2. Foam earplugs
Foam earplugs are the second of the two main types of earplug that
pharmacists tend to stock. They are often also available in airport shops.
Specialist foam earplugs for specific purposes can be bought on the internet and
in some retail outlets. They come in either plain or two-tone and are described as disposable.
How good or bad foam earplugs are at reducing noise depends on the type of foam and
the type of moulding. They can be useless or they can be very good
indeed if
inserted properly. Before insertion they need to be squeezed and rolled
into a small 'rod'. Then the ear lobe must be pulled down slightly to
straighten the ear canal. After insertion there is a short delay while
the foam expands back and fits itself into the shape of the canal.
This property of expanding to fit the ear canal is a very big
positive for foam earplugs because it makes them ideal for
group activities where talking and eating is involved, ie where the
shape of the ear canal is constantly changing.
Foam ear plugs come in multi-packs and are relatively cheap. Some
manufacturers quote them as washable for re-use, but I once left a pair
in a pocket which went into the wash. The earplugs emerged twice their
normal size and the water could be wrung out of them. I dread to think
what would happen if anyone should go swimming with them! I suppose much
depends on the type of foam, but my strong recommendation is to keep
foam earplugs well away from water.
Specialist foam earplugs are available for specific purposes, mainly
via the internet:
Noise reduction
Currently the highest noise reduction rating for foam earplugs seems
to be 32
decibels (dB), but
the range of frequencies over which this applies is not stated.
The 32dB solid foam earplug comes in several colours including flesh colour.
It is by far my favourite for general use. The disadvantage of the delay while it expands to fit the ear
canal does not worry me, because if I need an immediate response for,
say, a fire engine siren, I just put my fingers in my ears.
These 32db flesh coloured foam earplugs are part of the Macks range,
but they were my favourite for general use well before Macks sent me
samples for this review. I keep a pair in all my bags and in the
car, so that I am never without them.
I have commandeered all sorts of boxes and containers to hold them,
and wish that earplug manufacturers would sell suitable
containers for carrying single pairs of earplugs around. Single pairs
are sold in flimsy plastic bags and bulk purchases in largish containers.
Foam earplugs for sleeping
 A
variation on the above are sold as comfortable for sleeping. This is
presumably because the they are slightly hollowed out with a hole up the
centre which collapses and expands according to whether or not one is
lying on it. The highest rating I have found is again 32dB, but that
brings into question the effect of the earplugs being thinner because of being hollowed out. I wore
some by mistake on a train journey and
found myself wondering what was the matter because they weren't keeping
down the train noise as much as usual.
For the purpose of this review, I also tried lying on the earplug,
but I found it painful because the hollow collapsing and expanding
seemed to cause variations in pressure. Also the earplug rubbed against
the pillow, transmitting sound. However, I must stress that my
ears are particularly sensitive following my
ear operation. For anyone with normal hearing, sleeping with someone
who snores or where there is background noise, these earplugs must be worth trying.
Flat roll-up foam earplugs
  Roll-up
earplugs are
advertised as suitable for keeping in a wallet,
because they are flat. The idea is that one should never be without
them.
Their noise reduction rating is quoted as 21 dB.
I asked some men to try them
as my own ear canals were too small to take them, as were the ear canals
of the other women who tried them. (They are clearly targeted at men.) Most of the men had no trouble
inserting them but were unable to try them out in noisy
environments.
Fantasy ear foam plugs
Within obvious limits, manufacturers can make their foam earplugs in a variety of shapes.
Some I came across which are also targeted at men are shaped like bullets and
called ear
ammo. In real terms, though, they are little different from standard foam
earplugs, although slightly larger. They are rated at 30 dB.
Narrower foam earplugs for smaller ears
I well know the somewhat strange feeling as a foam earplug
expands inside one's ear, and this may suggest to some people that they
would prefer a narrower version. However, although my own ear canals are
on the small side, I have never felt the need for narrower foam
earplugs. In fact I welcome the feeling of the foam expanding to fit my
ear canal, as it is accompanied by a progressive lowering of the intrusive noise
level. I never find it uncomfortable. That said, I did try the above
'ear ammo' earplugs for larger ears and did find them uncomfortable
after a time, so there must be a place for the narrow earplugs for
particularly small ears - including perhaps those of young teenagers.
3. Silicone putty earplugs
 Silicone
putty earplugs are said to be the best selling earplug in America, and judging
by the adverts for them, I can understand why - because they look really neat
and attractive in the ear. They come in a range of colours, which means that individuals who do not wish to draw
attention to their use can choose the flesh coloured ones, while other
individuals can colour co-ordinate as if they were
earrings.
The instructions say that
silicone putty earplugs should be placed over the ear canal
but, unlike wax and foam earplugs, specifically not inside it. This is straightforward to do because the silicone is so soft.
However to get the appearance in the picture, they need to be separated
into smaller lumps - which is again straightforward to do.
Used as instructed, ie placed over the ear canal rather than in it, the silicone putty sticks to
long hair and quickly loses good contact as one moves one's jaw. The
ensuing chinks let through sound.
A version of these earplugs is also publicised as soft for sleeping.
However, as one changes position on the pillow, long hair sticks on it
and the rubbing noise of the pillow is transmitted into the ear. When I
tried it, I removed
it almost immediately, but am confident that if I hadn't, it would have
come out by itself during the night.
I suspect that silicone putty earplugs would be significantly more effective
if they were smaller and could be inserted right into the ear canal, but
the manufacturers' instructions clearly state otherwise, probably
because of the difficulty of removing them without them falling apart
and leaving bits inside the ear. More guidance
would be useful.
4. Flange earplugs (available on the internet)
A
range of flange-type earplugs are advertised, some with a decibel rating
describing how much sound they reduce.
I have bought several types of flange earplugs and have found
that by far the most important thing is to get the size right. If the flange
is too large it buckles in the ear which means that it not only lets in
sound, but it also clicks annoyingly as one moves one's head. For me, the small size
version works
very well., and in this respect flange earplugs seem on a par with
the best of the foam.
Although flange earplugs with the maximum decibel rating are so
effective at reducing sound, they are more expensive than foam ones. So
they are not worth the money if reducing noise is the only
consideration. However there are other considerations:
 Cord connection Some flange-type earplugs come with a cord connecting them. This keeps
the earplugs together when they are removed from the ears and keeps them in readiness should the need for them arise.
There are detachable and non-detachable cord versions.
The cord is a mixed blessing. As the earplugs are lightweight, they don't stay securely hanging
over the shoulders when not in use (as do glasses on a chain). I have
lost a couple of pairs this way. Also the sound of the cord rubbing against clothes
is carried along the cord to the ears and can be extremely irritating.
Flange earplugs for listening to music
Some flange type earplugs are sold specifically for listening to
music. As my ears don't cope well with music. I asked others to check out the Macks version rated at 21dB.
All reports were that the earplugs were very good indeed at reducing the volume
of music while also maintaining quality.
Other comments were: The cord attaching the earplugs had to be
removed or draped over the head to avoid the noise of it rubbing against
clothes being transmitted into the ears; the earplugs caused one's own
voice to echo inside one's head when one tried to talk - not that that
would be an issue while listening to music, and not that
everyone seemed equally disconcerted about it; the earplugs
are best inserted with a screwing action; the further in they are, the
more effective they become; but when in as far as they can go, one can hear one's own
pulse or heartbeat which is somewhat distracting. (I found this difficult to believe,
so tested it, and it was true!)
Flange earplugs for swimming
Some flange type earplugs are sold as watertight, and, according to
the swimmers in my family, they work well. One family member is
particularly
pleased with them because she used to get ear ache and hear badly for a
few days after swimming.
However, be warned: groups swimming for pleasure often want to talk
to one another. So the earplugs get repeatedly inserted and taken out; they slip out of fingers and are lost in the water.
Flange earplugs for flying
I have seen flange earplugs sold for specifically flying. This is unfortunate to say the least.
Anyone who wants to reduce noise when flying should first try out a
range of earplugs in other noisy environments and choose according.
However pain in flying is invariably more due to
pressure differences inside and outside the ear than to noise. Whatever
the earplugs used against the noise, they must be accompanied by the
techniques to equalise pressure, as described on the page about
flying. Otherwise earplugs cause more
damage than no earplugs because they work against the body's attempts to
equalise pressure naturally.
5. Ear defenders
 There
is a lot in favour of ear defenders, but of course there is the obvious
disadvantage that they are conspicuous. They are hardly an attractive
dress accessory and wearing them in normal environments understandably
attracts stares.
As people hear through the bones and tissues of their heads as well
as through their ears, the ideal ear protection protects the area round
the ears as well as the ear canals.
Another positive is that ear defenders can, a moment's notice,
be pulled to one side for listening to a conversation or equalising air
pressure when
flying.
Ear defenders also last many years without needing
to be replaced.
Ear defenders are comfortable to wear over reasonably
long periods, although being a spring-fit, they can feel tight eventually.
Ear defenders do, though, have the obvious disadvantage that they are
conspicuous. They attract stares when worn in situations which most
people do not regard as noisy. Also they can appear rude in social
situations as there is the assumption that the wearer is withdrawing from the
group and listening to their own music.
Not all ear defenders cut out sound equally well and some specialise on particular types of sound, such as the
noise of machinery. The sorts available in DIY stores are general purpose, but specialist ones bought over the internet are more likely to suit
particular needs.
Ear defenders are also relatively expensive.
Folding ear defenders (available
on the internet)
Folding ear defenders have all the advantages of regular ear
defenders, and are small enough to be popped into a regular bag and
carried around. A disadvantage is that the spring band is tighter than
on regular
ear defenders which gives me a pain across my temples after a time.
Nevertheless folding ear defenders are part of my standard armoury when flying
and at children's pantomimes where the noise level seems to increase every
year.
They are available over the internet from specialist suppliers.
Mufflers
Mufflers are mainly for warmth and fashion. They are good against
wind pain but of little use against noise unless they have been
specially manufactured for the purpose.
6. Noise cancelling headphones
Noise cancelling headphones can generate sound electronically which is said
to cancel out outside noise. Such headphones are particularly
recommended on flights to cancel out aircraft noise, and they are reported to
be particularly good at this, probably because the noise is so uniform. My own experience
of them is extremely limited, so may not be representative, but I did
try a pair on a car journey to test its effect on road and engine noise.
However I found that my favourite foam earplugs cut out the noise more
effectively and of course more cheaply.
Noise cancelling headphones are relatively expensive, but they do have the advantages
that they enable the wearer to listen to music, etc, while limiting
intrusive outside noise, and they can be slipped aside momentarily to equalise pressure
during flights.
7. Automatic volume limiter for iPods, MP3 Players and Walkmans
A small device on the market can be plugged in between the music player
and its earphones to reduce the maximum volume that most
portable music players deliver by approximately 18 decibels.
I was reluctant to try it myself because my ears are so sensitive,
but there is no shortage of teenagers with music players in my family
and they obliged. Their reports were that the device certainly did cut
down the sound volume, but that it was simpler to use the volume
control on the music player.
It is unclear whether the device limits excessively loud sound while
keeping other sounds at the same level or whether it merely makes all
sound quieter. In view of the lack of clarity it is probably the latter,
which means that it really is simpler to use the volume control on the
music player.
What anyone with sensitive hearing really wants is a device for use
with phones and internet video to keep speech at its normal level while
limiting sudden penetrating sound such as a child screaming or static
noise.
It would
help for the manufacturers to make the specifications of their volume
limiter clearer and, if necessary, to produce an alternative version.
8. Cotton-wool earplugs
Cotton-wool is included in this review simply because so many
people seem to use it.
There are however much more effective products on the market for almost
all types of need.
The best thing to be said about cotton-wool is that it can serve in
an emergency against ear ache in wind.
7. Fingers in ears
For sudden sounds like and an approaching fire engine or a child's scream,
there seems to be no substitute for pushing fingers into ears - unless of
course one wears ear protection all the time and doesn't mind hearing nothing.
|
