I've watched my hearing slide down every year at my flight physical. It's still in the 'not bad' range, but it started 'above average'. E-2 FOs sit between the nacelles, after all. I have no love for the new props, but they did reduce the DBs and vibration significantly. You started hearing noises you hadn't been able to hear before. "What was that?" "Hyd pumps" "Oh..."
I have to admit I couldn't wear foamies under my helmet for years. I tried, but they always just irritated the hell out of me. I felt like I had those Star Trek ear worms in there. Then the "SparkPlugs" started showing up (the shaped gel ones with trippy swirled colors). HUGE improvement. I could wear those all day. Even wore them to sleep on the boat last deployment.
I have to admit I couldn't wear foamies under my helmet for years. I tried, but they always just irritated the hell out of me. I felt like I had those Star Trek ear worms in there. Then the "SparkPlugs" started showing up (the shaped gel ones with trippy swirled colors). HUGE improvement. I could wear those all day. Even wore them to sleep on the boat last deployment.