

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss at the gym custom ear plugs










It’s July and your New Year’s resolution is wearing thin. You promised you would go to the gym more, and you know that those cupcakes keep calling your name every time you walk into the supermarket, but your gut is telling you to skip it and hit the elliptical for another hour and a half confused gazelle stride session. (But does the elliptical work? Or is it a giant awkward excuse to just not run on the treadmill) However you forego the cupcake, slap on your perma-wrinkled running shirt and shorts and the same pair of sneakers that every reformed runner has that beckons sadly underneath the boxes in your closest, and you get your cupcake binging self to the gym.

After shamelessly walking through the front door avoiding contact with every other member in the place(Especially the trainers) you find your way to the cardio section where lo and behold every single piece of cardio equipment is taken by working moms and middle-aged men looking to tighten up for this year’s vacation to Nassau. But hope fills your heart when you see that one treadmill is available, its beckoning light calls to you. You beeline for it and decide to dump your gear around you and worry about putting it in the locker room whenever who cares you made it this far.

On arrival, your gut drops, its the treadmill from 1984, the one that hitches with each step and halts like an ill-working belt sander whenever you apply too much foot pressure. You let out a sigh, undaunted you step aboard and begin your run. 3 minutes pass and you are feeling fleet of foot, and the near-death experience of nearly face planting due to sticky treadmill foot has passed, and you begin to ease into your workout.

Then without warning the guy that you swear was in jersey shore shark attack drops his last deadlift with Arnolds signature York barbell and you swear you have just transported into a sheet metal punching facility. Looking over your mind forgets that you are running on Laffy Taffy and you step too hard which leads to you learning about your superhuman reflects as you grasp out for the handles to gain your balance back, your legs kick out to the side. With the warped turd of a treadmill still galloping along under you at a brisk 7.5, you look over at Tony or Scott or chad (It’s always Chad) as he mounts the squat rack with four screaming metal plates.

An hour and a half later you finish your workout on the middle-age, man sweat-stained treadmill that you gave a thorough wipedown. And with one more slam from Chad’s barbell, he concludes giving you a wink and a smile as he jumps over the front desk of the weight room and unplugs his iPod nano that cuts off Five Finger Death Punch maxing out the gyms speaker systems. You head out to your car exhausted but fulfilled, and besides Chad’s offensive presence you feel fulfilled.

You get in your car which has become a small sanctuary on wheels, shut the door and sit for a second in the dark as the interior light slowly burns out. Something is odd; however, in the complete silence of your vehicle, your ears are ringing. And whether you know it or not you have been dosed by potentially dangerous decibels for the last hour and a half.

Within frequent gym visitors, this is a scenario that although humorous in its explanation is sadly very common and is an example of how your local gym can cause you Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and happens to men and women every day at gyms around the world. (Article)

We have talked with many gym owners and they express that it’s all part of the experience and without the loud intensity that it would not be the same experience.

So what does it come down to, (you), it’s the same you that is getting in shape that has to be responsible to prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss at the gym and other places in your life.

You need to do some research and find the best custom ear plugs for you.

How to choose the right custom ear plug

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss at the gym custom ear plugs

(The One®) Select Series is the second tier selection in our M.E.T series. Furthering the idea of the standard set we wanted to give you as more choices to protect yourself.














Who need earplugs?

Who Should Wear Ear Plugs?

The politically correct answer is everybody, but in reality, we understand that not everyone has the tolerance to Wear Ear Plugs or in-ear music devices and we are okay with that.

For those who are active users of earplugs or are considering using them, the best way to convey the serious nature of protecting your ears is paramount.

If you ride motorcycles, work in loud environments, are a frequent concert goer, perform in a band, shoot weapons, or a myriad of other lifestyle choices, you can only benefit by wearing a form of hearing protection while you partake in any of these activities.

But the question arises, “Why should I wear ear plugs?”

The answer is not always straightforward.

If you analyze what we are as a species and how our thought processes work you can enlighten yourself on why so many of us suffer from fully preventable damage to our ears.

The disconnect in our perception of hearing damage

From our distant ancestors up to our current forms, we naturally understand immediacy and it is in our nature to understand that things such as broken bones, cuts and other forms of degradation that produce the immediate result of blood, pain, or death.

These experiences are in our brains translate into lessons learned and ultimately changed habits that reduce the risk of having those negative consequences happen again. However, we are not always the most responsible with factors that contribute to the long-term degradation of our bodies and do not register immediately.

How Hearing Damage Occurs

Hearing damage, and the consequences that arise from a lifetime of poor hearing protection arise just like the habits that lead to cardiovascular disease, obesity or fatty livers.

The damage comes from a lack of attention and either inaction on the part of the individual even after receiving warnings or due in part to total ignorance of the consequences of one’s actions.

As in every aspect of human life, we must take hold of our habits and build positive habits into our lifestyles. Just being on this site and reading these words is the first step, what follows is up to you whether you choose to make hearing conservation a consistent part of your life or not lies in your hands.

Who Should Not Wear Ear Plugs?

As much as we would love to say that custom earplugs are for everybody, the truth is they are not.

We are constantly faced with individuals who cannot wear earplugs due to sensitivity in the ear or just simply do not want to have anything in their ears while living their lives and taking part in activities that cause hearing damage and we understand.

From experience, we find that our most fulfilled customers are those who do their research and take the time to educate themselves on hearing conservation and make the decision to purchase a set of earplugs or stereo earplugs based on their findings.

On the flip side, we find that our most dissatisfied customers are those who either were forced by friends or family to purchase a set.

As a result, they may have won the ear plugs in raffles or drawings and we have concluded that hearing health and conservation is not something that can be forced, it is a long process to fully integrate into the habit of protecting oneself.

We ourselves struggle at times to be perfect with our protection. However, as is understood in psychology, recognition of the problem is the first step to resolving the issue and we have dedicated our life work to recognizing and eliminating the devastating effects of noise-induced hearing loss.

How to chose the right earplugs.

I just read this latest article about, Daniel Derricutt, 24 from the UK who claimed his Bose Earphones caused Tinnitus and this caused his suicide. How to Prevent Tinnitus and how really bad is this?

How can Tinnitus Cause Suicide?

In the US it is tough to get real data and stories as so much is covered up and never published, but I would like to thank his family for maybe helping others who will wake up or have an event (Called Tinnitus), that is a life changer for good. Check the full story here.


More Tinnitus Stories:

I was going along, and life was great, and then it happened.

I took medication and the next day I awoke with someone blowing a high pitched whistle in my head.  Make it go away!!!!! (Sam H)

I went to the orchestra, and it was a fantastic evening but seemed extra loud tonight, I heard a pop then the screaming ringing started, “Oh my god what has just happened,” I can’t sleep, can’t go to work my life is totally different. (Betty G)

The playoff football game was amazing, “We won state!”

The trumpet player behind me blasted his horn in my ear, and something cracked badly, and now I have a sound of some kind of super loud crickets or locust in my head, It’s not in my ear, it in my head. It’s not fun being a Cheerleader now. The noise won’t stop what am I going to do? I’m a senior and got a scholarship to Cheer in college, and now I can’t stand the noise from the band any longer. (Ginger A)

My Tinnitus Story:

I have heard stories like this over the last 15 years, and I understand as one day in November 1987 as a 275lb bodybuilder. I had a little bit of a rash from the gym, and a pharmaceutical rep friend of mine said he had the perfect cure. It was a new antibiotic called Floxin, and it surely would take care of this rash and anything else I might have. So I got a prescription for it, and wow did I feel better in about three days. Rash was clearing up, and even helped a bronchitis issue that I was having. About the 4th day in that’s when it happened.

I was in my office listing to the radio, and I heard an audible crack and all the sudden a super high pitch sound started. Are you kidding me, What the hell is this?

I can’t think, my stomach felt ill as I could not shake it and me in superhuman shape, now a disabled person that no one can see. I can’t stand loud noises; conservations are harder to hear as I have to listen over the sound of this screaming in my head. It was not in my ear; it was in the front temple area of my head.

I tried everything I could read about and get my hand’s on. I can tell you that so many nights I would lay in bed and the sound was unbearable.

Researching Tinnitus:

We did not have Google back then, and it was tough to find information about tinnitus, (still not in a better spot today.)

Here is some of the research if you are starting this personal nightmare that you will have to cope with or endure.

Described by some as screeching, by others the call of cicadas, or the millions of variations that Tinnitus can take form while the condition itself is unpleasant and unfortunate for those who must live productive and happy lives while coping with it. Some patients turn to antidepressants and doctor prescribed medications See here for the complete list (Mayo Clinic) Others seek to find a holistic approach to curing their tinnitus (Tinnitus Advisor).

Many others choose to live with the pain and find ways to cope and live long and fulfilled lives supplemented by relaxation therapy, meditation, sound therapy.

Oh, the many tinnitus support groups that meet on a regular basis who work to alleviate the social anxiety of the disorder and help sufferers feel that they are not alone. But as a 31-year sufferer of the condition, I can say that living with this unbearable noise in my head is something not to be taken lightly.

I would be doing a disservice to those who are at risk of suffering from this terrible disease if I did not list precautionary measures to take during your everyday lives. I have put together a list of habits and actions that anyone who believes they are at risk for tinnitus can follow to ensure that they do not live a life of pain and just learn how to prevent Tinnitus.

Habit 1: How to Prevent Tinnitus

The most obvious way to prevent tinnitus from occurring is by simply wearing tinnitus earplugs while at concerts, at work(even if you do work in an office building) or anywhere in your life where decibel levels cause you discomfort. Wearing hearing protection does come with a stigma it does, and as the owner of a concert earplugs and hearing conservation company for 15 years I can say that there is a perception that those who choose to wear earplugs are weaker than others.

This is not true! Taking the measures to protect your hearing; even if it does mean hearing it from your buddies or getting sideways looks from strangers. These measures will set an example in your small community and just like measures of influencers interacting to cause sweeping societal change.

The act of you wearing hearing protection as a single person will have an impact on your community and may cause others to do the same. But You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Habit 2: Use a Sound Meter (Dosimeter)

What once was a gigantic probe looking button that could be confused for a phaser weapon from Star Trek has been downsized into an app. We all have access to the knowledge of the noise around us, and it is one download away. Here is a resource for some of the best apps that will turn your iPhone into a proper dosimeter. (Best Dosimeter Apps).

What the sound level meter will do is allow you to get your mind around the levels that you are subjected to on a daily basis. Whether it be your daily commute on the train, bus, cab, or car, the sound level in your workplace, or just the noise level at your local park. Understanding the levels that you’re subjected to every day will free your mind from the unknown. After writing this, it sounds like analyzing sound levels and wearing earplugs means you are only a few more steps from hunkering down in a bunker and eating rationed food on How to Prevent Tinnitus.

However, if you can keep this proportionate and only measure the areas that you feel are at risk for you and your loved ones, you can keep from becoming paranoid and putting tin foil on your head to keep the government from probing your mind.

We uncovered the power of these meters when attending college marching band rehearsals and DCI (Drum core International) workshops to analyze the absurd decibel levels that students aged 16 to 25 are subjected to on a daily basis.

The sound meters on our phones tracked saved and allowed us to review the doses that these students experienced and gave us accurate readings that showcased the need for protection in these loud environments and moved us closer to a deeper understanding of the way in which decibels affect musicians.

Dosimeters are a great tool to have on hand and will only work to improve your knowledge of the world around you and how noise is affecting you on a daily basis. This leads us to the next step in preventing tinnitus.

Habit 3: Educate Yourself About How to Prevent Tinnitus

Just like flipping open your phone to check your daily new source each morning or crinkling the newspaper at the breakfast table.

Read up on the happenings in the world, and there are hundreds of excellent resources to learn from in the realm of hearing conservation that will begin to educate you on the topic of hearing health. Listed here are a few of the best for How to Prevent Tinnitus. (Hearing Health Center)(Science Daily)

Just like any other area of life, the only way to get better is to educate yourself and apply that knowledge to everyday habits.

What these resources will allow you to do that as they are on the cutting edge of hearing conservation research.  They consistently update their sites with an in-depth and scientifically backed study that is continuously furthering human understanding of how our hearing interacts with the world.

Plus the factors that determine our quality of hearing as we progress through the stages of our lives including brain health, diet, and mental health. These resources will not only provide you with scientific studies and information and, How to Prevent Tinnitus.

It will also equip you with actionable steps to take to prolong your hearing health and improve the quality of your life. As you educate yourself, find the things that work for you and disregard the rest, as we know most things are subjective.

I do not consider the expert’s opinion to be the only way to solve your personal hearing protection issue. Now, this leads to my fourth and final suggestion

Habit 4: Plan ahead plan for health

In your life, habits are formed and then set in place after taking in all the factors.

As we all know about taking care of our health against the significant preventable diseases including diabetes and certain cardiovascular diseases as well as liver and lung health we can as humans take these positive steps forward to prevent our ears from being damaged which leads to tinnitus and other ear-related diseases.

Taking healthy and positive steps forward to prevent these related diseases puts a barrier between yourself and a life of discomfort. Incorporating these habits relayed above into your daily life will provide you with the freedom to choose your destiny.

If you decide to monitor your surroundings, wear hearing protection and continue to further your understanding of how the human ear and how your overall human chemistry interacts with the environments that you spend the majority of your time in you will empower yourself to have a happier and healthier life.

How to Prevent Tinnitus and how to find the right earplug