i had that problem. I use earplaugs only when we are just learning our stuff so i can be as clean as possible, but when i don't need earplugs i use cotton balls, it buffles the sound and i can still hear everything. it works really well. I would recommend putting cotton in your ears if you want to protect your hearing but be able to still hear everyting going on.

okay. I was wrong. Here. http://www.coolmath.com/decibels1.htm

What?

Oh.. I never have worn ear plugs while playing the drums.. I guess I should start.

i haven't worn ear plugs when i'm around drums, and neither do our instructors. none of us have experienced any hearing loss, or at least nothing that is noticeable.

Yeah, I've noticed a slight loss of hearing. Playing snare, I have always had 3-2 snares on my left. When I was an underclassman, I was all the way on the right, so my left got 3 snares, two of which are rimshot freaks. This year, I am 3rd from left as captain, and have two guys on my left, one is another rimshot aholic. My left is worse than my right as a result. I have the military issued earplugs in that little puke green case attached to my car keys (stole from my Army brother) but I forget to put them in alot a lot, so that sucks...

I don't wear them either. Guess I'll just go deaf.

i wonder if anybody has actually measured the difference in decibel level of a line playing on the head at level 4 and a line playing rimshots at level 4...perhaps the rimshot level is above the threshold of pain...

Guys, I would seriously advise that you wear earplugs. Having been in/around marching band/corps for over 19 years, I have lost approximately 25% of my hearing in the left ear and 35% in my right. I also have occasional tinitus in my right ear (comes and goes at random intervals) which gets pretty loud. I have trouble hearing conversations, and I can't make out anything certain pitched voices are saying. Mind you, I do not crank up the volume of the radio or TV when I listen to music, nor do I work in a loud noise environment, so all of the damage has been from my marching activities.

Whether you are playing snare, tenors, bassdrum, or even a vibraslap, wear earplugs. Cotton is not good enough as it does not cut out enough decibels to prevent damage. While you might not notice the effects right now, you will when you are older, and I can tell you they're not pleasant. Please wear them.