Spudmuffin 0 #1 October 10, 2004 Does anyone have advice on protecting your ears from the wind? I can't hear much for a long while after my jumps. Thanks, much! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
President 0 #2 October 10, 2004 It's not the wind, it's the rapid altitude change that deafens you. Swallow once under the canopy - it will clear your ears. Works for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
headoverheels 334 #3 October 10, 2004 Wear earplugs and a helmet which covers your ears. The foam plugs work fairly well, but only last a few days. The more dense ones will tend to come out in the ride to altitude, or be pushed in a bit on the freefall descent. We're not ignoring you, we just can't hear anymore! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #4 October 10, 2004 QuoteIt's not the wind, it's the rapid altitude change that deafens you. Well, you often do need to clear your ears once under canopy. However, the noise of 120-mph wind blast *is* very loud in freefall - which is why we can't talk to each other. And long term exposure to such noise can affect your hearing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #5 October 11, 2004 And don't forget the aircraft noise on the way to height Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #6 October 11, 2004 QuoteAnd don't forget the aircraft noise on the way to height Yeah, and my other hobby is rifle shooting. So I'm around noisy airplanes, noisy freefall, and noisy guns, nearly every weekend. I'm probably already going deaf... Huh? What did you say? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #7 October 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteAnd don't forget the aircraft noise on the way to height Yeah, and my other hobby is rifle shooting. So I'm around noisy airplanes, noisy freefall, and noisy guns, nearly every weekend. I'm probably already going deaf... Huh? What did you say? It's funny until you start having hearing loss. Take it from me, its not fun. I have CC on my tv almost all of the time, if not I have the volume turned up LOUD. Most people think I am yelling at them when I think I talking at normal volume. "Huh? What? Say that again?" are the most common phrases you will hear from me on a daily basis. Get some earplugs for freefall and the airplane. You will be thankful later on._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pendragon 1 #8 October 11, 2004 Quote Wear earplugs and a helmet which covers your ears. The foam plugs work fairly well, but only last a few days. The more dense ones will tend to come out in the ride to altitude, or be pushed in a bit on the freefall descent. I was under the impression that wearing earplugs in freefall was dangerous, or should I stand corrected? Can't see any problem with using them on the ride up in the plane (although I just wear my close-fitting helmet, which quietens things down a little... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #9 October 11, 2004 QuoteQuote Wear earplugs and a helmet which covers your ears. The foam plugs work fairly well, but only last a few days. The more dense ones will tend to come out in the ride to altitude, or be pushed in a bit on the freefall descent. I was under the impression that wearing earplugs in freefall was dangerous, or should I stand corrected? Can't see any problem with using them on the ride up in the plane (although I just wear my close-fitting helmet, which quietens things down a little... foam earplugs to deafen the noise should be fine. What you DON'T want to do is wear your hearing aids (if you wear them) with the special silicone ear molds. The change in air pressure in freefall is enough to really suck in the ear mold to the point where it HURTS LIKE HELL... I did it once before, and so did another deaf skydiver. I think at the time he wanted to be able to hear his audible, but there are products out there such as LED-equipped altitude warning devices. One big benefit of being deaf is you don't have to put up with all the bullshit and plugging up your ears on the take-offs, etc... and if you know sign language and have reasonably good body balance, you can actually "talk" in freefall! Rides to altitude are actually soothing to me... Blue Skies Billy www.deafskydivers.org"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
