MUSICIAN'S EAR PLUGS
Pros:
Flexible and can fit most ears
Inexpensive
Comfortable
Easy to store
Barely visible
Cons:
Poor protection with improper insertion
Dirty quickly
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Where to purchase:
These plugs are easy to buy at any grocery or convenience store. Ask your sales associate for help finding the correct isle.
Additional links will be posted at the bottom of the page of possible hearing protection to try from Amazon.com.
SINGLE USE EARPLUGS
Pros:
Flexible and can fit most ears
Inexpensive
Comfortable
Easy to store
Barely visible
Cons:
Poor protection with improper insertion
Dirty quickly
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Where to purchase:
These plugs are easy to buy at any grocery or convenience store. Ask your sales associate for help finding the correct isle.
Additional links will be posted at the bottom of the page of possible hearing protection to try from Amazon.com.
REUSABLE EARPLUGS
Pros:
Easy to insert
Affordable and economical
Re-used several times without degrading
Cons:
Comes in limited sizes and is not a one-size-fits-all
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Where to purchase:
These plugs are easy to buy at any grocery or convenience store. Ask your sales associate for help finding the correct isle.
Additional links will be posted at the bottom of the page of possible hearing protection to try from Amazon.com.
CUSTOM EARPLUGS
Pros:
Individual fit
Reusable
Comfortable
Longer lasting
Customizable
Cons:
Requires an impression
Higher upfront cost
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Where to purchase:
For custom musicians' earplugs, it is important to see you Audiologist or Health Care Provider to have an impression made of each ear. At that time, impressions will be sent to be made into custom in-ear earplugs.
OVER-THE-EAR HEARING PROTECTION
Pros:
Easy to place and remove
Reusable
Nothing in the ear canal
Can be incorporated into other equipment
Cons:
Less portable
More maintenance
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Where to purchase:
These may be found at any local hardware store. Ask your store associate for help with locating.
Additional links will be posted at the bottom of the page of possible hearing protection to try from Amazon.com.
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HOW TO USE HEARING PROTECTION
How to properly insert hearing protection devices:
With all plugs that are silicone or foam it is important to:
Squish the foam plug down into a long, thin cylinder.
Use your other hand to pull up and back on your ear.
Insert foam plug until it is flush with the opening to your ear canal.
Hold plug in place and let it expand.
WHERE DO YOU BUY HEARING PROTECTION?
Examples of hearing protection to try from Amazon.
It is important to state that I am in, no way, gaining profit from sharing these links on Amazon.com. Nor have I tried all of these products, and am unsure as to the effectiveness of each. I am purely sharing examples of hearing protection options from Amazon as a means to help you on your journey to find what hearing protection works best for you.
Hearing Protection for kids:
Soft foam plugs for little ears
Foam earplugs:
Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs
Musicians earplugs:
Etymotic High-Fidelity Earplugs
Etymotic ETY-Plugs High Fidelity Earplus Standard Fit
High Fidelity Concert Ear Plugs
Reusable earplugs:
Over-the-Ear:
Citations
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Brien, I.O., Driscoll, T., Williams, W. & Ackermann, B. (2014). A clinical trial of active hearing protection for orchestral musicians. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 11, p.450-459. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2013.875187
Darling, D. & Young, J. (2019, November). Hearing Protection Devices. Lecture presented at Western Washington University.