Health Benefits of Wearing Earplugs

Earplugs are hardly glamorous to look at or exciting to wear for most people, but they actually have a lot of benefits and uses.

Just about anyone who works in a noisy environment, or lives in one, should keep a pair of earplugs close at hand to keep their ears safe. Swimmers and travellers can also benefit from using earplugs.

There are many little things you can do that pay off in major benefits to your health and overall well-being. Wearing earplugs may be one of those small things you can do.

Here are a few of the ways that earplugs have helped to change the lives of those who wear them.

Contents

• Earplugs Make Using Tools and Machinery Safer
• Earplugs Make Listening to Music Safer
• Protecting Your Hearing at Concerts and Clubs
• Go For a Swim Without Getting an Infection
• Sleep Better at Night with Earplugs
• Fly in Comfort With Earplugs

Earplugs Make Using Tools and Machinery Safer

Earplugs are vital for those who regularly use heavy equipment and power tools. It’s not just the sheer amount of noise that these machines make that makes it important to wear earplugs. They are important because the noise is incessant and workers deal with it for hours at a time. Prolonged exposure to noise is dangerous and can lead to permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Earplugs come recommended by most occupational health experts.

Earplugs Make Listening to Music Safer

Tinnitus affects around one in seven adults in the UK. It can involve ringing, buzzing or other sounds that do not come from an outside source, and severe or persistent tinnitus can affect sleep, concentration and everyday life.

Tinnitus is a major problem for musicians and music aficionados. This is why every good music shop has their own custom-made earplugs on offer. High-end earplugs for musicians and concert-goers are made to filter out harmful frequencies without impairing the quality of the music. Even then, some people still don’t want to wear earplugs at concerts for whatever reason.

Protecting Your Hearing at Concerts and Clubs

If you’re a music lover who enjoys going to concerts and clubs, it’s crucial to take steps to protect your hearing. The loud volumes at these events can easily reach dangerous decibel levels that can cause permanent hearing damage over time. Wearing earplugs is an effective solution, but many people are hesitant, thinking it will ruin the experience. The truth is, high-quality earplugs designed for music actually allow you to enjoy the full range of sound while filtering out the harmful frequencies.

For example, sound levels at concerts and clubs can be high enough to damage hearing, particularly with prolonged exposure. Properly fitted high-fidelity earplugs can reduce the sound reaching your ears while helping music and speech remain clear.

The key is using high-fidelity earplugs designed to allow an even reduction across all frequencies. Cheap, universal-fit earplugs just muffle everything into a low, muffled roar. It’s almost like sliding the volume down from “spine-shaking” to “head-bopping”.

Speaking from experience, I used to be one of those stubborn types who refused to wear earplugs at shows. I liked feeling that physical force of the music pummelling my chest. But after one too many dizzy spells and ringing ears post-concert, I knew I had to start protecting my hearing. Once I got some decent musician’s plugs, I was blown away by how I could still immerse myself in the full range of instrumentation and vocals without emerging with my ears ringing.

So don’t buy into the misconception that earplugs ruin live music. They’re an essential tool for any avid concertgoer who wants to keep enjoying music for decades to come without risking hearing damage. Trust me, once those high-pitched tinnitus tones start haunting you, you’ll wish you had taken precautions sooner. A small investment in quality earplugs pays huge dividends for your long-term hearing health and music listening pleasure.

Go For a Swim Without Getting an Infection

Swimmers may also benefit from suitable swimming earplugs. They are designed to limit the amount of water entering the ear canal and may be particularly useful for people who are prone to outer ear infections, often called swimmer’s ear. Anyone with grommets, a perforated eardrum or an existing ear condition should follow advice from a healthcare professional. Suitable options include Speedo Ergo Aquatic Earplugs and Speedo Biofuse Aquatic Earplugs.

Swimming earplugs for children include Hush Plugz Children’s Swim Earplugs.

Sleep Better at Night with Earplugs

Research suggests that wearing earplugs is a useful way to support a good night’s sleep. Sleep impairment can be caused by ambient noises interfering with sleep. If you live near train lines or a major road, then you understand these issues.

Wearing comfortable earplugs for sleeping may reduce disruptive background noise and make it easier to sleep, particularly if you live near a busy road, railway or other source of night-time noise. Results vary, and earplugs should be kept clean and fitted correctly.

Many people who wear earplugs at night also combine them with an eye mask to ensure total darkness and peace of mind for restful sleep.

Some further reading that may be of interest is an article in the Guardian in December 2018, entitled How I finally learned to sleep.

Fly in Comfort With Earplugs

Pressure-regulating earplugs designed for aeroplanes may help slow pressure changes during take-off and landing, although they will not prevent discomfort for everyone. Swallowing, yawning or gently equalising the pressure can also help. Seek medical advice before flying if you have a severe cold, ear infection or recent ear surgery. We recommend Alpine FlyFit Earplugs for Flying.

Earplugs are a handy little item that many people forget about. They aren’t sexy or anything, and they aren’t fashionable, but they are highly useful. They are far more useful than anyone might imagine. Whether you want to travel more comfortably or protect your hearing when using power tools, having a good pair of earplugs can be valuable.

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