Reddit mentions of Hearos Xtreme Protection Series Ear Plugs Highest NRR ,14 Pairs

All joking aside, you really should wear earplugs. Even ignoring the hearing loss, it results in less fatigue, better focus, and honestly it's easier to hear the engine.

I don't know how you guys don't wear them. It's incredibly uncomfortable to me even if one of them didn't seal right (and too much sound is coming through).

Trust me! Try it for one session and you'll see (hear?) the difference. I use the super-cheap foam ones: https://www.amazon.com/Hearos-5826-Ear-Plugs/dp/B00M0P6FX4

I'm 35 - pro mastering engineer, and a tinnitus sufferer. I know this might seem impossible, but in time you will adjust and it will go away. A couple things I wish I had told myself at 21.

1. Buy ear plugs and put them in your car, jacket pocket, pants, back pack. I like the Hearos Extreme ones. Wear them whenever you're in ANY sort of loud environment.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Xtreme-Protection-Plugs-14-Pair/dp/B00M0P6FX4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1519348869&sr=8-6&keywords=hearos+extreme+protection
   
   
2. Buy these, or something like them, and wear them (instead of the earplugs) if you're doing anything around the house that might be loud. Mowing the lawn, building something, even vaccuming.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AFOJ3HG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
3. This is HUGE. Buy an SPL meter (I'll link to a cheap one below) set it up at your listening position and adjust your listening level so that it doesn't go above 85dba during the loudest passages of mastered tracks. Don't use youtube, spotify, or any other loudness normalized playback medium to do this. Buy a song off itunes (that isn't labeled 'mastered for itunes') or better yet - play back a CD.
   
   Mark that volume level on on your level control and NEVER go above it. 85 dba SPL is safe for 8 hours a day - anything more than that, or longer and you could potentially cause permanent damage. If your ears feel stuffed or tired it's because you're listening too long, too loud, or both.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZZ8B5Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   I understand that you may be recording or mixing material that is lower than mastered material and will sound quiet at the 85db setting you'll have marked off. In that case, make a second mark on your volume control that corresponds to 85db at mix level, or better yet - keep the SPL meter in front of you. This serves a dual purpose, as it doesn't only protect your ears, but it helps you hear constantly. Your sensitivity to different frequencies chances (quite a bit) with listening level. So establishing a (safe) standard will allow you to mix faster, better, and much more confidently.
   
   Typed that pretty fast while working, so sorry for any typos.
   
   Good luck!
   
   edit: for some reason all my points are coming up as #1 ... odd.
   

I was having the same problem as you. I use these, but the life hack that really got them to work for me, is I cut the bottom off (like a cm) and just use that.

I have short ear canals I guess so I couldn't get any ear plugs deep enough to stay? And using the thicker end makes a better seal. I did tend to wake up without them in my ears any more, but I think I was pulling them out in my sleep. Once I got to sleep I didn't need them as much though, and my noise maker helps to muffle the noises and not distract me from sleeping.

Hearos Xtreme Protection NRR 33