There are many advantages of using custom earplugs over more foam earplugs and earmuffs. These advantages include increased quality of sound, comfort and cost effectiveness.
Quality of sound
Traditional forms of hearing protection tend to reduce high frequency sound much more than that in the mid to low frequencies, which is why foam earplugs often make things sound muffled. This makes it difficult to follow conversations, hear warning signals or hear the subtle nuances of music.
It is a common misconception that the highest level of attenuation (noise reduction) in hearing protection is best. Unfortunately, if you cut out too much noise it can make you feel "closed in" and isolated from those around you. Traditional forms of hearing protection are often only available in one attenuation level and as a consequence, more than 50% of people that should wear them don't.
In addition, it tempts you to remove your hearing protectors to hear what other people are saying to you, which dramatically reduces their effectiveness.
Some custom earplugs are available in a range of filters so whether you are a motorcyclist, professional working in noisy environments or a musician, you can choose the right filter to suit the environment you are in. You want to find a balance between too much and too little attenuation.
The process of taking the impressions for custom earplugs has an effect on the sound quality of the finished product. The audiologist should make sure that the impression taking material creates a seal with the bony part of the ear (just past the second bend of the ear canal). As a result you can expect a more natural sounding earplug because the "inside your head" feeling, or occlusion effect, that you often get with foam earplugs is reduced.
The vents in custom earplugs also help the escape of low frequency sound trapped in the ear canals. This also minimises the occlusion effect.
Custom earplugs and comfort
Around fifty per cent of people that should wear hearing protection don't, often because they find them uncomfortable to wear. Ear muffs are often uncomfortable in extreme heat as they cause sweating and ear soreness. Ear muffs can also interfere with other personal protective equipment such as eye protection, which can lead to reduced effectiveness of your hearing protection.
Disposable and reusable foam earplugs need to be inserted deep into the ear to reduce noise levels effectively. Unfortunately, because they place pressure on the ear canal, they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Its tempting to remove them to give your ears a break, but if you are in a noisy environment this really reduces the effectiveness of your hearing protectors.
Custom made earplugs require a mould of your ear canal which extends into the bony portion of the ear (past the second bend of the ear canal). Every lump, groove and bump of the ear is recorded by the impression material which means the finished earplugs will fit your ear perfectly
When looking for custom made earplugs, check what material the earplugs are made of. Some custom products are made of an acrylic material which is hard and cold in the ear, and doesn't flex with body movement. This means that noise can leak through the air gaps that are created, resulting in ineffective hearing protection.
For the ultimate in comfort, look for custom earplugs that are made of a medical grade soft silicone. This allows the earplug to flex with the movements of the body and you will always have a good seal.
What about cost effectiveness?
The low upfront cost of traditional hearing protectors seems to give them the edge of custom earplugs. However, the costs soon mount up if you use disposable earplugs regularly. As a conservative estimate, professionals involved in noisy industries use on average three pairs of foam earplugs per day. The cost of a pair of foam earplugs can be as low as 16 cents per pair if they are bought in bulk, but for small quantities (less than 200) can be as much as 30 cents per pair. This equates to between $115 - $216 per year (based on a figure of 240 days worked per year)
On the flip side, custom earplugs are much more cost effective than you might first think. High quality custom earplugs will last for over four years, and even the most expensive work out at $88 per year!
Of course another cost relates to the environmental waste of using disposable earplugs. If we take the previous example, if you use three pairs of disposable earplugs per day, over four years you will have thrown away 5760 earplugs!
Can you imagine a heap of 5760 disposable earplugs next to only two custom hearing protectors?
While the upfront cost of custom hearing protection is higher than traditional forms of hearing protection, you can reduce your risk of buying hearing protection that isn't right for you. Look for a company that offers a money back guarantee, and will repair or replace your hearing protectors if the material or filters break down. - 15275
Quality of sound
Traditional forms of hearing protection tend to reduce high frequency sound much more than that in the mid to low frequencies, which is why foam earplugs often make things sound muffled. This makes it difficult to follow conversations, hear warning signals or hear the subtle nuances of music.
It is a common misconception that the highest level of attenuation (noise reduction) in hearing protection is best. Unfortunately, if you cut out too much noise it can make you feel "closed in" and isolated from those around you. Traditional forms of hearing protection are often only available in one attenuation level and as a consequence, more than 50% of people that should wear them don't.
In addition, it tempts you to remove your hearing protectors to hear what other people are saying to you, which dramatically reduces their effectiveness.
Some custom earplugs are available in a range of filters so whether you are a motorcyclist, professional working in noisy environments or a musician, you can choose the right filter to suit the environment you are in. You want to find a balance between too much and too little attenuation.
The process of taking the impressions for custom earplugs has an effect on the sound quality of the finished product. The audiologist should make sure that the impression taking material creates a seal with the bony part of the ear (just past the second bend of the ear canal). As a result you can expect a more natural sounding earplug because the "inside your head" feeling, or occlusion effect, that you often get with foam earplugs is reduced.
The vents in custom earplugs also help the escape of low frequency sound trapped in the ear canals. This also minimises the occlusion effect.
Custom earplugs and comfort
Around fifty per cent of people that should wear hearing protection don't, often because they find them uncomfortable to wear. Ear muffs are often uncomfortable in extreme heat as they cause sweating and ear soreness. Ear muffs can also interfere with other personal protective equipment such as eye protection, which can lead to reduced effectiveness of your hearing protection.
Disposable and reusable foam earplugs need to be inserted deep into the ear to reduce noise levels effectively. Unfortunately, because they place pressure on the ear canal, they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Its tempting to remove them to give your ears a break, but if you are in a noisy environment this really reduces the effectiveness of your hearing protectors.
Custom made earplugs require a mould of your ear canal which extends into the bony portion of the ear (past the second bend of the ear canal). Every lump, groove and bump of the ear is recorded by the impression material which means the finished earplugs will fit your ear perfectly
When looking for custom made earplugs, check what material the earplugs are made of. Some custom products are made of an acrylic material which is hard and cold in the ear, and doesn't flex with body movement. This means that noise can leak through the air gaps that are created, resulting in ineffective hearing protection.
For the ultimate in comfort, look for custom earplugs that are made of a medical grade soft silicone. This allows the earplug to flex with the movements of the body and you will always have a good seal.
What about cost effectiveness?
The low upfront cost of traditional hearing protectors seems to give them the edge of custom earplugs. However, the costs soon mount up if you use disposable earplugs regularly. As a conservative estimate, professionals involved in noisy industries use on average three pairs of foam earplugs per day. The cost of a pair of foam earplugs can be as low as 16 cents per pair if they are bought in bulk, but for small quantities (less than 200) can be as much as 30 cents per pair. This equates to between $115 - $216 per year (based on a figure of 240 days worked per year)
On the flip side, custom earplugs are much more cost effective than you might first think. High quality custom earplugs will last for over four years, and even the most expensive work out at $88 per year!
Of course another cost relates to the environmental waste of using disposable earplugs. If we take the previous example, if you use three pairs of disposable earplugs per day, over four years you will have thrown away 5760 earplugs!
Can you imagine a heap of 5760 disposable earplugs next to only two custom hearing protectors?
While the upfront cost of custom hearing protection is higher than traditional forms of hearing protection, you can reduce your risk of buying hearing protection that isn't right for you. Look for a company that offers a money back guarantee, and will repair or replace your hearing protectors if the material or filters break down. - 15275
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