Travel Ear Plugs
Ear plugs are essential when you get distracted from outside noise while sleeping, reading, meditation etc. Ear plugs are the tiny leads that fit into your ear externally and keep you away from external noise during travelling on Bus, Train or Flight. It is also very effective when you are doing meditation.
Ear plugs have been in use for hundreds of years as people learned homemade fashion plugs from clay or wax to protect their ears from noise, dust, or water. These days, various modern materials and designs are available, and each is adapted to a particular environmental condition. Ear plugs are commercially available for specific activities such as swimming, air travel, loud work environments, sleeping, attending rock concerts, shooting, and motorcycling.
A system of Noise Reduction Rating (also known as NRR) has been developed to measure the noise reduction capabilities of any ear plug. This tells the user the noise reduction in decibels that can be expected and is essential when choosing suitable plugs for any given activity. Most ear plugs can produce 25 to 35 decibels reduction in noise when adequately inserted and used, but it is essential to study the manufacturer’s information to see the exact NRR. It should also be remembered that any sustained noise over 80 decibels can lead to hearing loss, and anything over 140 decibels can cause instant damage, even complete loss of hearing.
Types of Ear Plugs:
The three main designs of plugs these days are foam, moldable wax or silicon, and flanged plugs. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages and is better adapted to certain activities than others.
Foam ear plugs:
Foam ear plugs are available as single-use, disposable plugs or reusable products that can be washed and inserted several times. They are inserted into the ear canal by carefully rolling them between the thumb and index finger to make them small enough to enter the ear canal – hands should be carefully washed beforehand when inserting any ear plug to avoid introducing bacteria into the ear canal. When rolling the foam plug, avoid creasing the foam as this will allow noise into the ear and lessen the device’s effectiveness. The top of the ear should be gently pulled backward and upwards with the opposite hand – this opens the ear canal – then the compressed foam plug slid gently into the canal and held in place while it expands to fill and protect the ear. A small amount of foam should protrude, enough to be able to grasp and pull out when the plug is no longer needed. Foam plugs are cheap, reasonably comfortable, and easy to use and are ideally suited for short periods of usage and situations where the user is not concerned about sound quality.
Moldable wax or silicon ear plugs:
Moldable wax or silicon ear plugs are putty-like balls that can be softened and shaped between the thumb and fingers to form a conical plug that adapts to the shape of the user’s ear. The conical plug is gently pushed into the ear canal entrance and, if adequately inserted, will produce a water-proof seal that protects the ear from water, sound, and pollutants. Valued by swimmers for their water-proof qualities, they can help keep the ear canal clear of water while in the pool or sea, thus helping prevent swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear caused by water entering the ear canal. Wax ear plugs are generally better for sleeping as the body’s warmth softens the wax, increasing comfort and sleep quality. For outdoor swimming in warm climates, however, silicon may be a better choice as the sun’s heat will not melt or change the fit of the plug.
Flanged ear plugs:
Flanged ear plugs are often called ‘musician’ or ‘hi-fi’ plugs as they are favored by musicians, sound engineers, and music lovers. This is because this type of ear plug is specially developed to lower the good volume without changing the perception of the full range of frequencies. This allows an appreciation of music without the hearing damage that high volumes can cause at concerts and rehearsals. The structure of a flanged plug is specially designed to use a small diaphragm which reduces low frequencies while other components made from different materials absorb the higher frequencies. They are generally more expensive than foam or moldable ear plugs because of their complex structure and design. They can only reduce volumes by up to 20 decibels (check individual manufacturer’s packaging for the exact figure) and so are not recommended for very high noise levels. Flanged plugs have a long life, can be re-worn repeatedly, and so, if looked after and cleaned regularly, they can still provide an effective and affordable product for certain situations.
The ear plug can be seen as an indispensable, portable device that can be used in many ways to save hearing and protect ears from other damaging environmental factors. They should always be used as directed by the manufacturer or a medical adviser and checked from time to time to ensure that they are still in place and giving maximum protection. They can aid sleep, increase concentration and, at their most efficient, save a person from the tragedy of complete hearing loss.