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Ear plugs Question

BTW, I've read some people posting about buying some sort of ear wax cleaning kit from the drugstore and using it 2x per year or so - what's this about? Apparently when you do it your hearing is much better afterward..

I always figured if I used qtips daily that gets all the wax - is there more up in there that you can't get to or something?
 
Lumberjack said:
I get the same thing - I hear the ringing only when and after wearing earplugs - especially if I'm still wearing them and go inside somewhere quiet, like the garage..
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Tinnitus/ringing is like the hiss from a turntable, it's being generated in your ear, not from outside noise. You don't notice it so much when the music is loud. Also when you take the plugs out you have hypersensitive hearing/hyperaccusis so the background seems louder.

Lumberjack said:
I always figured if I used qtips daily that gets all the wax - is there more up in there that you can't get to or something?
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Shouldn't use Qtips in your ears at all. Get an ear bulb, fill with warm water in the shower, and flush uphill into your ear. Maybe a few times a year is good for most people. Just don't flush too hard.
 
Lovedoc said:
Shouldn't use Qtips in your ears at all. Get an ear bulb, fill with warm water in the shower, and flush uphill into your ear. Maybe a few times a year is good for most people. Just don't flush too hard.
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I would have to use a Q-Tip to get all that water out of my ear. :teeth
 
Lumberjack said:
BTW, I've read some people posting about buying some sort of ear wax cleaning kit from the drugstore and using it 2x per year or so - what's this about?
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You can use drops like debrox (or other OTC ear wax drops) to loosen the wax in the ear canal. It then drains out on its own, or you can flush in with water (which can be risky if done improperly). Plain old mineral oil or olive oil does well to soften wax and keep it from plugging the ear canal and is very safe.

Apparently when you do it your hearing is much better afterward..
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Only if your ears were plugged with wax. Most aren't. Ears are self-cleaning, and most do a pretty good job without any help.

I always figured if I used qtips daily that gets all the wax - is there more up in there that you can't get to or something?
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If you have problems with wax, qtips usually only make the problem worse, as they just push and pack the wax in further. Also, with qtips you run other risks such as perforating your eardrum, causing an infection of the outer ear, or even the head of the qtip falling off and getting stuck in your ear canal (it happens).

Moral of the story is 99% of people should never stick anything in their ears, and will never have any wax problems. The other 1% may need some help, but qtips are not the way to go.
 
KnifeySpoony said:
Moral of the story is 99% of people should never stick anything in their ears, and will never have any wax problems. The other 1% may need some help, but qtips are not the way to go.
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But if feels so goooood. :p

Plus, who wants to be a host to ear mites that live in wax? I read about that on the interwebs. :teeth
 
KnifeySpoony said:
If you have problems with wax, qtips usually only make the problem worse, as they just push and pack the wax in further. Also, with qtips you run other risks such as perforating your eardrum, causing an infection of the outer ear, or even the head of the qtip falling off and getting stuck in your ear canal (it happens).

Moral of the story is 99% of people should never stick anything in their ears, and will never have any wax problems. The other 1% may need some help, but qtips are not the way to go.
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yeah, I totally agree. Qtips are very bad, they accomplish almost nothing. the amount of wax you see come off on them is nothing compared to how much you just pushed further back in your ear. ear flushers are the way to go (but GENTLY!) and they feel SOOOO GOOOD :drool
 
I'm resurecting this thread because I recently bought a pair of the etymotics mentioned here and they are FABULOUS.

Thanks BARFfor saving my hearing.
 
I'm rocking these at the moment:
51siGqIV8VL._SS500_.jpg


Mainly because that's what I had from when I used to play loud music live. I noticed they're only NRR12, so I might have to look into picking up a different pair...

I don't ride without earplugs normally. I might take them out for a bit if I'm in the canyons, but they're on the majority of the time.
 
I am not sure, but I think they might be illegal to wear, maybe not.

V C Section 27400 Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs

Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs

27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A person operating authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 165.

(b) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway.

(c) A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs.

(d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.

(e) A person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing.

Amended Sec. 45, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.
 
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The Revenue Hunter said:
I am not sure, but I think they might be illegal to wear, maybe not.

V C Section 27400 Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs

Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs

27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A person operating authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 165.

(b) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway.

(c) A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs.

(d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.

(e) A person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing.

Amended Sec. 45, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.
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Hi-lighted for your viewing pleasure.
 
my plugs do not inhibit the ability to hear a siren or a horn.... so i'm cool :)
 
The Revenue Hunter said:
I am not sure, but I think they might be illegal to wear, maybe not.
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You think wrong.

The law was specifically changed several years ago to add the motorcycle exemption (subsection D that Enchanter highlighted).

Don't post things about safety when you have no idea what you're talking about. Your ignorance could cost someone their hearing because they foolishly thought you knew what you were talking about and listened to you. :rolleyes
 
Next time your at a race, gun show, etc do yourself a favor and get a custom set made, cost around 50 bucks and work great
 

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c-mo said:
Next time your at a race, gun show, etc do yourself a favor and get a custom set made, cost around 50 bucks and work great
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The custom ones I had made hurt. The material used was too hard. IMO they were a waste of money. Leight Sleepers FTW.
 
I have custom earplugs made, but had to trim some material off the outside where it touches the helmet pads because it was exerting excessive pressure on the cartilage of my ear and causing some massive pain. They work really well after some material was removed, but only on the helmet that push the plugs into my ears. In a different helmet, I noticed the seal breaking and noise coming through.

Surefire EP3 or EP4 also work very well at a fraction of the cost. They stay in place, you have some flexibility in how much you want to dampen the noise, and they're comfortable because you can select an ear canal and concha bowl size that fit your ear.

http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders
http://www.surefire.com/EP4-Sonic-Defenders-Plus
 
i dont wear custom. i loose earplugs. i went with the cheap route and paid 18 bux for this thing:

earplugs.jpg


80 pair of earplugs, works just as good if not better than the hearos. if one starts to loose its ability to mold to my ear after a while, zero hesitation to toss em. it's 80 pairs for 18 bux. CHEAAAAAP. i still hav emore than half a box of em left and it's a year and half now.

reduces the sounds by 30db. works great, i have a modular helmet so its loud as f***. these earbuds really help.

if u dont want to spend the money for custom, goto homedepot, pick up a box. if they dont work for u, you will in the least have 80 pair for other applications... ie morning construction doesnt bug me anymore :)
 
For years I've worn custom ear plugs (you can get them from numerous venders at the upcoming Motorcycle Show in San Mateo).

I recently lost one, so I ended up wearing only the one. I found I actually prefer wearing just the one. If you had a set (which would be idea) they could be switched back and fourth, so you're not taxing one ear over the other (although for me that's not the case).

Give it a try and let me know what you think?

Triple
 
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