What's a trcukers best defense against going deaf or ringing of the ear / tinnitus?

Yes modern trucks are quieter than older trucks. However, modern truck interiors are still loud enough to ruin your hearing, it just takes a little longer than back in the old days. The truth if the matter is that hearing loss is from a combination of the loudness and the duration of exposure. Since a truckl driver is typically in the truck and driving for about 8-12 hours per day the much-improved sound levels of today's trucks still doesn't protect you from certain future hearing loss. Many drivers, since they are around other drivers, don't recognize their hearing loss. You can always turn up the radio a little bit and not notice.

I'm not 100% certain of the legality of wearing foam ear plugs while driving so it might not be wise to admit to doing so lest your boss or DOT find out. Hypothetically speaking, I understand AOSafety's Sleep/Rest Ear plugs are very comfortable to wear for long periods. They are super smooth on the surface that touches your ear canal and they are super soft, much softer than any other type of foam ear plugs. A package of 7-14 pairs can be had for just a few dollars and they are easy to find if you Google AOSafety Sleep/Rest ear plugs. I understand Noisebusters is a reliable source online.

One tip, any ear plug will feel pretty good for the first hour. Only after that will you know if you can wear them all day/night while you drive. It's best to not insert then deep in the ear canal until you slowly work up to that. A little noise attenuation is better than none and inserting the plugs too far into the virgin ear will cause irritation and pain. Once you get comfortable with them, which could take weeks or not, you can experiment with how deeply you place them in the ear.

I know a driver that swears by them and wears them 10 plus hours per day, and has for 10 years. That driver can hear the truck AM/FM better and at a lower volume with the plugs in than out. That driver can carry on normal conversation in an office or noisy loading dock without removing them, once he adjusted his speaking volume. With plugs in your own voice will seem much louder than the nearby people trying to hear you speak.

 

OH, one more thing: ear plugs will make any apparent tinnitus seam worse in quiet environments. Tinnitus has many forms from a white noise sound to a clear ringing sound. Tinnitus sufferers have widely varying sensitivity to the sound they hear, and that sensitivity varies from time to time. A little pleasant sound is quite effective in masking the tinnitus sound or distracting the sufferer from the constant woosh or ringing.

 

correction, the hypothetical drivers has found Googling AOSafety Sleep/rest ear plugs brings up a reliable source for purchase. earplugstore is a good source for these plugs if one is interested. Also, take out the plugs before crossing the scales just to be sure you and DOT don't have a long discussion about wearing ear plugs while you drive.

 

I have a nice motorcycle that I put a carbon fiber performance exhaust on and which is inordinately loud. I also like to be heard while I'm riding my bike which is one of the main reasons I did it. Anyway, to protect my hearing, I bought some great and cheap earplugs from the local motorcycle shop. They are called "Skull Screws". I think I paid like $8 for the pair and they come with a little plastic box to keep them in when not in use. They've lasted me over 18 months so far and still going strong. They are basically a conical shaped foam part with a harder plastic center which you can grab to insert and take them out.

These are probably NOT good for driving, as I think they might block out too much noise...but I thought if anyone was having trouble with noise while sleeping or anything else-they are awesome! Perfect for team driving when you need to sleep, etc. You use a sort of screwing motion to insert them, then they expand. I've had $100 silencers on my ears that don't work as well as these. One can just....just make out voices, but they completely block out white noise for me like exhaust on my bike, other people snoring, engines and motors, etc.