Just an alternative take on this. I have partial hearing loss and tinnitus in my left ear. Once I got my PPL it was my dream to fly open cockpit - Tiger Moths, Turbs and so on. I went and did it but was bitterly disappointed to find that an hour in an open cockpit made my tinnitus ten times worse for about two days afterwards. Ear plugs helped but I guess that's defeating the object.....
I have now backed off and find peace and tranquility in a Luscombe - when I'm not ground-looping it!