Plug in before you begin.
Lawn mowers, power equipment, racecars, airplane engines
and out of control rock and roll are all high on the decibel charts
and can hurt your ears. Before encountering loud noises like these
plug in a plug.
What should I do when I can’t put in plugs like
when I want to listen to my music or video player?
- Keep your player volume control turned down to a safe listening
level. Here’s an easy rule of thumb—the
volume is likely at an unsafe level if other people can hear
the music from your headphones or Ear Buds or if you can't hear
loud sounds when listening.
Good earmuffs or plugs will give you:
- Adequate protection while still allowing you to hear
and enjoy the sound.
Check the packaging to ensure the product has an NRR
(noise reduction rating) of at least 9dB. The louder the environment,
the greater the NRR number should be. Most foam and pre-molded
earplugs provide an NRR between 20dB and 30dB.
- A proper fit and sound ("acoustic") seal.
- Comfort and convenience—they should
be easy to carry with you so you'll have them when you need them.
What type of hearing protection works best for you?
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Foam earplug benefits:
- Disposable after one-time use, and expand to fit in
your ear after you insert them.
- Excellent at reducing higher pitched sounds ("frequencies").
- Inexpensive, easy to find at your local drugstore,
and come in a variety of cool colors.
- Click here to
receive a free pair.
*Always follow
the instructions on the packaging for proper insertion.
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Pre-molded earplug benefits:
- Reusable and washable since they are made from plastic,
silicone or rubber.
- Good to use in dirty or dusty environments.
- Some pre-molded plug models can reduce sounds more
evenly than foam plugs do.
- Available in different sizes
- Inexpensive and are available over-the-counter.
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Custom-molded earplug benefits:
- Comfortable since they are form fitted to the individual
shape of your ear canals.
- Reduce the sound equally across high and low
spectrums.
- Assured fit of your custom pair by a licensed audiologist
or ear, nose and throat doctor. If you're under the age
of 18, talk to your parents first.
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Earmuff benefits:
- Forms an acoustic (sound) seal around your outer ear.
- Easy to take on and off
- Can buy online or in most sporting goods stores.
Note: if you wear eyeglasses, earmuffs can be difficult
to use, since the arms of your glasses can interfere with
earmuffs sealing properly around your ears. |
