Hearing Protection

Hearing issues that create problems later in life are actually usually developed in one’s youth. It’s especially true these days, as many young people wear inner ear headphones that can cause a tremendous amount of damage to the ears in a very short amount of time. Although avoiding this type of harm to the ears is definitely a good step towards keeping your ears in good shape for your later years, it nonetheless isn’t the only way the ears can become damaged. Many activities can cause damage to the ears, so excellent hearing protection devices are necessary to ensure that your ears stay in good health for all the years of your life.

The heaviest form of hearing protection are complete-covering ear muffs. These products completely cover the ears and seal the air that goes into the ears. As sound is actually transmitted through vibrations in the air, these products are excellent, as they not only prevent sound from getting into the air, they also dampen the vibrations that occur in the air. Though they are quite large, they are remarkably comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They are most suitable for conditions in which sudden loud sounds or a low level of constant noise is present. Shooting ranges, race tracks and on certain work sites, these products are all but required. Though, excellent, they are quite expensive and don’t allow for very much movement.

A more practical solution is an earplug. These products come in a number of different forms, which are useful for a variety of circumstances, work situations and recreation. In addition to their flexibility, these products can also fit a number of budgets as well. You can even find models that provide industrial hearing protection.

Custom molded products are the best in terms of performance, but the most expensive. They fit into not only the ear canal, but also into the curves of the ear, which funnels sound to the canal. Rubber models are also available that plug into the ears, and most often come with straps to keep pairs together. Many of these products have a couple of dampening devices to reduce the vibrations of sound before it reaches the ear. You can also look for child's hearing protection models that are specifically designed for children.

The cheapest models available are foam units that are pushed into the ears and then hold their shape within the ear canal. These products are disposable and shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time. But for temporary situations of low level noise, they are an excellent option. And if you have a little more room in your budget then you might be interested in electronic hearing protection. A great example is the latest line of hearing protection head phones.