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Ear Plugs
As technology continues to evolve and the workplace continues to become louder and louder, hearing loss has come into play for several occupational fields. Severe noise damage destroys the irreplaceable hair cells in the inner ear, which leads to inevitable hearing loss. Whether you're a construction worker, airport operator or concert stagehand, the noise level of the surrounding atmosphere has lead many occupations to require their employees to wear protective ear wear, most often coming in the form of ear plugs.
Proper Decibel Levels Before discussing how to prevent hearing loss, let's discuss probable situations where hearing loss can occur. Whenever our body is damaged, nerves send signals to the brain warning of the danger. The ringing in your ears after a noisy event is a warning of impending hearing loss. A normal person can suffer hearing damage after 85-90 decibels. Here's a sample scale to give you an idea of daily decibel levels:
Who Buys Ear Plugs? Ear plugs are purchased for a variety of professions for safety and to help protect your hearing from loud noises that could cause damage over time. In addition to protecting your hearing from noise, ear plugs are also used by swimmers to prevent water, bacteria and other particles from entering the inner ear. Ear plugs and noise filters are beneficial for protecting the ears for a variety of reasons, including musicians or advocators of loud music, those who like to shoot guns, light sleepers, studying, swimming or any other situation that demands quiet or hearing protection. Types of Ear Plugs There are several varieties of ear protection available on the market today. Ear muffs are made in a variety of styles for varying levels of protection, but are generally constructed with large cups held in place by an adjustable headband. They are most common in factory settings, on construction sites, or on hunting trips. While durable and made for a variety of environments, these devices cover the whole ear and really aren't considered ear plugs. Yet they remain one of the most effective, durable devices when proper ear protection is required. Hearing protection earplugs have become very specialized based on the application, but all-purpose disposable earplugs are more popular than ever. They are very small and usually only cost a few dollars to purchase, and are of great benefit for those who need a simple, one-time use ear plug or those who go through several pairs a day. Others who may only need to use ear plugs sporadically or prefer the hygienic benefits of disposable ear plugs can find them in many assortments and styles. Custom-made ear plugs are inserted in your ears with or without a cord. They are available for those that need ear protection that is custom-fit for their own ears, meaning they will be worn frequently. After making impressions of your ears, it takes approximately two weeks to create the proper ear mold. These custom ear molds fit the user's ear perfectly, and the comfort level is unparalleled. These earpieces can be washed or sterilized and are very cost effective; the average life of a custom earpiece composed of soft material is twenty-two months, longer when assembled with acrylic. All ear plugs are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to bear their standard Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR, on their label. This number indicates the proper decibel level the noise will be reduced by. The figure is reached by taking to maximum decibel level by the NRR. Thus, a 100 db with a NRR of 50 will have a 50 decibel output. A larger number indicates more protection.
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