How do you get your teens and upwards to wear attenuated earplugs? With great difficulty! If a stranger gives them as a freebie, they will wear them.
If your parents give earplugs they will not wear them.
Attenuated plugs are great for rock concerts.
Even if you haven't planned on going, this could be your opportunity! And if you have teens who groan at the idea of 'old' people (over 25 lol) going to concerts, don't take them! If you play in a band, especially if you use an amplifer, you should think about investing in custom-made earplugs to give yourself a chance of keeping your hearing sharp.
You can go to a Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (RHAD) who will take moulds of your ears.
This does not hurt, it is like cold dough gently put into your ears for about thirty seconds.
Expect to pay around £100 ($175).
Easy fit, they are generally cone-shaped and often come with three different acoustic inserts: white for low protection, silver for medium protection and gold for high protection.
It is a bit like suncream; you know your sensitivity to the sun.
You already know if you are sensitive to sudden loud sound (hyperacusis) common to people with a hearing impairment.
There are lots of different types.
Find a brand that suits you and keep your hearing sharp! Hearing aid wearers still need earplugs.
The hearing aid does not act as a plug.
Okay so we went to see an old guy when he dropped into London (I don't think he's old) and only had one set of earplugs between Grandma and me and two hearing-aids.
Not a great idea.
Grandma said she could feel noise vibration in her chest yet she sang every word of 'Crazy Horses'! The snag is she does not want to go to a concert again because it was too loud.
Don't miss your chance, carry them in your bag.
'Don't Lose the Music' was a great campaign run by the charity RNID for University students where earplugs were available at their events around Britain.
It is ongoing yet on a smaller scale due to the usual charity funding issues.
That is not a plug, pun intended ; as RNID leads campaigns that make hearing people think and we all benefit.
Snorers, swimmers and travellers benefit from earplugs.
Of course nobody is a snorer.
Maybe you could just leave some lying on a bedside table.
If that does not work, you could wear them! If you've travelled on a plane with children you will probably have seen them suffer with ear pain usually during descent.
We searched the world over and where did we find the solution? America.
After several years of - chewing and swallowing (chewy sweets are very popular), - herbal oil recommended by a pharmacist friend, - pain relief, - distraction with games, - ice to the back of the head finally ...
she went on holiday with friends and these travel plugs.
A week later, I asked her what had happened and was told blithely that yes, they were great, no pain, no discomfort at all.
Relief! And it is evidently a family thing as my sister-in-law went and bought some straight away.
Earplugs make your life easy and protect your hearing.
May your hearing stay sharp.
My own teens know they have a genetic predisposition to hearing impairment.
Does this make them wear earplugs? In my dreams until yesterday when my eldest said okay, she could do with some.
I almost fell off my chair! Mother paranoia, eat your greens, wear your plugs works then.
Allow yourself at least five years before they reach teenager status to convince them and cross your fingers.
Top 2 FAQ's on Earplugs: 1) What colour are they? Earplug caps are usually white, grey, silver or black.
Attenuated inserts are white, silver, gold.
Swim plugs are often orange so you can see them apparently.
A teenager with orange earplugs.
Now you know you are dreaming ..
unless somehow it was cool for all teens to wear them!.
2) How Many in a Packet? Three usually.
If not you could try asking for a spare.
Like earrings they are easy to lose.
Have fun, hear the notes of your music clearly without being deafened and create a new record in your generation: Acquired deafness Beaten By Today's Teens!