how to wear earplugs properly
Here’s how to get the best out of your plugs:
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2 minute read | Feb 2025
1.avoid foam and tubed earplugs:
Foam earplugs might seem like an easy, cheap solution, but they are as good as sticking your fingers in your ears!
Commonly found at bars, foam and tubed earplugs distort music (overly reducing higher pitched sounds e.g a high-hat drum beat). Even earplugs marketed to music lovers or recommended by blogs can disproportionately reduce sound. The result? A compromised listening experience that leaves many people ditching them altogether. It's time to find a better way to protect your hearing without sacrificing sound quality.
2.Use the noise-dose calculator to find your earplugs:
To enhance your listening experience, consider earplugs with flat attenuation filters, which aim to reduce sound evenly and preserve music quality. Matching earplugs to your noise-dose and hearing health can assist in effective volume management. This is what we provide, free of charge, with your noise dose result.
3.Give It Time:
When you first insert earplugs, expect a drop in sound as your brain adapts (neural adaptation). This usually takes 5-10 minutes so keep going. Pop them in during the queue to give your brain time to adjust before the music starts.
4.Use your noise dose to find out when to use your plugs:
5.Fix the “Louder Voice” feeling:
Fix the “Louder Voice” feeling: If your voice sounds louder than usual, it’s a common effect caused by blocking the ear canal (the occlusion effect). Earplugs with vents allow vocal sound to escape, and custom-molded earplugs work best. For non-vented earplugs, adjusting the fit (slightly looser) can reduce the trapped pressure, but make sure they’re still providing effective volume-control. Don’t worry—the feeling gets better over time as your brain adjusts to the earplugs.
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