Quite often. Especially when you are captive audience or when certain music is being played. Also during rock concerts or in the movies.
Between 5 and 6 pm when the road in front of my house is busy. This is why it's my online posting time. I go to the back of the house and shut the bedroom door. Never thought of earplugs!!!!! Will put some on my amazon list for next week. Thanks!!
All day everyday until my daughter and her child Move out! Problem is my ear canals are so small I can't find plugs to wear.
While I worked on paper bag machines, I am glad that I opted on hearing protectors rather than the foam earplugs. Although OSHA was content with the company supplying us with foam earplugs, I insisted, as the Chief Shop Steward, that they provide anyone who wanted one with full hearing protection set instead. I am fairly confident that they provided better protection and, while I was working on these very loud machines, they muffled the machine sounds while allowing me to hear conversation.