What Hearing Protection is Right for Your Needs?

Hearing loss is a lot more common than some people realize. The truth is that even though it is such a common problem, a lot of hearing loss is preventable. Your inner ear is a fragile system that will decline as you age naturally, but causing damage to your ears will increase this problem and cause it to happen earlier.

In addition to losing your hearing, you can also get tinnitus or a ringing or buzzing noise in your ear. Most people experience this at some point in their life, but it is usually temporary. Damaged components of the inner ear can cause this to be a constant problem. Once your hearing is damaged, your ear will not heal themselves.

There are many different causes of hearing loss and ways that you can protect your hearing against them. Based on your lifestyle and risks, different hearing protection might work better than others. If you are unsure about which hearing protection is best for you, you can talk to your audiologist and get their recommendations.

Foam earplugs

Foam earplugs are inserted into your ear and are designed to fit your ear's shape by expanding once they are in place. Rolling the tube will compress it into a thin tube that you can fit in your ear canal. Once it is in, it will expand to fill the space to protect your hearing. If you have smaller ears, you can find smaller sizes to work.

Reusable earplugs

While the foam plugs are meant to only be used once and then discarded, these earplugs can be reused. They are made from silicone, plastic, or rubber and are pre-molded to fit most ears. They are also available in a couple of different sizes but are not molded to fit a specific individual.

The exact directions for inserting the earplugs may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer and style. Typically you will reach over your head with the opposite hand and pull up on the ear. You will then insert the earplug by gently rocking it back and forth until the ear canal is sealed. A good sizing tip is that the ear canal should be completely sealed, but it should not be uncomfortable.

These earplugs are inexpensive and can be washed and reused. They are also small and easy to carry and come in enough sizes that they can work for most people. This can be beneficial if you work in a dusty or dirty area because you won't need to roll them before inserting them.

Canal caps

This type of ear protection looks like earplugs that are fixed on a plastic or metal band. This band may be worn over the head or behind the neck. These are convenient because they can easily be removed without being lost. They can then be quickly inserted in again when needed.

Earmuffs

Noise-canceling headphones or earmuffs come in various models to fit most people. They completely cover the outer ear to eliminate noise. They can be obtained with electronic parts to allow workers to communicate with each other or to help eliminate more noise.