Earplugs offer excellent protection from potential hearing loss. Because ears vary in size and shape, the most effective earplugs will be custom made from molds of your ears. We offer a variety of custom earplugs designed specifically for different activities.
Hearing Protection at Work
One of the most common job-related issues is associated with hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when you are exposed to sounds that are too loud. Any sound measuring more than 85 dB puts you at risk of damaging the delicate hair cells within your inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical impulses. More specifically, construction, mining and manufacturing workers are at an increased risk.
The Construction sector has the second-highest prevalence of noise exposure, at 51%, and 14% of all workers in this sector report hearing difficulty. Construction works rely on several tools that produce sounds far higher than 85 dB including bulldozers, trucks, nail guns and jackhammers. In addition, 61% of Mining sector workers are exposed to occupational noise, the highest of any industry, and 23% report having hearing difficulty.
Regardless of the dangers, you can prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing protection from customized earplugs can help stave off the negative effects of noise-induced hearing loss, thus ensuring you can focus on what matters most throughout work and life.
Hunter’s Plugs
Hunters, law enforcement officials and gun enthusiasts are at risk for hearing loss every time they squeeze their triggers. A single gunshot can cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss. The typical decibel rating is 140 dB – louder than a jet engine (120 dB).
Specially designed hunter’s earplugs utilize acoustic filters that amplify ambient noise, allowing the user to hear his or her surroundings better; when the weapon is fired, these filters soften the sound to protect hearing. They include a valve that closes automatically when struck by a sound wave, limiting the volume that reaches the ear.
Hunter’s plugs are available in styles that fit in the ear or behind the ear.
Swimmer’s Plugs
Swimmers and those who participate in frequent water activities are at risk for developing a painful, itchy ear infection known as swimmer’s ear (otitis externa). These infections can also lead to a thickening of the bone and narrowed ear canals, a condition known as surfer’s ear (exostosis). Left untreated, both conditions could eventually cause hearing loss.
Keeping the ears dry is key to preventing ear infections that can cause problems. The best way to accomplish this is by wearing specially designed swimmer’s earplugs.
Swimmer’s plugs protect the ears by preventing water from entering the ear canals. They are made of a waterproof silicone that blocks the opening of the ear canal, providing a tight seal that keeps out water. Swimmer’s plugs are great for swimmers, surfers, rafters and snorkelers, and can be used to keep the ears dry when showering or bathing, as well.
Musician’s Plugs
Musicians are especially susceptible to hearing loss because of their constant exposure to music that often exceeds safe decibel levels. To protect their hearing, they need earplugs that limit the amount of damaging noise, but still allow them to hear music that is clear and natural sounding. That’s where musician’s plugs come in.
Regular earplugs cause distortion and muffled speech by reducing higher frequency sounds. High-fidelity musician’s plugs reduce all sounds evenly while maintaining quality, so that music and speech is as close to the original as possible. They include a number of interchangeable attenuators, filters that offer varying levels of sound protection depending on the type of instrument used and the venue played.
Custom Earbuds for Electronic Devices
Earbuds are ubiquitous nowadays, but those that come standard with today’s electronic devices don’t always stay in place well, particularly when the user is engaged in physical activity. Despite their “one size fits all” claim, in reality they tend to fall out of your ears easily.
Custom earbuds solve this problem by fitting the unique contours of your ear canals. They are made from a custom earmold created from impressions of your own ears, and offer a tight seal and perfect fit. Their custom design ensures they remain in place even during moderate to vigorous activity, and the snug fit translates to better sound quality and less distracting external noise.
Call Hearing Solutions at (307) 689-3611 for more information or to schedule an appointment.