3 Tips for Choosing the Right Hearing Protector

Are you worried about damage to your hearing? If so, then you might want to speak an audiologist about hearing protection. Any sound that is more than 85 decibels has the potential to damage your hearing, particularly if you are exposed for significant periods. Furthermore, if the sound is significantly louder than eighty-five decibels, this also increases the chance of damage. 

Unfortunately, there are plenty of environmental issues that can cause sounds that reach this point. For instance, if you are exposed to a jet engine regularly due to your job or you attend music concerts frequently, then you could be at risk of damaging your hearing. 

This could either lead to issues with hearing loss or other sensory conditions such as tinnitus. Tinnitus is a common effect of neglecting your hearing and regularly exposing it to significant volumes of noise. 

The answer to this issue is to use hearing protectors. Hearing protectors will ensure that your ears are safe from loud volumes of noise. But how should you choose the type you need?

Speak to an audiologist

One of the first tips that you should consider is to speak to an audiologist. By doing this, you will be able to tell them about the issues that you are typically exposed to, whether that’s in your personal or professional life. They will then be able to recommend the right option for you based on your individual needs. 

Another benefit of visiting an audiologist is that they will be able to tell you whether a particular environment is loud enough to cause hearing loss or hearing damage. You could also be worried that you have already damaged your hearing. An audiologist will run a hearing test to check for an issue like this and guarantee that is not the case. If there is already significant damage to your hearing, they can provide you with treatment options as well as advice on how to avoid further damage. 

Know the types

It’s worth ensuring that you are aware of the different types of hearing protectors available. There are three main choices here that you can consider and that an audiologist can recommend. Earmuffs are designed to fit over your ears and cover them completely. They will usually have an inner foam layer and a hard, outer shell. This is to ensure that you get two different levels of protection. It also guarantees that no sound is able to enter your ears at all, as long as they are fitted correctly. One of the issues to be aware of with these devices is that they do not offer you any ability to hear at all. As such, they won’t be suitable for all environments.

Another choice could be personalized hearing protectors. These are designed specifically for the shape of your ear, similar to hearing aids. They can often be purchased directly from an audiologist. They provide high-quality ear protection with a solution that completely blocks dangerous noise. They do allow noise to get through but only at a certain level. As such, the weight and the dangerous level is significantly reduced to a safe point. 

The final option is the cheapest product, but it is also the least effective. Earplugs and similar devices are available anywhere and typically will only be used once before being disposed of. They can reduce irritating noises but may not provide much support for significant levels that you could be exposed to. If you want earplugs but a more effective option, you can get a custom plug from an audiologist. This will also be reusable and a more comfortable fit.

Think about your environment

The final tip is to make sure that you are thinking about the environment where you need hearing protectors. It’s possible that you need hearing protectors in a commercial space such as a construction site. This is going to be filled with heavy machinery. As such, earmuffs will often be your best choice. These should be provided by your company. You should not need to purchase these out of your own pocket. 

Alternatively, you might be thinking about visiting a music concert and you could love enjoying this type of entertainment option. If that’s the case, personalized hearing protection will be ideal. You will still be able to hear the music clearly, however a significant level of the noise will be reduced. 

We hope this helps you understand the key considerations that you need to keep in mind when you are choosing ear protection. If you are interested in learning more about Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, contact Tarentum: (724) 409-4439 or Vandergrift: (724) 567-3233. We will provide you with expert support and advice on this subject.