the wizard of auz

I know of a lady who whilst working for a Darwin operator was issued with the fluro earplugs for in the cockpit use.
Apparently they taste terrible and even though they look like lollies, shouldn't be eaten. Hey ya Lou. you still out there?.

The Green Goblin

Wasn't the same one who flew a 210 to an 'outport' location with a tow bar still attached to the nose wheel! taxied in after an uneventful landing without realizing the mistake until a line of junior pilots stood staring in disbelief at the said 210

neville_nobody

Well you go tell that to my mate's brother who had permanent hearing loss and tinnitus at the ripe old age of 21 from listening to music too loud!!!

Going to the odd concert isn't going to damage your hearing. It's the stuff you are exposed to every day that is the problem. Loud music on headphones and high noise work places are bigger problems.

ReverseFlight

Tinnitus is not well understood and one of the theories is that it can be brought about by stress.

The moral of the story is : no matter whether it is your job, the money, the nagging family etc, it doesn't pay to get stressed.

tmpffisch

damo1089, I well and truely understand where you're coming from. As the one responsible for loud music at concerts (as a sound engineer) I take hearing protection pretty seriously. You're not making a bad move by getting moulded plugs.

Mine were stolen last month (who'd want to wear someone elses earplugs anyway) so I've moved to generic ER20's, which you can get in a 'baby blue' size which may solve your problem. -
I thought my initial Class 1 would be difficult because I seem to leave a bit of hearing at every gig I work at (if I'm not wearing plugs), but even with tinnitusthe audiologist said I had no concernable hearing loss. I'm way more paranoid about protection now because of my class 1 though.

DeltaT

Do a search on the internet, I bought some from Sweden, especially for noise, made of 'clear' rubber so they are not very noticeable. -These ones came in a pouch to help keep them clean when not in use.
If you want to go el cheapo, look through the range of swimmers ear plugs, go to a variety of chemists and sports shops, there are some very light pink coloured/skin colour ones that are extremely hard to see, mainly as they fit a small way in the ear canal and sit flush on the outside rather than a sticky out bit to pull for removal. They are prone to falling out if you don't get them in correctly.
After being to a nightclub/pub etc without ear plugs, and your ears are ringing, its too late, that is a sign damage has been done.

lemel

Bashing around in twin pistons I used to wear ear plugs under my headset. I also know of guys who have flown loud turbo props that wear ear plugs under their headset. The reason for it is that we are exposed to a loud environment on a regular basis

I dont know about wearing ear plugs to a concert though. I wouldn't think that you could go often enough to cause any serious damage.

I think the "Boys harden up" line should stand.

mcgrath50

Wouldn't the earplugs dull the sound coming out of the headset as well?

Similarly at concerts wouldn't it stop the sound from getting in?

While were at it what brand/type does everyone recommend?

VH-XXX

Sorry but going to a concert WILL damage your hearing. Every little bit does damage. Later on in life you'll very much regret not looking after your ears when you were young - I do, and I'm barely over 30. You should even consider wearing ear plugs under your headset in any aircraft, twin or single, you might be surprised how much more comfortable it is, particularly if you are listening to light music through your headset.

tmpffisch

Since it seems the mods aren't going to approve my first post, I'll try again.

I work as a sound engineer, which is funding my CPL. Hearing protection has always been important because of my job, and often I do leave a little bit of my hearing at every gig I do.

That said, even with constant tinnitis, I passed my class 1 hearing tests fine, with no "concernable hearing loss".

Musician earplugs are the way to go, with decent ones providing even frequency response from 50hz-16khz. Moulded ones are fantastic and very comfortable, but some stole mine last month (who'd wear someone elses earplugs anyway) so I'm back to generic ones. The model I'd recommend are called ER20's from Etymotic . There's a few Australian dealers, give ER20 a search on eBay and you'll find the generic ones, or ask your audiologist at your next medical renewal and they'll take a mould and get some made for ya.

Scooby-Doo

Protect your hearing no matter what

2close

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is insiduous, gradual and incurable.

Once it's gone that's it, it's gone.

In the UK, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 were introduced in early 2006 and significantly reduced maximum exposure levels, which apply not only to employees (flight, cabin and ground crew) but also to visitors (passengers) to company premises (aircraft).

Any exposure exceeding these limits could result in NIHL.

However, on short - medium haul flights it should not be a significant issue as time weighted averages would probably not exceed maximum exposure levels but long haul could be different, especially for the more frequent flyers, i.e. long haul flight and cabin crew.

Fokkerwokker

Worth a look if you are UK based/employed:

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

WishesToFly

Why are hearing standards so strict for a class 1 medical?

Is it that ATC talk really quietly or something?

If you have a slight loss in 1 ear for example surely couldnt you just wear amplified headgear to just 'notch up' the sound abit? Why should this ground a pilot?

Cheers,

Alex

BelArgUSA

If "future A-380 captains" would stop listening to their rap music with these earphones, at a 120 dB level, from age 12 until age 18, maybe they would preserve their eardrums and be able to pass Class 1 hearing tests.
xxx

Happy contrails

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

It's not that they are particularly strict. Anyone with normal hearing should pass with no trouble. However, as already stated, lots of people abuse their hearing with loud music, etc., and it's fairly important for pilots and controllers to have at least normal hearing.

Bad medicine

Gday all,

As with some of the other popular topics, we've merged a lot of the threads here for easier searching.

Cheers,

BM

Old 'Un

Take tmpffisch's advice, if it's not already too late. S/He's working in one of the industries where hearing loss is an occupational hazard. I've known several techies in that line of work who have had to find other employment as they could no longer subjectively balance an audio mix. Not a good way to finish a career.

I have an audio test about every couple of years and my hearing is almost as sensitive as it should be for a 25 year old, with the exception that the response rolls off at about 15kHz. Hardly surprising given my age. Apart from that, my audiologist has complimented me on maintaining my hearing, adding that, sadly, a lot of 30 year olds would envy me.

I like hearing the 'dawn chorus' and the occasional passing Merlin or pair of P&Ws.

Protect your hearing and seek professional advice ASAP if you suspect any hearing loss or are getting a ringing in your ear/s. That the best advice I can give.

As 2close said "Once it's gone that's it, it's gone." That means: forever.

Le Vieux

fabbe92

Hello! I can remember that I saw a toppic about a guy that had problems with popping his ears and a black hawk helicopter But I canīt find it anymore, maybe I am blind.

Anyhow I will just post my question here. I had the same problem during newyears when I flew with Ryanair. When we started to dive I couldnīt presurise my right ear and it fellt like a knife in my ear. Never had that paine in my life before. I went to the doctor and he gave me medication and then I returned after a month and he said that the ear looked fine. I forgot to ask him if I could fly again tough. I still canīt pop my right ear and I have a PPL flight in the PA28 on sunday. Do I dear to go? I donīt want any brooken drums since I want to become a airliner pilot.

White Otter

I think everybody has this problem at some point. PPL shouldn't matter too much as you're only going up to something like 3000ft whereas the pressure in an airliner is 8000ft (though obviously I'm not a doctor so its up to you).

Strangely though I can now pop my ears my moving something in them (hear a little clicking sound) so thats nice to have if not a little odd (I can also move my ears so maybe its related to that).