It\u2019s a miracle that my hearing is still in a good state. At 38, I\u2019m firmly of the Discman and iPod generation. I spent countless hours tuning out the world with those devices throughout my teens and 20s. And then, there are all the concerts. Early on, they included some wretched (and obnoxiously loud) punk shows. These days, I\u2019m shooting photos at most of the concerts I attend \u2014 right in front of the stage near professional speakers meant to fill arenas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
All of this is to say that I should<\/em> have amassed some hearing damage along the way, but somehow, I\u2019ve made out okay. Every few weeks, I might hear a faint tinnitus ring, but it fades away within seconds. What I don\u2019t<\/em> want is for that ringing to become a steady, persistent aspect of my life. So even if it admittedly took me too long, I\u2019m trying to stay consistent in wearing hearing protection at concerts and other blaring events.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s easy to find foam earplugs on the cheap at any pharmacy, and you can buy them in bulk at Amazon for under $10. They\u2019ll do a better job than if you were to go without any<\/em> protection. But there\u2019s nothing elegant about jamming foam into your ears; the cheapest earplugs can noticeably diminish your listening experience at concerts and rob live music of clarity and precision. If you want to safeguard your ears and<\/em> get the most from a performance, it\u2019s worth stepping up to earplugs that focus on preserving some fidelity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n