How Much Do You Protect Your Ears?

People seem to protect them loads, like ear plugs whilst driving etc.

I'm just living my life normally, avoiding loud sounds and if there are sirens for example I will just use my fingers.

If I were to go to a cinema or club (I wouldn't) then I'd wear ear plugs, but not restaurants for example.

Do I need to protect my ears more? I'm just living by the recommended 85db exposure for 8 hours, then half every 3db really.

 

This is a personal decision, but here's where I come down:

I wear earplugs when I am:
* at concerts (infrequent)
* at movie theaters that seem unreasonably loud
* on a motorcycle
* shooting guns (infrequent) (in fact, I only shoot guns outdoors, with earplugs in AND bunny ears on over them... even at that... it is a risk. Guns are unreasonably loud.)
* at clubs/bars that have live music or unusually loud PA music such that I can't have a normal conversation

I do not wear earplugs:
* in cars
* on the subway
* at bars/restaurants where I can speak in a normal tone of voice and be heard

The worst thing that happens if you don't wear earplugs is that you do further hearing damage. The worst thing that happens if you wear earplugs excessively is that you change your hearing thresholds and get hyperacusis. One of these two things is largely reversible, so erring on the side of caution is reasonable.

 

That's greet, thanks for your input! And has yours got any worse? I read that normal everyday sounds won't dsmage your ears so!

 

The only things that have made mine worse long-term in the 15 years I've had this, were:
* an unreasonably loud concert where I didn't wear earplugs. Stupid!
* taking benzodiazepine medications long term. Stupid!

 

Hmm then I might have got H before my SSHL. I used to wear earplugs when sleeping for months.

 

You've made me feel much better about the future! Thanks.

 

It makes sense as your brain will turn up the volume to compensate.

I had really bad H for 5 days or so, but the more I exposed my self to normal sounds, although it was hard at first, it seems to have faded away to mild H. Although it could get worse again but fingers crossed it doesn't.

 

Although obviously still avoid loud sounds haha

 

I'm still looking for answers..every day I struggle about what I should and should not do..
while we're talking wearing earplugs in the car, we don't take into consideration that different cars make different noises. I have a 2o years old Opel corsa and it seems to me being inside it is as loud as having a loud vaccum cleaner on...byt I can't meqsurevit cause the application on myvtablette is not accurate, so I've read here and there. if I had a modern car, I would probably write that it's needless to wear earplugs while in the car.
What about BUSES? Are buses safe? Then again, the quality of buses may be different in different countries.
What about walking down the street where you have a car passing every 5 seconds? Is it still a 'normal' sound?
I would say there must be more noise in a bus or in the street than in a restaurant and still most people write they were earplugs in the latter. Then again, it probably depends on a restaurant.