Cheering on your favorite sports team in a packed stadium or listening to your favorite music at a live show can be exhilarating. You’re spending time with friends or family and making memories you can share forever. But don’t forget to keep your health top of mind. What part of your health? Your ears. Some of your favorite activities can have a lasting effect on your hearing and your overall health, as loud noises can lead to hearing loss, which happens when structures or nerve fibers in the inner ear are damaged.1 These are just a couple of situations where keeping the appropriate kind of ear plugs on hand is beneficial.
It's not just fun activities like games and concerts that can be hard on hearing, though. Working in a noisy environment like a construction site can expose you to loud noises for a prolonged period of time — like it does to around 22 million Americans every year2 in jobs like construction, agriculture, carpentry, and the military, just to name a few.3
But hearing loss through noisy environments isn’t something that only adults should be concerned about. Although around 26 million adults aged 20-69 suffer from hearing loss due to excessive noise exposure, an estimated 5.2 million children also suffer from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).2
NIHL is something to be taken seriously, as its effects can bleed into other areas of life, too. The Centers for Disease Control reports that hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is connected with heart problems and cognitive decline. It can also lead to a decline in mental health, including anxiety and depression2, as well as high blood pressure, insomnia, and irritability.3 When it comes to children, the effects can even reach to communication and language comprehension on top of learning and social development problems.1
The two types of NIHL are acoustic trauma and chronic NIHL. Acoustic trauma is a result of a single sound, like a gunshot or fireworks, and has instant hearing loss effects. Chronic NIHL happens as a result of gradual exposure to loud noise, like after consistently listening to music too loud.3 In either case, NIHL is something that can’t be reversed.
Measuring Sound Levels
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Prolonged exposure to noises at or above 85 dB can lead to gradual hearing loss, whereas a noise of 120 dB or louder can lead to acoustic trauma and have immediate effects.3
Sounds below dangerous levels: Everyday sounds like breathing (10 dB), whispering (30 dB), or a washing machine (70 dB) are examples of sounds below the level of causing damage.
Sounds at dangerous levels: A lawnmower is typically measured at about 80-90 dB, which is right around the line of damage. Wearing ear protection is a good idea in these cases.
Sounds above dangerous levels: A motorcycle engine (95 dB), a construction site (100 dB), or the loudest level of music through headphones (110 dB) can cause damage over time. A nearby emergency siren (120 dB), a gunshot (140 dB), or fireworks or a rock concert (150 dB) can cause immediate damage.3 These are situations where it’s imperative to wear ear protection to prevent damage.
In addition to hearing loss, noise can also affect other areas of life like sleeping, focused productivity, and your overall health. The good news? Most NIHL can be avoided with the right preventative measures. In addition to limiting exposure to loud noises and listening to music at more moderate sound levels, one of the top preventative measures is to use hearing protection devices, like ear plugs. There are many types of ear plugs that cover different situations as well as a variety of noise levels. When searching for ear protection, consider what the ear plug is made of, what you’re using it for, and how much protection you need. Ear plugs usually have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of between 21-33 dB.
Ear Plugs for Specific Occasions
- Work: From the construction site to the airport, many jobs have noisy environments. Ear plugs that are tapered for comfort can help block the sounds of power tools, lawn equipment, and airplanes and provide heavy-duty protection for tough jobs. [NRR 33]
- Music: For musicians or those who attend live concerts on a regular basis, consider ear plugs that provide decibel reduction without blocking out music You don’t have to sacrifice sound quality while preventing damage. [NRR 27]
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Sport: There are several types of ear plugs that can be used for different types of sport. One variety helps to seal out water for swimming and other water sports. [NRR 27]
- A different type of ear plug can help to prevent swimmer's ear for water sports, as it is made of silicone and can be shaped to cover the ear canal. [21 NRR]
- For shooting sports, you’ll want some of the highest protection possible as the volume of a gunshot can cause immediate damage. [33 NRR]
- Travel: While on the go, it’s easy to slip between sleep and wake or focused time and conversation time. Grab a pair of ear plugs with a unique Flip to Listen feature that allows wearers to unblock sounds without removing the ear plugs. Easily switch from a closed position for protection from continuous noise to an open position (NRR 4) when you want to hear. [24 NRR]
- Sleep: If you have trouble sleeping in a car, airplane, hotel, or even at home, ear plugs that are comfortable enough for sleep are contoured to fill the curve of the ear canal and soft for exceptional comfort. [28 NRR]
There are many types of ear plugs — nearly two dozen varieties available at Flents alone — like formable foam ear plugs, pre-molded earplugs, canal caps, contoured, bell shaped, and all of the kinds mentioned above, so you’ll be sure to find one that fits your needs. To avoid occupational hearing loss, to help you sleep, to boost productivity, or help you focus, keep ear plugs on hand for all occasions to protect your hearing and your overall health.
References
- Centers for Disease Control Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/about/preventing-noise-induced-hearing-loss.html
- Centers for Disease Control About Occupational Hearing Loss https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/index.html
- Cleveland Clinic Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21776-noise-induced-hearing-loss-nihl