You ought to get a good supply of ear plugs so you have some in the car and at home and anywhere else you may be on a regular basis. Sometimes, you can put them in as a preventative, other times, you will realize that you need to put them in after you notice the sound level.

For me, it is not just the sound level but also the mix of different sounds. I use them in movie theaters, auditoriums, etc. Most sound systems are set too loud due to the needs of those who have hearing effected by loud music.

My wife always has some ear plugs in her purse just in case I need them. Sometimes, I will forget about the sound and she will notice me starting to get spacey eyed and offer them to me.