Ear Plugs: Designs and Uses
Ear plugs have been in use for hundreds of years as people learned to fashion home-made plugs from clay or wax to protect their ears from noise, dust or water. These days, a variety of modern materials and designs are available, and each is adapted to a particular environmental condition. Ear plugs are commercially available for specific activities such as swimming, air travel, loud work environments, sleeping, attending rock concerts, shooting and motorcycling.
To indicate the noise reduction capabilities of any ear plug, a system of Noise Reduction Rating (also known as NRR) has been developed. This tells the user the noise reduction in decibels that can be expected and is an essential piece of information when choosing the right ear plugs for any given activity. Most earplugs, when properly inserted and used, can produce 25 to 35 decibels reduction in noise, but it is essential to study the manufacturer’s information to see the exact NRR. It should also be remembered that any sustained noise over 80 decibels can lead to hearing loss and anything over 140 decibels can cause instant damage, even complete loss of hearing.
The three main designs of ear plugs these days are foam, moldable wax or silicon, and flanged plugs. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages and are better adapted to certain activities than others.
Foam ear plugs are available as single-use, disposable plugs or as a reusable product that can be washed and inserted several times. They are inserted into the ear canal by carefully rolling them between the thumb and index finger to make them small enough to enter the ear canal – hands should be carefully washed beforehand when inserting any ear plug to avoid introducing bacteria into the ear canal. When rolling the foam plug, avoid creasing the foam as this will allow noise into the ear and lessen the effectiveness of the device. The top of the ear should be gently pulled backwards and upwards with the opposite hand – this opens the ear canal – then the compressed foam ear plug slid gently into the canal and held in place while it expands to fill and protect the ear. A small amount of foam should protrude, enough to be able grasp and pull out when the ear plug is no longer needed. Foam plugs are cheap, reasonably comfortable and easy to use and are ideally suited for short periods of usage and situations where the user is not concerned about sound quality.
Moldable wax or silicon ear plugs are putty-like balls that can be softened and shaped between the thumb and fingers to form a conical plug that adapts to the shape of the user’s ear. The conical plug is gently pushed into the entrance of the ear canal and, if properly inserted, will produce a water-proof seal that protects the ear from water, sound and pollutants. Valued by swimmers for their water-proof qualities, they can help keep the ear canal clear of water whilst in the pool or sea, thus helping prevent swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear caused by water entering the ear canal. Wax ear plugs are generally better for sleeping as the warmth of the body softens the wax, increasing comfort and sleep quality. For outdoor swimming in warm climates, however, silicon may be a better choice as the heat of the sun will not melt or change the fit of the plug.
Flanged ear plugs are often called ‘musician’ or ‘hi-fi’ ear plugs as they are favored by musicians, sound engineers and music-lovers. This is because this type of ear plug is especially developed to lower the volume of sound without changing the perception of the full range of frequencies. This allows an appreciation of music without the hearing damage that can be caused by high-volumes at concerts and rehearsals. The structure of a flanged ear plug is specially designed to use a small diaphragm which reduces low frequencies while other components made from different materials absorb the higher frequencies. They are generally more expensive than foam or moldable ear plugs because of this complex structure and design, and they can only reduce volumes by up to 20 decibels (check individual manufacturer’s packaging for exact figure) and so are not recommended for very high noise levels. Flanged ear plugs have a long life, can be re-worn again and again and so, if looked after and cleaned regularly, they can still provide an effective and affordable product for certain situations.
The ear plug can be seen as an indispensable, portable device that can be used in many ways to save hearing and protect ears from other damaging environmental factors. They should always be used as directed by the manufacturer or a medical adviser and checked from time to time ensure that they are still in place and giving maximum protection. They can aid sleep, increase concentration and, at their most efficient, save a person from the tragedy of complete hearing loss.
About the Author
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about the different types of ear plugs at EarPlugsGuide.com
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