Earplugs Problem

[Slowboathome]

I use the Howard Leight earplugs that you roll up and insert into the ear canal.

After I take them out my ear is blocked. I think they're pushing wax against the ear drum.

Now I've got no hearing out of one ear. I'm booked in to get it syringed at the GP.

Any suggestions for alternative ear plugs that won't cause the same problem?

Cheers.

[Ed.]

There are plastic reusable ones which don't go in as far but I don't think I would be putting anything in my ear canal if I had already gone deaf.

https://www.thesafetysupplycompany.co.uk/p/9488277...

Can you hear anything through the blocked ear, can you not take a break from riding until you get your hearing fixed?

[Slowboathome]

Cheers

Yes, I can hear a bit through it. I'll not be putting earplugs in it until it's been cleaned out by the nurse (no need for plugs at the moment!).

But I want something I can use after it's cleaned out that won't create the same problem.

[voram]

They don't much like doing mechanical clearance these days.

You can either buy fancy softener stuff from your local pharmacist (entertainingly, it fizzes in your ear) or you can just put some olive oil and bicarbonate of soda in your ear and wait... Google it.

I'd be off to the pharmacy to pick up some official DIY stuff.

[black-k1]

If you push anything down your ear canal you risk pushing wax down as well. There is no getting around that. Things that don't go down your ear canal will simply not offer the same level of hearing protection.

This is true for everyone who uses ear plugs so, in your position, I'd be asking the nurse why your ear wax is an issue when most people don't have the same problems.

[Slowboathome]

Cheers. Nurse at GP practice will do the mechanical clearance in 2 weeks - need to do daily olive oil until then.

I'll take a look at DIY store plugs.

[voram]

Slowboathome said:

Cheers. Nurse at GP practice will do the mechanical clearance in 2 weeks - need to do daily olive oil until then.

That's good. I'd still suggest trying the DIY stuff from your local pharmacy. You might find it's sorted out quicker than 2 weeks.

[FunkyNige]

Slowboathome said:

Cheers. Nurse at GP practice will do the mechanical clearance in 2 weeks - need to do daily olive oil until then.

I'll take a look at DIY store plugs.

You can get your ears cleaned out by mircosuction for about £80, if you Google "ear wax removal" you'll get a load of places that do it.

[Ecosseven]

FunkyNige said:

You can get your ears cleaned out by mircosuction for about £80, if you Google "ear wax removal" you'll get a load of places that do it.

Spec savers will do it for £55 for both ears.

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/earwax/earwax...

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for the suggestions re microsuction etc. I had a look this morning and earliest bookable date round here is only a few days before GP appointment so I'll let them do it for free.

Re me and earwax, I've always been a bit 'catarrhgy' - don't have any dairy, or gluten but still get it, think I've probably got narrow ear canals which doesn't help.

Anyway (given this is in Biker Banter not Health) any other suggestions for ear plugs that you've used which aren't the roll up into ear canal type?

Thanks

[Bikerjon]

I know a bit about this...I've had enormous problems using earplugs for the same reason. The fact is some people have waxy ears, others don't. Some people also have tiny ear canals making ear plugs very difficult/impossible to use correctly. I started a thread about this a while back and was kindly recommended "Macks pillow soft" ear plugs which work differently and certainly worth a try. Finding a quiet helmet also makes the world of difference as it means I only bother with ear protection on longer rides now.

Regarding the blockage, microsuction is the only thing that works for me but olive oil is worth a try.

[MajorMantra]

Slowboathome said:

Thanks for the suggestions re microsuction etc. I had a look this morning and earliest bookable date round here is only a few days before GP appointment so I'll let them do it for free.

Re me and earwax, I've always been a bit 'catarrhgy' - don't have any dairy, or gluten but still get it, think I've probably got narrow ear canals which doesn't help.

Anyway (given this is in Biker Banter not Health) any other suggestions for ear plugs that you've used which aren't the roll up into ear canal type?

Thanks

Moldex Rocket type ones. I have small ear canals (and waxy ears) and these work for me. They need to be wet to go in properly, and you need to do the ear tugging thing (google how to insert ear plugs).

Re ear wax, I syringe my own ears, which a GP will tell you not to do, but I'm not paying £55 every month to have someone else do it.

[Dr Jekyll]

Ear plugs certainly go in better if they are wet, but I've always been wary because I'm told the risk of ear infection from plugs is exacerbated if the plugs are wet, bacteria like wet warm places. Now that we have hand sanitiser all over the place I'm wondering about using that to dampen the plugs. Would having the stuff in my ears do any harm?

[StreetDragster]

Dr Jekyll said:

Ear plugs certainly go in better if they are wet, but I've always been wary because I'm told the risk of ear infection from plugs is exacerbated if the plugs are wet, bacteria like wet warm places. Now that we have hand sanitiser all over the place I'm wondering about using that to dampen the plugs. Would having the stuff in my ears do any harm?

Not sure that's a good idea.
My ear plugs are customfitguards, they come with a tube of ear balm to lubricate them. It looks suspiciously like vaseline to me, id be using that over hand sanitizer or water personally

[shirt]

Unless you clean regularly you will always have this issue. Get decent buds, don’t poke too deep, make it part of your daily routine. I did and it’s the only solution.

I’d 100% recommend custom plugs also. For the cost of them these days (like 40-50quid) it’s a no brainer

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for all the suggestions - really helpful. I'll try the Mack's and see how I get on.

Thanks again.

[voram]

Slowboathome said:

any other suggestions for ear plugs that you've used which aren't the roll up into ear canal type?

I'm a big fan of Alpine musicians earplugs. You can adjust the amount of noise suppression by changing the inserts. Well worth a look.

Just checked Amazon and, guess what, Alpine do a specific version for motorcylists
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-MotoSafe-Race-Plug...