<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple id="role_body" = bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> Another idea in regard to loud = noises and ear protection:  I found that caffeinated coffee (lots of = it—3 or 4 cups each morning) made my hearing real sensitive to various sounds and also = the loudness.  And its not a good type of sensitivity.  It is a = bit irritating.  I laid off caffeinated coffee and went to decaffeinated coffee and the = problem went away.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Just my two cents = worth.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Joy!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Elwood<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Elwood Doss, Jr. M.M.E.; = RPT<o:p></o:p> Piano Technician/Technical = Director<o:p></o:p> Department of = Music<o:p></o:p> 145 Fine Arts = Building<o:p></o:p> The <st1:place = w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName = w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> at Martin<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Martin</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">TN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode = w:st="on">38238</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 731/881-1852<o:p></o:p= > </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Wimblees@aol.com Sent: Friday, October 28, = 2005 9:11 AM To: caut@ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] = Hearing Protection<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div> It's interesting that Bob brought = this up right now. I was just about to send out a e-mail to ask about the = comfort of these things. For several months now I've been bothered by loud noises, = not only tuning the upper register of piano, but also loud crowd noise, and = the organ at church. I sit in the back row of our choir loft, which is right = in front of the pipe organ. It drives me crazy. I leave for the postlude, especially when the organist plays something loud and fast, which he = usually does. He's great player, and I can't ask him to tone it down, because = when I've been down in the sanctuary, the sound is just right. = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I = went to the University Speech and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName = w:st="on">Hearing</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, and got = a hearing check up. My hearing is fine, except it drops off a little in the high register, which is normal for someone my age (60). But the audiologist = said I did have tenuitis (sp) So I got a pair of custom made ear plugs. It only = cost $100. Compared to what some of you are paying, I guess I got a pretty = good deal<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> But what I was going to ask is, = how long does it take to get used to these things? They don't hurt, but it is irritating to have them in my ear. I also found that = there are several positions to put them in. If I put them in all the way, I can't = hear the subtleties of unisons or intervals. So I have to put them in only = half way. I also found that if I put in just my right ear, and leave the left one = out, I can hear better. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> Any of you have this = experience?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> Wim <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> <div> In a message dated 10/28/2005 = 12:21:15 AM Central Standard Time, hullfam5@yahoo.com = writes:<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> I'm looking at two brands of = earplugs for hearing protection: E.A.R. inc.  and Etymotic.  Both have ER- 25 and maybe ER-15 filtered plugs that are custom moldable to fit.  Etymotic has a do it yourself mold kit; and E.A.R. sends you to an audiologist type to get the impression done for some $.  Etymotic plugs are 152.00 with free molding kit while E.A.R plugs are 130.00 plus but maybe about $35 that will have to be paid to someone to get the impressions done. I have been using some Etymotic ER-20 (not custom) that I bought at the convention (cheap ones).  They do pretty well but quite a few pianos still bother me while tuning the higher octaves. I'm interested in your experiences with either of these brands or others and what level of filter you have found to be good. Thanks, Bob Hull<o:p></o:p> </blockquote> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p>= </div> </div> </body> </html>