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Today, I, along with the co-owner of Audiology Unlimited, Pat Mellott, attended the Maryland Music Educators Association Fall In-Service Conference. We were there to provide information on the effects of noise exposure on hearing loss. I spoke with several people who are aware of the loud environments they are exposed to and who have become proponents for hearing protection following use of our earplugs.

Some people told me that they have tried earplugs but found them unusable. Sound was distorted, playing in unison became difficult, and the plug becomes uncomfortable after a while. My argument is to try a ready-fit earplug or a custom Musicians earplug. When someone tells me he or she has difficulty hearing over the band with the plugs in, I argue that the difficulty will only increase when a permanent hearing loss develops. Furthermore, tinnitus, noises in the ear, might develop, which will detract from the ability to hear properly.

I will describe three kinds of hearing protection in this post.

Unfiltered foam plugs block the entire ear canal. You may have seen them; they look like yellow, squishy cylinders. They are effective in lowering harmful sound levels to a more tolerable volume. However, the problem with these plugs is that they trap the low pitches in the ear. This is similar to plugging your fingers in your ears and noticing your own voice sounds louder. The plugs attenuate sound at an uneven rate and do not maintain the natural relationship between pitches. They are reusable but will eventually break down. Still, something is better than nothing.

The next best option is a ready-fit high-fidelity earplug. These devices look similar to Christmas trees. They also block the ear canal but are designed to let low pitches escape and replicate the more natural response of the ear canal. This produces a more natural quality to speech and music at a lower, safer level. Two sizes are available: standard and large.

Lastly, custom Musicians earplugs are a fantastic option. Each device contains a filter which reduces sound at a smoother, flatter rate than either of the other two selections. There are three levels of attenuation (i.e. 9 dB, 15 dB, and 25 dB) and these filters are interchangeable. The custom product is produced by taking an impression of the individual’s ear. Putty is placed into the canal by a trained professional. After about three minutes, the material will be fully set and will be removed from the ear. The custom earplugs are more comfortable than the universal option because they are tailored specifically to each individual person. I find people are more comfortable wearing these plugs for longer stretches of time.

Once your ears have been damaged by noise, the likelihood of developing further hearing loss increases. Certain venues, such as concerts, bars, and sporting events, can be so loud that damage can occur after 30 minutes of exposure. It is important to protect your ears from harmful levels of sounds by either lowering the volume of devices, moving farther away from a sound source, or using hearing protection.

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