In my case, I just can’t remember the daggone ear plugs. I really should just put them in my case because a room full of pipes is pretty loud.
What about UP pipers? It doesn’t seem the habit of using earplugs is common. UPs are obviously less noisy than GHB pipes, but if a simple whistle may cause damage, I wonder if UPs can also be harmful as well 
My fav whistles now are Generation whistles and they are not really loud. Also, I use tweaked whistles when practicing and they are soft. But actually, I’ve never exerienced any such problems and actually never heard of them from my fellow whistlers… Weird.
Howdy,
See? You do have hearing loss 
Best,
Dave
This is well-known. One of the arguments raised in UK TV circles is that of advertisements which blare out noisily when the program stops. According to the instruments, they are at the same volume as the program. According to observers/auditors they very definitely are not.
The sound analysis is getting more complicated.
But different people perceive these differently. It sounds as though earplugs are the way to go.
I’ve been perfecting the making of CPVC high D whistle, and along the way have made some that were too quiet, and I called them failures and worked on getting a nice loud sound. Perhaps I should work on making a quiet whistle? Would people be interested in adding some quiet practice whistles to their collections if I manage it? Just wondering how much bother it would be worth. I get good low octave results with tape or poster tack, but the upper octave I have to imagine when taping the window.
The ear plug approach has the advantage of using the same whistle with all it’s characteristics. The disadvantage is when co-existing with others in the same house.
Thoughts?
A music shop will sell you fairly low cost musicians ear plugs. I went the next step and went to a hearing clinic where they took a mould of my ear and made units to fit. Normal cost is $200 but I knew the guy and he charged me $100. I bought 2 filters, one pair filters more then the other. Now that my hyperacuity (sensitive hearing) has abated I’m using the lower filters. It does affect enjoyment of the music in a session, but at least I’ll enjoy it for a long time.
I don’t remember the brand, but this site looks good to me:
http://www.ultimateears.com
When I first started whistling some 3 years ago.. (I know long time haha) I was playing the old style Clarkes with the wooden fipple blocks… And I thought the upper 4 notes (A, B, C, D) were loud to my ears.. Doesn’t bother me anymore though. Either I’ve killed off enough ear cells, or I’ve gotten used to it. Probably both!
The only thing that bothers my ears really is shooting 9mm, .357 magnum, and high powered deer rifles without hearing protection.
Just my 2 cents.
-Eric