I'm after a bit of help,

Does anyone wear earplugs to gigs?

I went to the hospital yesterday for a hearing test. I suffer with tinnitus and my hearing test showed that I have quite significant hearing loss (the doctor says most 50 year olds have better hearing than me! I'm 26!) and unless I start doing something to stop any further hearing loss I could be deaf very soon. So I've got to turn the volume down when I'm listening to music and wear earplugs to loud events!

what I need is an earplug that doesn't make everything sound muffled, can anyone help?

I don't know if this'll help because I've never been to a gig but I have shot rifles (loud sons of bitches that's for sure) and we used foam earplugs and I could still hear everything fine; it just toned everything down big time. I don't know if it'll help much, but it's worth a shot, right? (I hope so anyway o.o)

I absolutely use earplugs to my gigs. I'm usually on the barricade in front of the stage, with the stacks of speakers very near me, so I know the sound will be very loud near me.

Some protection is better than nothing, so just hitting up a drug store last minute is fine. But doing a little Googling, one could find this page and find some ideas for what might give better sound quality: http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/nasopl.html

I wear earplugs to every Concert that I attend.

I've never worn earplugs to a concert. I probably should because even at 17 I can tell my hearing is getting worse and worse.

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it

I wish I'd have thought about my ears sooner and then maybe I wouldn't be faced with this situation (hindsight's a wonderful thing!) at least it's not too late, I haven't lost my hearing completely and hopefully if I can protect my ears enough then at best it won't get any worse.

The thought of not being able to listen to music horrifies me!

it sorta duffles out the sound but can make it clearer in some cases as you dont get a bassy sound, you still fel the reverbs thru your body, i dont wear plugs, thinking about doing it as a preventative reason fot this condition. good luck with what you decide mate

I am thinking I am going to have to start wearing earplugs to concerts. In my left ear, I noticed I can't hear as well anymore. I can't hear people talking to me on my left side. It sounds like they are mumbling some foriegn language. :(

I am adopting earplugs, you aren't the only one!I hope your hearing never fails you. :)

My hearing is very bad. It always has been. I used to get ear infections and burst eardrums and now my hearing is terrible. Makes life harder for me - and boring. I cant hear what people are talking about and I get bored!

I love loud music but I would never consider using an i-pod because of my deafness. If I lose anymore I would have to wear a hearing aid.

It's hard giving up loud music. It's like a drug!

oh dear, that sounds awful. i prefer out or ear headphones they are more expensive but clearer and less screatchy. i hope you have come to some sort of conclsion and use awesome ear plugs,

Well I got some earplugs, they use a filtering system so I can change the amount of protection I need, I tested them out when I went to see Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) at the M.E.N arena. It was actually quite strange, as I could hear the music perfectly but could barely hear the crowd at all, I mean I could see everyone clapping but couldn't hear it (several thousand people usually make quite a loud noise! ) It's a little dis-heartening as I kind of lost the excitement and the atmosphere generated by the crowd but on the flip side I heard the music perfectly clearly (that is after all why I was there!) and my ears weren't ringing any more than they usually do, so really pleased as now I can continue going to watch bands...next up...Slipknot