What Kinds of Ear Protection Are There?

When it comes to your hearing, protection is key. It’s one of the most important senses that you have to deal with, and your sense of hearing cannot be reversed as easily as your vision can. When hearing is damaged, it deteriorates and continues to deteriorate without restoring to its original function.

It’s good news, then, that there are different types of ear protection on the market for people to talk through with their audiologist. Hearing isn’t something to mess around with, and if you’re not aware of the types of hearing protection that are available to you, you won’t know how you can help your hearing to stay in the best shape possible. All of the ear protection on the market today is designed for your convenience and your preference, and there is more than one option out there, too, which can help you to make a better decision for your hearing needs. Below, you’ll find three types of ear protection that can be advised to you by your audiologist.

Earmuffs

Because of their large size, earmuffs are designed to be put on and taken off easily. You’ll have a harder time misplacing them, and you don’t have to worry about hygiene issues – they can’t fit in the ear canal. They won’t be sitting in the inner ear, so you don’t have to worry about feeling irritated. The only real issue is that they are difficult to carry around all the time and they can become quite the inconvenience if you do have to carry them with you from place to place. You can always use them alongside earplugs if you need double ear protection on the job.

Disposable Earplugs

When you need something inexpensive and comfortable to wear, disposable earplugs are the answer. They are convenient to use and since they come in a range of sizes, you can get comfortable with the earplugs that you want to wear pretty quickly. Disposable ones are usually foam or silicone, and they can be comfortably worn for an extended period of time. The one thing to worry about with the disposable earplugs is that they sit right in the inner ear, which encourages wax impaction and you will need to be as hygienic as possible when you wear them.

Customized Earplugs

These are usually molded to fit the ear after an appointment with an audiologist. They wouldn’t fit anyone else in the same way that they would fit you and they can last up to five years. This makes them as budget friendly as possible because of their longevity – you won’t need to replace them as quickly as you do the disposable ones. Again, you need to be as hygienic as possible so that you don’t end up with ear infections due to not removing wax regularly.

Getting the right ear protection is crucial to your hearing health, so book your appointment with your audiologist today and you can start caring for one of the most important senses.