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Hi,
I am esperimenting ears problems when I play my baby grand. It is difficult to explain, it is the same problem that you can have when you dive too deep, or if you stay in a disco with the volume of music too high.

I am not sure if this problem started after the technician prepped for the first time my new baby grand, because after a few days I went on vacation.

Perhaps the room is too small for my piano, I have the same problem even when I play with the lid closed.

The longer I play the worste I feel, even if I play at low volume, with a light touch.

I am thinking to use earplug, like the ones used in a swimming pool. Other suggestions?

Do you feel the same listening for loud music? Or only piano at home?

In your case I would place foam,small cushions or some other material under the soundboard that will soften or take the edge off the sound.Off course a full carpet with an undercover will really help.Does the sound rebound creating an echoey affect?
You could try putting balls of cotton wool in your ears. Otherwise it may be something to speak to a doctor about .Feeling as if you are under water or that association could perhaps mean something like perhaps you should have your blood pressure checked..(just a thought)
I do not want to scare you.Its very difficult to convey what someone really means online.Is your grand rather large and in a small room?

Is this from bass response? Sometimes, I find that acoustic environments are hostile to your sense of low frequencies. Opening only one car window (seems better with two), or there is a famous passague from Petroushka that often leaves me completely disoriented when the double basses do their thing on a stereo system.

Take a thick soft blanket and wrap it around the piano so it covers the soundboard, hold it in place with some books on the lid.

Does that sound better?

If you want to use earplugs, use "musicians earplugs" like these:

https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard-Polybag/dp/B00RM6Q9XW

They cut all frequencies equally.

Swimming earplugs are different -- very poor for hearing music.

To OP:

With all the good reviews, I had ordered the same musicians earplug some time ago, but i felt it hard and uncomfortable. I don't find it filtering sound, thus sold it.

Just to share my experience with this 3m plug is great. Cheap and works for me. I have no issue using it for online lessons even with a headphone over it.

It is important to note different people experience differently. May you get a suitable one.

It is wise to seek help from ear specialist.

Only with piano at home


My baby grand is 1,66 meters long (5'5"), the room is 3 meters x 5 meters. I seat with my back in a corner and the piano is located diagonally toward the longer wall.
I do not ear echoing.

I have a door and a balcony in the shortest wall, I would prefer not to open them.

I will try Leraux suggestion:


and tre corda:


I find difficult to place foam or cushions under the soundboard.

Cohen and Jojovan suggestione are also welcome.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Yes, I will check my ear pressure with a specialist. Thank you for the thought

First I’d try some ear plugs. If that makes some difference, I’d see a doctor and get a hearing test. The are specific types of ear plugs that can be used if you are sensitive to certain frequencies.

I have this problem also. I have been working with an ENT doc, and an audiologist. Custom made musician's earplugs help tremendously. I am still prone to sit down for a few minutes and not put the earplugs in, and still sensitive to it in general.

The biggest change I have found is to have my technician relentlessly tone down the individual notes which strike me as jarring or unpleasant after he finishes the tuning. Unfortunately this leads to less brightness than I would like, but it is what it is. At least I can play for a bit without it leading to a multi-day tinnitus spike. So far, it has been different notes after each tuning - originally it was the treble killing me, but last time it was the middle section of the keyboard.

Reading BlakeOR's experience I would see a doctor or audiologist.Those ear plugs sound like the kind of thing that can help the OP.

Yes, my sister, who also plays piano has an audiologist that prescribes specific ear plugs/tinnitus hearing aids. If regular Medicare did cover hearing aids, the orders for hearing aids would sky rocket.

Visiting an audiologist would be the best approach.

Another approach is to use a microphone(s) on your piano, and running it through a mixer-->EQ-->headphones. Use the EQ to dampen down the offending frequencies. You can also practice very quietly using this approach. You will need closed back headphones to dampen the piano external to the mic setup.