How loud is it in the truck when you are driving?

Putting a gear shift cover on lowers the noise considerably,

 

Problem with them is that they stop sudden noises...the impulse...like gun shots, explosions...but they do not attenuate regular noises (well, very much)...that is why you can talk normally, and still have gun shots blocked out when shooting skeet.

 

You are right Jack. Ear plugs preferentially reduce white noise sources over more coherent noise sources like talking, buzzers, horns, radio, etc. Ask someone in a manufacturing plant if their wearing ear plugs keeps them from hearing the plant fire alarm.

The point I see being made over and over is something to the effect "but trucks/reefers these days aren't as loud as the old days so you don't need to protect your hearing." This is not only false, but the logic is non-existent. The fact that some noise source is less than some other noise source from the past says nothing about the damaging effects of today's noise source. This would be like saying "a punch in the nose from some local gang member isn't going to hurt because Mike Tyson's punch to your nose would hurt a lot more. The comparison between the two punchers may be right or may be wrong but it doesn't answer the question about the pain of being punched in the nose. That's the case with exposure to today's noise sources. Today's sources are less than yesterday's but today's are still loud, drivers just get used to the noises they hear all day every day and the drivers also have hearing loss over time.

Ask yourself this; if ear plugs, which I suspect some have never worn in the truck, really did block out many necessary sounds why do so many pilots, including fighter pilots all wear them? You think maybe there are some sounds they might need to hear? Ear plugs are like sunglasses for your ears. They are not a welder's mask that blocks off all noise they block out some of the ambient noise and allow other noises to be more distinct. Can you see traffic in the late afternoon by taking off your sunglasses and letting all of the setting sun overwhelm your vision or by wearing sunglasses can your eyes see what you need to see because your pupils haven't closed to a pinpoint.

 

Neither of those links are what I'm describing. I can tell you the first link will be most uncomfortable since they are not tapered, but uniform cylinder at both ends.

Try this link http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/aossleepfoam1.html

If the moderator blocks the link or for some reason the link isn't visible or working, just google "AOSafety sleep/rest ear plugs" + "earplugsuperstore"

The model is AOSafety's softest and just happens to have the highest noise reduction rating, but comfort is the most important thing. If they hurt your ears you won't wear them. I mention earplugsuperstore because they happen to be about the cheapest source and I may or may not have purchased from them for years. But if you can see the items at my link, it makes no difference where you buy them. I found them at Amazon for a lot more money than my source.

I have found a model sold under the "Macks" brand at many Wal Marts that look like a purple version of the ones I recommend but in my experience they are not as soft and supple. When I was flying I wore the EAR brand exclusively to good effect but hardly ever wore them for more than an hour. When I transplanted them from my flight bag to a hypothetical use in the truck my ear canal were very sore in about 2 hours, so sore I couldn't wear the plugs for a day and only for short periods.

If anyone tries these ear plugs, they will likely be uncomfortable after some period of wear at the start. The deeper you put the plugs into your ear canal the more effective they are. The deeper you put them in your ear canal the more likely they will become uncomfortable over time. The strategy at the start is to just barely put them in your ear canal until your become used to having them there and then over time insert them further and further to achieve the right combination of noise reduction and long-term comfort.

 

A pack of 14 pair of the AOSafety Sleep/Rest ear plugs from Amazon.com costs $25.

A pack of 14 pair from the Earplugsuperstore costs $7.

If you don't lose the plugs you will be able to get a weeks use from one pair. They get a little dirty so you decide how dirty before you replace them. I've not been able to wash and re-use them. I've tried putting a few pairs of well-sed plugs in a shirt pocket that buttons up and washing the shirt in the washing machine. I can't remember if I leave them in the shirt pocket while it dries. I have accidentally left them in a shirt and they don't melt in the a clothes driyer on the low setting. Anyway after washing the plugs spring back from being rolled up or pinched too fast to put them in your ear. New plugs have a bit of a waxy feel to them and they "rebound" more slowly. That slow rebound allows oyu to roll them up and put them in the ear canal. After washing the plugs won't stay rolled up long enough to put in the ear. But if you figure out a way to re-use the ear plugs after washing I'd be interested to learn from you.

 

I also understand that a keychain pill fob llike the one at the link below works well as a storage place for the ear plugs. You don't have to get them from my link, but once you see the item you can find them at any Wal Mart or grocery store in the pharmacy section. You can find metal and plastic versions. from $2-25 at any number of places.

http://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Dose-Deluxe-Metal-Chain/dp/B001G3YBLO

 

Huh???? Whadddyasay???

 

Call your ear doctor and find out. I'm doubting you'll find many doctors or hearing specialists here.

 

Not as bad as flying planes, at least you don't need a headset to drive a truck and still communicate...