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Ask HN: Earplugs as Powerful as Fingers?

by rumpelstinkin on 9/8/22, 6:31 AM with 29 comments

• by rkagerer on 9/8/22, 6:53 AM

  Way back I used to live in an apartment with terrible noise from above at night.

  I got pretty sensitive to it over time, to the point I started drafting sketches and ideas for what essentially would have been a "soundproofed coffin". The concept eventually evolved into a helmet design. But I moved out to a quieter place before actually prototyping anything.

  I was similarly disappointed I couldn't find anything premade on the market. It terms of earplugs, I personally find the silicon ones worked best, shoved in tight enough to make a good seal. Sometimes I was able to cram into a contorted position with my arms holding memory foam pillows on top of my head that would further help dampen noise.

  Sorry to hear about your woes. It sucks. Hang in there and don't give up. If you're able to consider resituating, don't be afraid to make noise a priority factor for the new location - noise pollution often doesn't get the consideration and attention it deserves, and people who haven't gone through it don't always realize how it can impact your health and break down your mental fortitude.

  Finally, if you really are having suicidal thoughts please seek out professional help.

  Sending good karma your way; I hope you're able to reclaim a corner of control.

• by cwillu on 9/8/22, 5:11 PM

  I've used standard foam earplugs to sleep in a place where deranged screaming and snoring loud enough to wake the dead is commonplace and I'm _very_ sensitive to noise.

  It's possible that you're inserting them incorrectly, most people do. Roll up the foam, insert while pulling your ear back (!). Hold it in while continuing to hold your ear back for 10-15 seconds, long enough for the foam to expand, and then release. This should result in at least as good of a block as you can get with your fingers. Note that there shouldn't be any foam protruding from your ear -- if your head on a pillow feels like it's pressing on the earplug, it's not in far enough.

• by aintmeit on 9/8/22, 7:19 AM

  Are noise levels commonly associated with suicide? If the noise levels around you are those of a bike, a dog, or music, then that's far from loud. In contrast, have you ever visited a construction site?

  When you say that one of the things you've tried to stifle the noise is earmuffs, I wonder about the way you're approaching this problem. There exist so many noise-cancelling solutions out there, yet you choose to go with something warm over something effective. It makes me think about the cause of your suicideal ideation. Are your suicidal thoughts related at all to noise levels?

  You use the phrase, "tiny corner of control". What are the core beliefs underlying this wish to control a tiny corner of space? And why does that have to do with safety? Does control imply safety?

  In 12-step programs, we know that seeking control is what causes us to be sick. By seeking to control, we lose even more control of our lives. In your case, this dynamic plays out so that by trying to feel safe, you end up in a dangerous psychological spot. In fact, many schools of thought will say that the sense of control in life is an illusion.

  You can feel better and learn to live with the noise. Please consider consulting a registered mental health care professional. In the meantime, consider learning the serenity prayer. It will remind you that control is not necessary to lead a good life. Finally, seeking help from internet strangers is a mixed bag. You may end up soliciting uninformed opinions, such as, "this is not The Telltale Heart noise shouldn't make you feel bad".

  Good luck!

• by toast0 on 9/8/22, 3:50 PM

  If you're looking for temporary respite, I have some suggestions.

  In my area, sensory deprivation 'spas' are coming back, there's a (local?) chain called float that has been advertising.

  Recording studios are heavily sound isolated, and most cities have some. Sort of odd to book an hour and just sit, but maybe they've got some weird holes in their schedule.

  If either of those two work, and you have control over your living space, you could pursue home versions of that.

  A weekend trip to a nearby national park or the like can be pretty quiet.

  Personally, I live in a semi-rural area which reduces the human noises to mostly only my family. But there's still airplanes of all sizes flying overhead, and really loud vehicles far away, and ferry horns. My neighbor's dog sometimes gets in our yard and barks and I can hear our rooster and at least two neighbors (they crow all day, not just at sunrise). Then there's birds and coyotes and what not. Not entirely quiet but close.

• by teejmya on 9/8/22, 2:54 PM

  I have found that noise can "get to me" sometimes as well, and I recently tried Loops brand earplugs on a recommendation from a friend. I recommend them as they are comfortable, effective, and come with 5 sizes of tips to ensure you get a good fit. They also come in a tiny travel case that I keep on my car keys.

  https://us.loopearplugs.com/pages/quiz

  There are two dampening levels and I recommend you try the very quiet one, maybe purchase them through Amazon so that you can return them if they don't work for you. Additionally I haven't found any noticeable difference between the metal and plastic variants; the plastic ones are fine and a bit cheaper!

  Hope this helps.

• by antihoney on 9/8/22, 8:01 AM

  You can check out the noise cancelling headphones from Bose, or search up Ear Defenders on Amazon. I've heard good things about Bose headphones, and am looking into them myself because of my own sensory issues.

• by CrazyIvan on 9/10/22, 5:52 PM

  Any foam earplugs with rating above 30dB will give you a bit of peace.

  For normal life when you want to hear things around you but less annoying get Etymotic ER20 musicians earplugs.

  If you want in-ear-monitors get Etymotic ER2SE or ER2XR. With Comply p100 eartips they will give you 35dB noise reduction easily and you can enjoy glorious sound quality.

  Comply p100 are also compatible with ER20 earplugs so these can be made more comfortable.

  Hang in there, there are solutions, you are not alone in this.

• by sethammons on 9/8/22, 11:59 AM

  I was surprised to find out that earplugs can be misused; maybe that is why fingers are more effective than plugs for you. You have to prepare the plugs by gently rolling them (with no wrinkles) into a thinner state so they expand in the ear to form a better seal.

  If self harm is a real option, seek help from a professional and/or move. Perhaps sleeping at a friend's house or going camping can provide some relief.

• by laurieg on 9/8/22, 8:30 AM

  Sorry you're going through this. I had to deal with construction 10 meters away from my window for a year and it is incredible how much it affects your mental state.

  My suggestions: * Move somewhere quieter if you can and if there is no foreseeable end to the noise.

  * Practice techniques for calming yourself and accepting the noise.

  * Put earplugs in and then play loud music/audio through over the ear headphones.

• by ananiochita on 9/8/22, 8:33 AM

  I can't offer a solution, but I have over-the-head ear muffs made for construction sites, the strongest I could find and buy for moments where I can't take it anymore. They help somewhat.

  The only actual solution is to get away from the noise -- I know all too well this is impossible most of the time and most people don't even get the problem.

• by kratom_sandwich on 9/8/22, 8:51 PM

  I have achieved high levels of noise cancellation by combining over-ear noise-cancelling headphones with earplugs. In particular, I used Beyerdynmic DT 770 M headphones, which already have a high level of sound dampening. Obviously, this is a solution for a few hours of working, not for sleep.