If you know you need hearing protection for your workplace or your lifestyle, but you don’t know what hearing protection to choose, you are in the right place. When deciding on the right protection for your hobbies or career, it’s crucial to understand the basic details about these products:
- Decide what you need hearing protection for before choosing the best type for the task
- Hearing protection types offer similar attenuation; your choice depends on comfort
- There are three main types of hearing protection; earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps
- For loud environments, you can combine earplugs with earmuffs for better reduction
The good news is there is no such thing as inferior hearing protection – all protection helps your hearing to some extent – but there are some hearing protection types that are more effective for some environments than others.
Hearing Requirements
Exposure to loud one-off sounds or consistently noisy environments can harm your hearing and cause long-term impairment. When it is impossible to avoid loud environments due to work or other commitments, you need hearing protection that’s appropriate for the particular situation.
When it comes to protecting your ears from noise, you have three main options; earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps. Earplugs are probably the most practical and versatile option for most people, but earmuffs are best when you work with machines and canal caps for noisy places.
Comfort Requirements
It is important for your ear protection to be as comfortable as possible, so you are not tempted to take them out. Again, some ear protection options are better than others, you might find that earplugs are more comfortable overall, but earmuffs are more convenient in certain situations.
If you are working in a loud environment and need to take your hearing protection off frequently, earmuffs are best; canal caps are also a comfortable choice in this situation. For extremely loud environments, you can wear both earplugs and earmuffs for an additional 10-15 decibel (dB) reduction.
Types of Hearing Protection
Hearing protection, like earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps, are designed to prevent harmful sound waves from entering the ear canal and damaging the delicate hairs in the inner ear; these are called cilia, and once they are damaged or destroyed, they disappear forever.
Even listening to a media device too loudly over the long term can cause premature hearing impairment, so it is worth paying attention to hearing protection options, even if you don’t think you need a solution at the moment. Choose between earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps.
Earplugs
Earplugs are available in several shapes and sizes; they are normally made from special memory foam that remembers the shapes and contours of your ear canal and molds to fit them. Choose between simple earplugs, musician’s earplugs, custom molds and non-linear earplugs.
A typical set of earplugs will reduce the decibel levels in your ears by between 15-30dBs. If you are working with a machine or living in a noisy place that is above the safe zone – around 60dBs – a set of comfortable earplugs can bring you back into the safe zone.
Earmuffs
Earmuffs look like a giant set of headphones, but these ones are functional instead of stylish. Earmuffs are the devices used by airport personnel when directing a plane only to the runway or loading luggage; this ear protection will reduce the decibel level by 15-30dBs in general.
The main difference between earmuffs and earplugs is the convenience they offer; earplugs might be more convenient for everyday usage and for wearing at night; however, earmuffs can be taken off and on based on how loud the place is, allowing workers to communicate easily.
Canal Caps
If you work in an area that is intermittently noisy, canal caps can be the better option. Unlike earmuffs, canal caps are small, thin and easy to use. Plug your ear canals with canal caps and reduce environmental noise by around 30dBs, protecting you from noise-induced hearing loss.
Given that all the hearing protection types protect your hearing with around the same attenuation, the decision comes down to comfort and convenience. Most people are fine with earplugs or canal caps, but extremely loud environments can call for a combination of types.
Age-related hearing loss typically becomes apparent in people over the age of fifty, but it is not all based on age – lifestyle can impact hearing loss from a younger age. Pay attention to hearing protection throughout your life to reduce the chances of hearing loss. Find out more about hearing protection by visiting Natural Hearing Centers or contacting our team at (888) 221-9156.
