Three Forms of Ear Protection

To protect against hearing loss or further hearing damage, your audiologist will likely recommend several forms of hearing protection that are best suited for your career and your lifestyle. Picking the right hearing protection often depends on your role at your workplace or the types of hobbies that you’re generally involved in. To make things easier for you, consider this short list of three different types of ear protection that can help to protect your hearing.

Earplugs

If you expose yourself to loud noises on a regular basis but still need some level of hearing, earplugs can be a good choice. Earplugs will block out most loud noises yet still give you enough room to hear most sound around you. For instance, if you’re playing on stage at a concert then it’s common to wear earplugs to help tone down the noise. Some musicians even wear earplugs during rehearsals and practice to help protect their ears. Earplugs are small, discreet and inexpensive, making them great options for cheap hearing protection.

However, earplugs aren’t made to fit your ears and they’re often uncomfortable. If you want hearing aids that are made to fit your ear canals, you may want to visit an audiologist. They can use your ear to make a mold that will turn into earplugs that are made specifically for your ears. These will be much better at blocking out loud noises and be much more comfortable to wear than regular earplugs. Custom earplugs can get expensive, but if you value your hearing and consider that hearing damage is irreversible, it’s a small price to pay for custom ear protection.

Earmuffs

When it’s important to get a quick and easy solution with a reliable fit, earmuffs are often the go-to choice for hearing protection, especially when they’ll be taken off on a regular basis. Earmuffs are commonly seen on construction sites due to their relatively low cost. Some people also prefer earmuffs to earplugs because they don’t need to be fit inside of your ears. However, earmuffs offer less protection than custom-fit earplugs from an audiologist. This is due to the way they sit over the ears as opposed to being in the ear canal.

Semi-insert earplugs

Semi-insert earplugs use soft tips that are held together by a lightweight band. They work similarly to earplugs except they can be easily removed and worn with ease, much like earmuffs. The tips are usually conical in shape, so they fit comfortably in the ear canal. However, due to the way the band holds together the plugs, they can often give less protection than even earmuffs. The correct size is required for both the band that fits around the head and also the ear tips, making it especially difficult to get the right fit.