If you work in a loud environment and noises constantly surround you, you should consider getting earplugs for yourself. Earplugs are small devices meant to be inserted into our ear canals to protect our ears.
They do not just protect our ears from noise, but also from dust, wind, and water.
Be it for swimming, attending a music concert, suffering from ear pain in an airplane or even facing difficulty in getting a good night’s sleep, earplugs are a boon and can fulfill these needs.
There are a variety of earplugs in different styles, designed to fit each purpose. You need to narrow down your options depending on your situation before purchasing your earplugs.
Determine the cause
Determine if you need protection from sound or water. There are many types of earplugs available, and they do not fulfill a dual purpose.
Earplugs are made to fit particular purposes and vary in style and material as well. You need to protect your ears from noises if you are in a loud environment and protect your ears from water if you are going out swimming. Choose the type of earplug that suits your particular situation.
Consider your budget
Earplugs are ranged at different prices depending on the material they are made of and the quality and comfort they can provide. Disposable earplugs are cheap as they are meant for one-time use, while Custom earplugs are expensive.
You need to figure out how much money you are willing to spend on earplugs. If you use earplugs frequently, consider getting expensive custom-made earplugs rather than constantly spending on disposable ones.
Determine the type of earplug that you need
There are various types of earplugs available in the market made from different materials. You can choose from these types depending on your requirement.
- Disposable earplugs are made from either polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU) and are meant for one-time use.
- Moldable earplugs are made of wax or silicone material. They allow reuse for a few times until they become dirty.
- Re-usable earplugs are made of soft silicone or plastic material which makes it durable and can be used several times. They can be cleaned before reusing, suitable for sleeping, noise reduction, shooting, etc.
- Earmuffs are used as extra protection to block noise by those who work with heavy machinery, aircraft engines, and lawn equipment.
- Electronic earplugs have microprocessors that compress loud noises like gun blasts and allow safe levels of sound to pass through to the ear. These are used by gun shooters and musicians.
- Custom-molded earplugs are molded earplugs made from molds of the impressions of the wearer. They are made of acrylic or soft silicone to fit your ear canal tightly.
Look for the proper fit
Earplugs must be worn correctly and fit properly in your ears to achieve the desired result. If you use a foam earplug, you should insert it in your ears properly.
You can also look for flanged earplugs that fit comfortably in your ears. Flanged earplugs have flaps around the center of the plug allowing the earplug to seal your ear canal. A poor fitting or poor quality earplug will do you more harm than good.
Find your perfect match
Try different earplugs to find out which you like best. Take the comfort level into account. Purchase small quantities of different types of earplugs and see which one works best for you. Talk, yawn and move your jaw around to find out if the plug stays in properly. Test the earplugs, try to mimic the activity you will be doing in the future while wearing the earplugs. Find plugs that stay in your ears and feel comfortable.
Perfect fitting earplugs should sit snugly in your ears without popping out and cause any discomfort. If you are buying earplugs to block out sound while you sleep, they should be comfortable and stay in your ears when you toss and turn. Try different brands of earplugs and choose the ones that are the perfect match.
If you cannot test them and it isn’t an option for you, try reading customer reviews to understand the quality and fit of the earplugs you are willing to purchase.
Consider the Noise Reduction Rating
If you are purchasing earplugs for blocking out noise, you should consider its Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). If you are exposed to an environment with over 90 decibels of sound, it can be harmful to your ears. The NRR of an earplug is always listed on its packaging, and it indicates how much sound the earplugs can reduce. The higher the NRR, the more noise your earplugs can block.
Consider Custom-molded earplugs
Custom-molded earplugs tailored to fit your ears. Since the shape and size of the ear canals vary from person to person, it becomes a challenge to find earplugs that fit perfectly. Custom-molded earplugs are made from molds of the impression of the wearer’s ear canal.
They are made to fit your purpose and comfort, whether you want those for swimming ear plugs or earplugs sleeping. These earplugs can fit your ear canals tightly and can change shape according to your movements while chewing and talking.
Consider getting Custom-molded earplugs if you use earplugs daily. You can get these earplugs made to fit your purposes like shooting, swimming or flying.
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