Ear plugs

Earplugs have been used by mankind for a long time. But over time and the development of modern technologies, such assistants began to be produced for the mass consumer, using environmentally friendly materials. Now they can be purchased at a pharmacy, simply by deciding for what specific purposes they are needed.

At the same time, it will not be possible to unambiguously answer the question of which options are really the best. The reason is not at all that reviews of different manufacturers are seriously different. The area of ​​subsequent application becomes a stumbling block. The price, as well as the preferred material for the base, will greatly depend on this.

Most often, all such convenient auxiliary elements are needed for sleep. With their help, it will be possible to hide from noise in an unfavorable environment, when it is impossible to influence too active neighbors. But the anti-noise areas of application of earplugs are not limited to this.

For medical reasons, they are suggested to be worn for swimming, so as not to earn an occupational ailment, which is called “swimmer’s ear”. Doctors also recommend using silicone inserts during the flight. Caring parents are offered a wide range of children’s variations that are important to use on vacation.

Experts insist that professional athletes who practice pistol shooting also cannot do without such help. This is carefully monitored by the coach and the sports doctor assigned to the athlete. It does not hurt to get specific earplugs for singers and other musicians who hold concerts on a professional basis. For them, good earplugs become a medical necessity rather than a stylish accessory.

Quality noise reduction

Otolaryngologists insist that people working in a difficult acoustic environment can not only use such useful blockers of loud sounds, but it is vital. Otherwise, you can earn an occupational ear disease in a short period of time.

But not all people know which professions are on the list of especially risky ones. To learn the algorithm of how to insert ear plugs, workers who deal with electric saws, lawn mowers, next to constantly flying planes should learn. It is no less dangerous to constantly be at the epicenter of any events with loud voice accompaniment without appropriate protection.

Experts believe that earbuds are necessary for all those who work in conditions of high volume, when measuring which the decibel level exceeds the maximum allowable 85 units. It is with this indicator, which affects the hair cells on a regular basis, a person quickly begins to complain of a sharp suffocation of the quality of hearing.

Especially well they help shooters, the military, people working with explosive elements. This precaution is explained by the fact that the average volume of a shot is about 140 decibels, which is much higher than the maximum permissible limit.

Unlike the standard options, which can be found in the public domain in almost any pharmacy network in the city, extensive overlays for the entire auricle are used for shooting. The principle of their action is identical to the classic variation, but they are much more convenient to take off and put on.

Knowing how to use such tools should not only be athletes, but also professional hunters, as well as those people whose activities are related to working at a shooting range.

Individual solutions may be required by musicians who have to deal with acoustic signals transmitted through an amplifier and powerful audio signals. Against this background, the destructive effect for the inner ear increases several times.

There is an opinion in the professional musical environment that such plugs only worsen the overall perception on stage. But this takes place only if such specific “ear plugs” were made by hand, or were not at all intended for the tasks assigned to them. True pros use tailor-made products to refine melody, voice and refine tonal qualities.

This means that the base will be machined exclusively by cast. Also, the master will take into service the resonant frequency of the client’s hearing, which will guarantee sound attenuation over the entire frequency spectrum. The result will delight you with the preservation of the original quality of the music data.

It’s impossible to say exactly how much it costs to make a copy on a private order, since the master will have to take into account many features of the future blocker of strong sounds.

Other medical indications

Many people know that it is recommended to use special earplugs when swimming. But not everyone understands why it is worth adhering to such simple medical advice.

The main task of the plugs in such a development of the scenario is to protect against water entering the deep parts of the auditory canal. In the future, the use of such a device will reduce the risk of infection of the ear canal. For children, the device is generally a must. The waterproof properties of the earplugs will come in handy after the pressure equalization procedure in the ears.

You will also have to find out all the nuances of how to choose the right offer for protection in the presence of diagnosed cerumen, a tendency to excessive formation of them, or with a perforated eardrum. With the presented diagnoses, even a small amount of fluid that has entered the ear canal can cause an aggravation of the clinical picture.

So specific helpers for the pool are assigned to all those who have a tendency to ear infections, or a chronic course of such diseases with frequent relapses after being in the water.

A slightly different principle is designed to help earplugs designed for aircraft. Instead of working to suppress noise, they help to avoid the condition that haunts a person when destabilized by exposure to air in the ear canal during takeoff and landing.

Despite the apparent simplicity, experts recommend not following dubious instructions that offer a diagram of how to make aids yourself at home. From such “traffic jams” there will only be harm.

The main indications for the periodic wearing of earplugs purchased for flights are:

• previous ear infections;
• dysfunction of the Eustachian tube;
• an allergic reaction;
• congestion of the nasal cavity of a chronic nature, or at the stage of exacerbation.

If you use them strictly for their intended purpose, then the question of whether sound blockers are harmful will disappear by itself. But here you will also need to follow simple rules for the correct selection and installation.

The very first important point is the choice strictly according to the size of the ear canal in order to cope with the tasks assigned to it. Even the most advertised models, which are in demand all over the world, can degrade the quality of hearing if the consumer’s priorities are incorrectly set.

Separately, experts recommend paying attention to what efficiency class was assigned to a particular model. This quality item is indicated by the NRR marking. Hearing protection from 15 to 35 decibels is becoming the standard for this area, but more powerful settings are possible. Here, each patient decides for himself what limits of volume he will have to extinguish. You should first consult on a given topic with the attending therapist, and even better – make an appointment with an otolaryngologist.

Sleep in comfort

Despite the wide medical use, most of the inhabitants prefer to use this kind of assistants when they go to bed. Thanks to them, it will be possible to hide from the snoring of a roommate, as well as suppress any other unpleasant sounds.

The first officially documented references to a remedy so widespread today were recorded relatively recently – about a hundred years ago. Academician Petryanov-Sokolovsky, who presented the prototype of modern earplugs to the public, is to be thanked for this. This is a special high-tech material, which was originally an integral element of gas masks used in the military industry. And immediately the development of the scientist was completely classified.

Even earlier, before the official appearance of such a specific filter material, people had to use improvised materials for identical purposes.

Most often, those who wanted to get plugs resorted to:

• lumps of sheep’s wool;
• dried grass;
• cotton balls.

And wax analogues at one time beat almost records of popularity. But all of the above did not cope with noise reduction very effectively, which prompted scientists to look for new options for helping those suffering from too loud sounds.

Now, even copies with a cord are sold in the public domain, so that it would be much safer to pull them out later. Also, for those who want to get such a productive noise-canceling element, today the question of where you can buy it is not acute. It is enough to contact the pharmacy, or its official virtual representation.

Developers have advanced in the functionality of their devices. For example, swimmers’ designs don’t just protect the inside of your hearing organs from water intrusion. They are designed to help smoothly equalize pressure as you dive to depth. This is especially important when diving.

When choosing earplugs, experts recommend paying attention not only to the brand of the manufacturer, but also to consider how soft the noise reduction characteristics they offer. Some are designed for only partial sound absorption, and there are stronger examples that completely block acoustic feedback within the limits indicated on the package.

Classification approaches

Before putting on a brand new purchase, you should first make sure that the choice was made correctly. In order not to regret the purchase, it is worthwhile to figure out what types of such a device are suitable for a particular patient before placing an order.

A specially developed classification can help in such a complex matter, providing for separation according to the materials of manufacture and methods of the technological process.

The main sort also provides for division by:

• form;
• size;
• wearing time;
• care features.

As for the material, most people prefer polyurethane sound filters, as they have good wear-resistant characteristics. Also in demand are models from:

• polypropylene;
• silicone;
• wax.

The latter are called natural blockers.

Each type has its own operational features and other qualities that affect the period of direct operation.

No wonder there are two categories according to the specified parameter:

• disposable;
• reusable.

The first is useful for tourist purposes, on a hike. They are even offered by elite hotels for the convenience of their visitors.

Anatomical alternatives, which are tailored to the individual needs and characteristics of a particular user, are reusable. Only for their reuse, you will have to correctly follow the care instructions, observing all storage conditions.

Do not ignore the detailed study of the dimensional grid of the proposed goods. This will not only increase the efficiency of their subsequent use, but also improve comfort. It is not for nothing that for long-term use, doctors advise contacting medical workshops, where earplugs are made to order.

In pursuit of too large a size, which, according to citizens far from medicine, should close the ear canal better, one can only run into unnecessary increased pressure on the canal.

With the most successful development of the event, a large “earpiece” threatens with the usual inconvenience, but in more dangerous scenarios this leads to:

• microtrauma;
• inflammation
• hearing impairment.

The same happens with too small solutions, which, due to their tiny design, are not able to isolate the victim from intrusive noises. It is even worse if small-diameter plugs constantly fall out, or get stuck in the auditory pathway with too much pressure.

How to make the right choice

ENT babies are advised to buy exclusively hypoallergenic variations. You will also have to take into account the physiological and anatomical features, regularly changing copies according to the growing needs of the child’s body.

Some parents, in pursuit of harmlessness for their children, prefer wax mufflers, believing that naturalness will guarantee high quality sound insulation.

In fact, the presented earplugs have a number of disadvantages, which some manufacturers prefer not to talk about.

They include:

• absorption of particles that remain inside;
• sticking of hairs;
• obstruction of disinfection after extraction.

But the low hygiene here is leveled by the fact that all wax blockers are designed for one-time use. As soon as they are immersed in the auditory canal, they immediately begin to succumb to the influence of the human body, slightly melting at the edges. Due to such an interesting feature, the cork completely takes the anatomical shape of a particular person, filling the space of the auricle without gaps.

If you don’t want to spend money every time, then you can use the polypropylene analogue, which the people called ordinary foam rubber.

People highly appreciate such assistants for many positive performance qualities, including:

• softness;
• the ability to take any form;
• easy washing and drying;
• good sound insulation.

But even such a good product has one significant drawback – the risk of skin irritation. Additionally, you will have to prepare for the fact that after several “washes” their integrity deteriorates, which makes the patient throw away the pair.

One of the most recent innovations in the earplug market is polyurethane filters. Despite its rather high density, the material is soft and elastic at the same time.

Its most important advantage is the ability to carry out high-quality daily disinfection without significant consequences for the integrity of the structure. This approach made it possible to use polyurethane supply models for a long period without losing their safety qualities. But even such a convenient format of help has a significant drawback. We are talking about the difficulty of selecting the size for the auricle without a preliminary dimensional estimate from an expert. Because of this, buying them remotely without knowing the exact diameter is a difficult task.

Closes the popularity rating of earplugs are silicone representatives, who are called the best for health. Their advantages include hypoallergenicity, which will especially appeal to mothers and fathers of newborns. They provide good sound protection and also do not irritate the sound passage.

For the manufacture of silicone filters, both a soft thermoplastic material and a more rigid, cast base are equally often used. Of the relative shortcomings, only a quick failure with insufficient care is singled out here.

You will also have to take care not to put the cork entirely into the passage, leaving an edge for successful subsequent extraction.

Having studied all the distinctive features of various materials, the patient will be able to decide for himself what is a priority for him. Doctors only remind you that you need to focus on personal sound needs, not forgetting about age-related characteristics.

The authors even took care of those who sleep restlessly. Those suffering from acoustic overload are offered modifications that are fixed on the head according to the principle of classic headphones. This ensures that there is no risk of accidental loss.

User’s manual

Regardless of which model was preferred, the instruction manual for the earplugs remains identical. Also, for all reusable products, the same requirements are put forward regarding the rules for care and subsequent use. It does not need preliminary preparation, except perhaps only a couple printed out of the box.

In order to achieve the desired result on the first try, you should first knead the earplugs slightly, straightening the wrinkles and “wrinkles”. Next, you will need to insert the filter into the ear, using a screwing motion for better blockage. Moreover, the cork should be inserted without strong pressure and as carefully as possible. The tip must be left sticking out so that at the end of operation it can be successfully pulled out.

Before sending the earmold into the ear canal, you need to take care not only of the cleanliness of the noise-canceling object itself, but also of the ear.

With care, no difficulties should arise. The device is washed under warm running water. Soap may only be used if it is specified in the manufacturer’s instructions. Upon completion of washing, the plugs are laid out to dry, and then transferred to a pharmacy container for later storage.

While earplugs can help you fall asleep in noisy environments, some health professionals advise using them only occasionally. Otherwise, a person quickly gets used to ideal conditions for sleep, and their violation by any sound stimulus leads to instant awakening.