How to pick the right hearing protection

From hair dryers to traffic to buzzing phones, your ears encounter a lot of noise each day. All this noise means you may underestimate the need for hearing protection when things are loud enough to really hurt your hearing.

Over time, even everyday noises can wear down the tiny hairs in your ears that help you hear. This commonly results in age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss.

Adequate hearing protection is part of hearing loss prevention. Hearing protection can come from disposable earplugs or earmolds for a custom fit. You can also use noise-cancelling headphones or approved ear muffs. Basic audio headphones and swimmer's earplugs are not designed for hearing protection. However, they may offer some protection compared to having nothing in/on your ear.

The right hearing protection for you will depend on:

• Your level of noise exposure
• Comfort 
• Whether exposure is consistent or intermittent
• Your environment
• Your lifestyle
• The shape of your ear canal

Noise levels and hearing protection

Fortunately, hearing protection can provide anywhere from 12dB to 33dB of noise reduction. Contact a hearing clinic near you for more information on hearing protection options. A hearing professional can help you choose the best hearing protection for you.

Different kinds of hearing protection

Based on your unique needs, you can choose between disposable earplugs, reusable earplugs, custom earplugs, earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones/earphones. Check the noise reduction rating (NRR) of your hearing protection to ensure it fits your needs.

For example, if you regularly work an eight-hour shift on an outdoor construction site, you may want custom earplugs that offer the maximum noise protection.

Earplugs can be made of silicone, plastic or foam. They are easy to carry and can be worn with earmuffs for added protection. Plus, compared to earmuffs, they are comfortable to wear in hot, humid environments.

Make sure your hands are clean when inserting or removing them to avoid introducing germs into your ear canals.

Alternatively, over-the-ear protection is easier to fit, harder to lose (especially on kids) and can be worn even if you have an ear infection. But, they are less portable, may interfere with eyeglasses and can be uncomfortable to wear in heat and humidity.

How to insert foam and reusable earplugs

Foam earplugs are easily accessible. You can find them at your local store and are the most cost effective. However, you can only wear them one time, and the protection they offer is largely dependent on you inserting them correctly:

1. With clean hands, roll the foam earplugs between your thumb and fingers. Compress the earplugs into a thin cylinder-like shape.
2. Pull the top of your ear up and back with your opposite hand. This will straighten out your ear canal to allow the plug to slide in deeper.
3. Hold the earplug in your ear with your finger until it expands to fill the ear canal. 

To ensure a proper seal, cup your hands tightly over your ears. Noises should sound the same whether or not your ears are covered.

Reusable earplugs

Reusable earplugs are usually made of a stronger material like plastic. Since you can reuse them, they will usually cost a bit more. They are inserted the same way as disposable earplugs. 

You will need to clean them after each use and check for wear and tear overtime.

Some reusable earplugs come with a string or band connecting two sides. But because they are small, you can still easily lose them. You should have at least one other pair in case this happens.

Other hearing protection options

Custom earplugs are ideal if you are often in an environment that poses a risk to your hearing. For example, musician’s earplugs are custom fit to provide adequate noise protection without blocking important sounds.

How to insert custom earplugs

To insert custom earplugs,

1. Place the earplugs in your index and middle fingers with your thumb at the bottom where the string is located.
2. Twist the earmold forward slightly and place it in the ear canal.
3. Rotate the top portion of the ear plug towards the back of your head.
4. Tuck the top portion into the fold of skin to secure the plug and seal the ear.

When inserted correctly, the earplug should be flush to the ear.

To remove the earplugs, gently pull the top of the earplug out from the fold of your ear with your index finger. Using your index and thumb at the bottom, rotate forward, towards your nose, and pull out.

Noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds

If everyday noise protection is all you need, noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds are worth considering. They offer noise cancellation while you take calls or listen to music in noisy environments.

When should you wear hearing protection?

Adequate hearing protection is determined by the intensity of the noise and your length of exposure. Any sound over 85dB can cause hearing loss, especially if the exposure is for many hours. However, the higher the decibel, the quicker the sound can cause permanent loss to your hearing.

Really loud sounds—like a gunshot or a whistle blown at your ear—can cause hearing loss in a matter of seconds. If you anticipate a sudden loud sound, wear hearing protection.

Do you have to shout to be heard?

A good rule of thumb: Wear hearing protection if you are in an environment where you have to shout to speak, including a work setting. Work-related hearing loss is so common that, in Canada, some employers are required to provide yearly industrial hearing testing and hearing protection to their employees.

Outside of work, risks to your hearing health are all around. Some blenders can exceed the 85dB limit. Lawn mowers and power tools also produce sounds above the safe limit. 

Your regular commute—if you ride a motorcycle or live in the city for example—are common culprits for noise-induced hearing loss too. With noise pollutants all around, it is wise to have hearing protection on hand as you move throughout the day.

^Sources:

^{- 3M Canada. Hearing Protection. https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/worker-health-safety-ca/hearing-protection/}

^{- 3M Personal Safety Division. Tinnitus and Hearing Protection: Fiction and Fact. Aug 2018. PDF}

^{- The Hearing Review. A Historical Perspective on Hearing Protection. https://hearingreview.com/uncategorized/historical-perspective-hearing-protection}