You put yourself at a greater risk of acquiring hearing loss if you are exposed to levels of noise that are excessively loud (more than 85 dB) while working or engaging in leisure or household activities. The fragile hair cells in your inner ear can sustain considerable damage when exposed to dangerous noise levels.
Hearing protection is absolutely necessary whenever one is going to be exposed to potentially damaging levels of noise. When you wear hearing protection, you prevent potentially damaging noise levels from reaching your ears. Hearing protection reduces the intensity of the loud noises to protect the integrity of your hearing. Oracle Hearing Center provides individualized hearing protection designed to fit your ears and suit various types of occupation and lifestyle.
How loud is too loud?
Sound is too loud and could be harming your hearing if you have to yell to be audible over the music or background noise. When noise levels reach 80 to 90 dB, as they do when leaf blowers or heavy freeway traffic are present, hearing impairment can begin to occur. Anyone whose hearing is frequently subjected to noise levels of 85 dB or above for extended periods of time should have routine testing done.
How are custom ear molds made?
The impressions of your ear canal and concha are used to build custom earmolds. They conform extremely well to the shape of your ear canals, which results in a greater level of comfort and protection.
There are numerous hearing protection that can be bought over-the-counter but for maximum protection, hearing protection can be customized to the degree of exposure as well as the shape of your ears.
What Custom Ear Molds Are Made Of
Custom ear molds are commonly made from acrylic, vinyl, or silicone.
Acrylic
Earmolds are often made out of acrylic since it is a resilient material that is flexible and not easily damaged. Even with regular use, acrylic ear molds don’t easily degrade. In the event that adjustments are needed, acrylic is easy to handle. It is very easy to insert, remove, and clean acrylic ear molds which make them a popular choice for users of all ages.
Vinyl
Vinyl earmolds are very soft, and as a result, they are advised for persons who have ears that are very sensitive, such as children or the elderly. Earmolds made of vinyl are easy to put in the ears and provide a better acoustic seal than those made of other materials.
Silicone
Earmolds made of silicone are considered to be among the best available. It is versatile and comfortable, and it can accommodate instruments in a secure manner. It is far more resilient than acrylic, which can crack or splinter when broken. Unlike vinyl, silicone can be a bit challenging to work with and needs extra care during positioning and adjustment. Silicone earmolds are not recommended for individuals with dexterity issues.
Types of Custom Earmolds
The full-shell and the half-shell styles are by far the most common types of custom earmolds. Full-shell earmolds are designed for use in environments with a high level of noise exposure, whereas half-shell earmolds are designed for use in environments with a medium degree of noise exposure. Your specific hearing protection needs will determine the model of earplugs or ear molds ideal for you.
How long do custom-made earplugs last?
If you are going to use earplugs that are disposable, it is not a good idea to reuse the same pair of earplugs more than once for reasons related to hygiene. The lifespan of custom earmolds or earplugs ranges anywhere from four to five years on average. Because your ears continue to develop throughout your entire life, it is advised that you get a leakage test every two to three years to ensure that you are still getting the hearing protection you require.
Types of Hearing Protection
Hearing protection come in the form of earplugs, earmuffs, and semi-insert earplugs. Earmuffs completely wrap your ears, whereas earplugs and earmolds are inserted into your ear canals.
Hearing Protection For All Lifestyles and Activities
Hearing loss may occur suddenly or gradually. Sudden exposure to loud noise or long-term exposure to dangerous noise levels may damage your hearing which could lead to many other health-related repercussions including social withdrawal, depression, mental decline, etc.
If your occupation or hobbies exposes you to loud noises, using the correct hearing protection is a must.
HUNTING
Hearing protection designed for hunting typically consists of a filter that instantly shuts off if potentially hazardous levels of noise are detected. It enables hearing that is virtually normal in all other situations.
MUSIC
Hearing protection designed specifically for musicians is highly recommended for both concertgoers and performers who perform live. The wearer of this form of hearing protection will be able to hear noises precisely, albeit at lower volume levels. There are three different filter choices available: 9 dB, 15 dB, and 25 dB.
SWIMMING
If you spend a significant amount of time in the water, it is essential to wear ear protection at all times. This will protect your ears from surfer’s ear, swimmer’s ear, and ruptures of the eardrum, and will keep your ears healthy in general. Ear protection used by swimmers maintains a watertight seal and acts as a barrier to help prevent moisture from seeping into the ear canal while also helping to equalize pressure in the ears when worn underwater. This form of hearing protection is able to float and is very effective at reducing background noise.
SLEEP
There are many things in your environment that can have an effect on the caliber of sleep you get at night. If you are someone who has trouble falling or staying asleep, reducing the amount of noise that could potentially wake you up should be your top goal. You will have a better chance of having a restful night’s sleep if you use earplugs that have been custom-made for your ears.
MOTORSPORT
Hearing protection intended for use in motorsports typically has a hollow canal and is intended to be worn under the helmet to mitigate the effects of wind buffeting.
OCCUPATIONAL
Occupational hearing protection is designed specifically for a workplace with noisy industrial settings.
SURF
This particular form of hearing protection is intended to ward off the conditions known as surfer’s ear and swimmer’s ear, both of which are brought on by prolonged exposure to the damaging effects of wind and water. The submersible material is formed with a sealed membrane that spans the sound bore. This membrane prevents cold water and air from entering the ear canal while still allowing for hearing and speech when the material is in the ear.
Custom Ear Protection | Lawrenceville, NJ
Using the appropriate ear protection can help prevent you from developing untimely hearing loss, tinnitus, or other related hearing issues.
At Oracle Hearing Center, we can assist you in finding the appropriate custom ear protection for work or leisure.
Make an appointment at our clinic today!