Strategies to Hear for a Lifetime: 3. Protect Your Ears

Earplugs

yellow foam earplugsFoam or Formable Earplugs
These earplugs change shape and must be rolled down tightly before inserting into the ear canal where they expand to make a seal. These earplugs are designed to be disposable and not reused. However, if the earplug is clean and still in good condition, they may be used again.flanged earplugsFlanged or Preformed Earplugs
These earplugs have tips with different sized flanges that are meant to seal in the ear canal. These may come sized small, medium or large. These earplugs are designed to be washed and used again and again. Replace them when the flanges become worn, or the stem is not stable.Corded EarplugsCord flanged earplugsCords
Both types of earplugs may come with a cord attached. The cord is to enable the earplugs to hang around your next when you are not exposed to hazardous noise and don’t need to wear them. For parents of young kids, the cord can be clipped or pinned to the child’s shirt in the back which prevents them from becoming lost.

How Earplugs Work

Earplugs work by making an acoustic seal with the ear canal in order to block some of the sound energy from reaching your eardrum. They don’t block all the sound; they just reduce the amplitude of the sound in the ear canal.
How earplugs work

Warnings:

Child warning· Earplugs should not be used for very young children who are at risk of trying to eat or swallow the earplug.Pet Warning· Earplugs should also be kept away from pets who may be attracted to the smell of earwax on them. Hourglass· Do NOT modify the earplugs by cutting, trimming or removing parts to make them fit differently.

Exclamation point Mythbuster

Baby with Klneenex in earsTrue or False: Tissue, Kleenex or cotton block sound sufficiently to make listening safe.

False! Tissues does not provide adequate attenuation to protect your ears from dangerous sounds. A better option would be earplugs or earmuffs.
false

How to Wear Foam Earplugs

Watch an instructional video from 3M that demonstrates the proper insertion of the FOAM PLUGS.

Try It!

Yellow foam earplugs
  1. Find the foam earplugs in your kit.
  2. Try it yourself. It may take several tries to master this skill in each ear.

How to Wear Flanged Earplugs

Watch an instructional video from 3M that demonstrates the proper insertion of the Ultra Fit 27.

Try It!

  1. Find the flanged earplugs in your kit.
  2. Try it yourself. It may take several tries to master this skill in each ear.

3. Protect Your Ears

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