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Hearing Protection

There are two basic types of hearing protection, ear plugs and ear muffs. Both are designed to protect against hearing loss due the exposure to long term or excessively loud sounds. Ear plugs can be made from foam, which is compressed before insertion into the ear then allowed to decompress and fill the ear canal. Wax is historically the oldest material for ear plugs, with Odysseus putting wax into his sailors ears so they would not be tempted by the sirens.

Silicone ear plugs allow for a custom mold to be achieved which is more comfortable than foam and can provide more hearing protection. Both foam and silicone ear plugs are usually disposable, but some hard ear plugs are custom molded to the user’s ear and reused. This kind is most popular for musicians and stage crews working in loud environments, these plugs allow for even sound transmission so the highs and lows of the music are still heard without distortion.

Ear muffs are another form of hearing protection and are also known as ear defenders. They are similar in appearance to headphones, but they are designed to deaden very loud sounds associated with construction and runway workers. Some actually function as headphones as well, dampening outside sounds but still allowing for communication or listening to music. Depending on the type of ear muff used, sound can be quieted up to 100dB.

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