Ear defenders

[Baldhead]

I suffer from severe to profound hearing loss in both ears so I wear hearing aids, but not while woodworking. I know the hearing in one ear is getting worse, so I am going to wear ear defenders, can anyone point me in the right direction as to what to look for?

I have been advised today by the ENT nurse not to wear ear plugs as I constantly suffer from ear infections.

The noisiest machines I use are a P/T, router and a table saw

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Baldhead

Edit - I know it's possibly a bit late but I really can't afford to allow my hearing to get any worse.

 

[tool-me-up]

http://eardefenders.org/2011/07/level-of-noise-reduction-required/

Heres a little info about defenders, Going off that article I would just pick the ones with loudest rating - as they will block the most noise.

There is also filtered versions which somehow let you hear normal level noise while blocking the loud ones - article here http://eardefenders.org/2011/07/filtered-v-s-non-filtered/

 

[Racers]

Peltor Optime 3's very nice very quiet, I have two pairs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksi ... &_from=R40

Pete

 

[carlb40]

I like the look of these.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/3m-peltor-x- ... -defenders

Comes in 3 differing flavours of noise block.

 

[MARK.B.]

The type that cancel out background noise are supposed to be very good,various makes and prices out there, I believe some even have built in radio as well but have no first hand experience of using them.

 

[Giff]

+ 1 for Pete's suggestion of the Peltor lll. They are massively different to the cheaper ones and I now find id difficult ( like not wearing a seatbelt ) to do anything in the workshop without wearing them. They stop all the high level noise but they do seem to let important sounds through…..like " tea's ready ! ".

 

[petermillard]

Yep, Peltor llls. Or if you want to listen to something at the same time, then a pair of Bose Quietcomfort 20i

 

[Peter Sefton]

I wear these http://www.axminster.co.uk/uvex-x-hi-vi ... -defenders best I have ever had
Peter

 

[John15]

It's not always easy to judge when ear protection is necessary but as rule of thumb, you should be wearing it if you can't hear a person talking to you in a normal voice at 2 metres. Not a lot of good if you are working on your own I know but it's a good guide.
John

 

[MMUK]

It's not always easy to judge when ear protection is necessary but as rule of thumb, you should be wearing it if you can't hear a person talking to you in a normal voice at 2 metres. Not a lot of good if you are working on your own I know but it's a good guide.
John

It's Ok if you're schizophrenic :lol:

 

[Skeety]

If you can afford them I would recommend Peltor Sportacs at around the £100 mark, they are very comfortable to wear and you can still hear all normal noises, the radio, wife etc. but anything loud is attenuated so you don't hear it.

I am on my second pair; as a Clay Pigeon shooter I know the value of good ear protection. I can wear the Sportacs all day comfortably and have good protection.

Earplugs don't off cochlear protection and as you have found cause ear infections.

If you want the best then MSA Sordins are awesome but about £250.

Hope this helps,

Jon.

 

[Baldhead]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys.

I think I will be buying Peltor Optime iii's

My hearing is so bad that without my hearing aids I can't hear the phone ring when it's any more than 12", (300mm for the younger members) away from my ears, I can't hear the wife talking (ok I agree hearing loss has some advantages) radio is just impossible, and if the TV programme isn't subtitled there's no point in me watching it!

Perhaps one of the woodworking magazines could do an article on ear defenders? (Nick Gibbs can you hear me, whoops no pun intended)

Although I laugh about it, hearing loss is no fun, I don't go to the pub, when we eat out I have to lipread, the cinemas impossible (although I do go with the misses) live theatre is a no no........etc etc I could go on. You wouldn't think of using any machinery without eye protection, so next time you use a noisy power tool wear your ear defenders.

Here endeth my lesson.

Baldhead

 

[zb1]

I'll put my name to Optime III's too. Been using them for the better part of 10 years now and they are really good. I have a round the back strap pair so I can wear them with a hard hat when on site. I have had the same frames for the whole time and just buy the hygiene pack every year or two. This contains new pads and foam muffler things and takes about 2 minutes to fit.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys.

I think I will be buying Peltor Optime iii's

My hearing is so bad that without my hearing aids I can't hear the phone ring when it's any more than 12", (300mm for the younger members) away from my ears, I can't hear the wife talking (ok I agree hearing loss has some advantages) radio is just impossible, and if the TV programme isn't subtitled there's no point in me watching it!

Perhaps one of the woodworking magazines could do an article on ear defenders? (Nick Gibbs can you hear me, whoops no pun intended)

Although I laugh about it, hearing loss is no fun, I don't go to the pub, when we eat out I have to lipread, the cinemas impossible (although I do go with the misses) live theatre is a no no........etc etc I could go on. You wouldn't think of using any machinery without eye protection, so next time you use a noisy power tool wear your ear defenders.

Here endeth my lesson.

Baldhead

Sobering words my friend. I have those rubbish £4 jobs from screwfix...I'll upgrade them after reading this. Many thanks. You have my sympathy.

 

[Grahamshed]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys.

I think I will be buying Peltor Optime iii's

My hearing is so bad that without my hearing aids I can't hear the phone ring when it's any more than 12", (300mm for the younger members) away from my ears, I can't hear the wife talking (ok I agree hearing loss has some advantages) radio is just impossible, and if the TV programme isn't subtitled there's no point in me watching it!

Perhaps one of the woodworking magazines could do an article on ear defenders? (Nick Gibbs can you hear me, whoops no pun intended)

Although I laugh about it, hearing loss is no fun, I don't go to the pub, when we eat out I have to lipread, the cinemas impossible (although I do go with the misses) live theatre is a no no........etc etc I could go on. You wouldn't think of using any machinery without eye protection, so next time you use a noisy power tool wear your ear defenders.

Here endeth my lesson.

Baldhead

Sobering words my friend. I have those rubbish £4 jobs from screwfix...I'll upgrade them after reading this. Many thanks. You have my sympathy.

Just so. I don't think my workshop is that noisy but not worth risking it.

 

[John15]

You have my sincere sympathy Baldhead. My father suffered in the same way as you. My earing isn't too good either and I have tinnitus - brought about from standing next to piling hammers and other noisy plant before we became educated in the risks, and Health and Safety made it compulsory for protection to be worn.
Cheers,
John

 

[awbawb]

peltor optime iii are very good I can have mine on all day without them annoying me like other cheaper ones, also they have a very nice cushion to them if you are wearing glasses as well.

 

[davic]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys.

I think I will be buying Peltor Optime iii's

My hearing is so bad that without my hearing aids I can't hear the phone ring when it's any more than 12", (300mm for the younger members) away from my ears, I can't hear the wife talking (ok I agree hearing loss has some advantages) radio is just impossible, and if the TV programme isn't subtitled there's no point in me watching it!

Perhaps one of the woodworking magazines could do an article on ear defenders? (Nick Gibbs can you hear me, whoops no pun intended)

Although I laugh about it, hearing loss is no fun, I don't go to the pub, when we eat out I have to lipread, the cinemas impossible (although I do go with the misses) live theatre is a no no........etc etc I could go on. You wouldn't think of using any machinery without eye protection, so next time you use a noisy power tool wear your ear defenders.

Here endeth my lesson.

Baldhead

Sobering words my friend. I have those rubbish £4 jobs from screwfix...I'll upgrade them after reading this. Many thanks. You have my sympathy.

I think I'll be doing the same thing....

 

[Baldhead]

Thanks for your kind comments, I have bought a pair of Peltor Optime iii's on eBay, I also see I have convinced 3 members to either buy or upgrade their ear defenders, I'm pleased about that.

Baldhead

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Nick Gibbs can you hear me, whoops no pun intended

Sorry, I missed this, but have received your PM and will look into doing an article. I consider ear protection my first line of defence when woodworking, not only to save my hearing, but to create a calmer environment.

Cheers

Nick