Learn how to best protect your hearing health.
In our noisy world, exposure to loud sounds can lead to hearing damage and even permanent hearing loss. Fortunately, there are various types of hearing protection available to help safeguard your ears in different situations.
In this article, we’ll explore several types of hearing protection and when you should use them to help keep your ears safe.
- Foam earplugs
- Silicone earplugs
- Ear muffs
- Custom-molded earplugs
- Electronic hearing protection
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Swim plugs
- Sleeping earplugs
Keep reading to learn more about these eight types of hearing protection and talk to your hearing health care professional about which options are right for you.
Foam earplugs
Foam earplugs are ideal for everyday noise reduction. They’re portable, affordable, and provide effective noise reduction when inserted correctly. Use them in situations where you need to lower the overall noise level, such as when studying in a noisy environment, attending a concert, or riding public transportation.
To use them, roll the foam earplug between your fingers to compress it, then insert it into your ear canal as deep as comfort allows. Once inside, it will expand and conform to your ear’s shape.
Silicone earplugs
Silicone earplugs are durable, reusable, and waterproof. Instead of inserting them deep into the ear like foam, you generally use them to cover the entrance to the ear canal, which many people find more comfortable. Because most silicone earplugs are like a moldable putty, you can customize them to the unique contours of your ears and make them less likely to fall out.
Silicone earplugs are also great for swimming, since they prevent moisture from getting into your ears. Just gently use your fingers to mold the silicone until it creates a seal over your outer ear canal that blocks out noise and water.
Ear muffs
Ear muffs are ideal for high-noise environments like construction sites and industrial settings. They provide full ear coverage and can be worn over earplugs for double noise reduction. Plus, they are easy to put on and take off as needed, making them a convenient choice. Simply place the ear muffs over your ears (ensuring they are covered completely) and adjust the headband for a snug fit.
Custom-molded earplugs
Custom-molded earplugs are perfect for musicians, frequent concert-goers, and individuals who are regularly exposed to high noise levels. Since they are molded to fit your ears precisely, this type of hearing protection ensures a secure fit with superior comfort. Plus, they are built to preserve sound clarity, which matters in situations like concerts where you want to fully enjoy the experience while still keeping your ears safe.
Ask your audiologist if they offer custom earplugs. If they do, they can take impressions of your ears and send them to a lab to make earplugs that fit you perfectly!
Electronic hearing protection
Electronic hearing protection is the preferred choice for many people who use firearms, such as target shooters and military members. They allow you to hear low-level sounds (which helps you maintain situational awareness and carry on conversations) while also protecting against sudden loud noises by “compressing” the sound to a lower volume. Electronic hearing protection is worn like traditional ear muffs/earbuds; you’ll simply adjust the technical settings to suit your hearing preferences.
Noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are excellent for canceling out continuous background noise, such as airplane engines, lawnmowers and snowblowers, or the hum of public transport. They’re a great tool to help you create a quiet oasis in a noisy world during your travels, commute, or workday.
However, they’re not effective in protecting your ears from sudden loud noises, so don’t rely on them for that kind of protection. Most noise-canceling headphones require you to activate the noise-canceling feature and adjust the settings to your desired level of noise reduction. (Without the feature activated, they’ll just work like regular headphones.)
Swim plugs
Swim earplugs are designed for water activities like swimming, surfing, and diving. They prevent water from entering your ear canals, reducing the risk of swimmer’s ear and ear infections. Of course, they are made from waterproof materials and come in various styles, including custom molds and pre-molded options.
Some of the most popular types of swim earplugs include moldable silicone (as we mentioned earlier), plastic or rubber conical earplugs, and water-resistant custom earplugs. The insertion process will depend on which specific kind you get, but the main goal is to create a watertight seal to prevent conditions like swimmer’s ear.
Sleeping earplugs
Sleeping earplugs are designed to help you get a good night’s rest by blocking out ambient noise, including snoring or noisy neighbors. They may come in silicone, foam, or wax, so it’s up to you what material is most comfortable. Sleep earplugs are designed to be comfortable for extended wear, and they promote better sleep quality by reducing disturbances. Before bedtime, insert your sleeping earplugs, ensuring a snug but comfortable fit to block out unwanted noise.
By using the appropriate hearing protection, you can help to preserve your hearing health and enjoy life’s sounds for years to come. Remember that different situations may require different levels of noise protection, so it makes sense to have a variety of options on hand and make sure they fit you well.
To learn more about these different types of hearing protection and why they’re important, check out this CapTel blog post!
