5 ms·

You might try earplugs and earmuffs at the same time. It's a pretty effective level of sound isolation.

KozmoNau7 9y ago
I have considered this, but it's going to be very uncomfortable for a full workday. I've also tried earphones with music, but I can't work like that for long, I just start listening to the music instead. I need peace and quiet. And of course there's the issue of visual noise as well.
- noir_lord 9y ago
  Silicon ear plugs are amazing, I sleep with them in (insomnia), they kill sound better than foam, mould to fit so stay in and warm up to body temperature so you don't know they are even there. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-Ears-Silicone-EarPlugs-Protection/dp/B0013HGG0C https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-Ears-Silicone-EarPlugs-Protecti... I split one in two and use them that way, I've gotten to work with them in before without noticing, maybe worth a shot.
  - shostack 9y ago
    Seems like these are only good for a few uses with each set before disposal?
    - KozmoNau7 9y ago
      Yeah, and they're rather expensive for disposable items. I bought a box of 100 pairs of Bilsom 303 plugs a couple of years ago, for motorcycling. The whole box was $40.
    - noir_lord 9y ago
      I split one into two, I get 2-3 nights before changing them which means 12-18 nights better sleep, for an insomniac I’d pay 10 times that tbh.
randcraw 9y ago
The better 'earmuffs' out there should be enough w/o plugs. The passive model that I have (3M Peltor Optime 105, $21) cut sound by 30 dB. Nearly dead silence.
- loco5niner 9y ago
  I wish. I have a whole collection of them (ok, maybe just 6 or 7 of them). They certainly help, but for me they are not near dead silence.
geekbird 9y ago
Some people, like me, can only wear headphones or earplugs for a short period of time - like 2 hours - before they develop ear infections. Furthermore, administrative controls (headphones) for what is actually a safety and health problem (excess noise) are the solution of last resort from a health and safety perspective. A good health and safety person would advise structural mitigation, not forcing everyone to put on personal protective equipment (headphones.) When open plan offices can regularly burst up to 95 dB (yes, I took in a meter and measured the last one I was in) and are often 65 dB when they are "quiet", noise is absolutely a health and safety issue. Constant noise, even if not immediately damaging to hearing, can cause increased stress and other physiological issues.
- loco5niner 9y ago
  Well said, thank you.
loco5niner 9y ago
Careful with this. I have tinnitus (arguably from 8 hours/day of headphone use), and when I doubled up as you described, my tinnitus became unbearable because it was the only thing I could hear and my brain "latched" on to it. I'm still trying to train my brain to stop listening...

I have considered this, but it's going to be very uncomfortable for a full workday. I've also tried earphones with music, but I can't work like that for long, I just start listening to the music instead. I need peace and quiet. And of course there's the issue of visual noise as well.

noir_lord 9y ago
Silicon ear plugs are amazing, I sleep with them in (insomnia), they kill sound better than foam, mould to fit so stay in and warm up to body temperature so you don't know they are even there. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-Ears-Silicone-EarPlugs-Protection/dp/B0013HGG0C https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-Ears-Silicone-EarPlugs-Protecti... I split one in two and use them that way, I've gotten to work with them in before without noticing, maybe worth a shot.
- shostack 9y ago
  Seems like these are only good for a few uses with each set before disposal?
  - KozmoNau7 9y ago
    Yeah, and they're rather expensive for disposable items. I bought a box of 100 pairs of Bilsom 303 plugs a couple of years ago, for motorcycling. The whole box was $40.
  - noir_lord 9y ago
    I split one into two, I get 2-3 nights before changing them which means 12-18 nights better sleep, for an insomniac I’d pay 10 times that tbh.

randcraw 9y ago

The better 'earmuffs' out there should be enough w/o plugs. The passive model that I have (3M Peltor Optime 105, $21) cut sound by 30 dB. Nearly dead silence.

loco5niner 9y ago
I wish. I have a whole collection of them (ok, maybe just 6 or 7 of them). They certainly help, but for me they are not near dead silence.

geekbird 9y ago

Some people, like me, can only wear headphones or earplugs for a short period of time - like 2 hours - before they develop ear infections. Furthermore, administrative controls (headphones) for what is actually a safety and health problem (excess noise) are the solution of last resort from a health and safety perspective. A good health and safety person would advise structural mitigation, not forcing everyone to put on personal protective equipment (headphones.) When open plan offices can regularly burst up to 95 dB (yes, I took in a meter and measured the last one I was in) and are often 65 dB when they are "quiet", noise is absolutely a health and safety issue. Constant noise, even if not immediately damaging to hearing, can cause increased stress and other physiological issues.

loco5niner 9y ago
Well said, thank you.

loco5niner 9y ago

Careful with this. I have tinnitus (arguably from 8 hours/day of headphone use), and when I doubled up as you described, my tinnitus became unbearable because it was the only thing I could hear and my brain "latched" on to it. I'm still trying to train my brain to stop listening...