Your hearing is even more sensitive than you think. We have 16,000 delicate receptors in our ears that are essential to hearing, but once damaged, they can’t grow back. That’s why it’s so important not to exceed the safe sound limit of 85 decibels for long periods of time.
So, if you live, work or play in a noisy environment, earplugs are essential for good hearing protection. But they’re also very useful for helping you get a good night’s sleep.
There’s nothing worse than not being able to fall asleep when you know you’ve got a jam-packed day at the office tomorrow. If you’re bored of counting sheep and a hot mug of cocoa isn’t kicking your body clock into touch, try popping a set of ear plugs in before you turn in.
They’ll cancel road noise and irritating snoring, allowing you to drift off and – more importantly – they’ll help you to stay in a deep sleep. Ear plugs reduce the likelihood of you being disturbed by noises in the night, and a higher sleep quality means you wake feeling refreshed.
It’s generally regarded as safe to sleep with earplugs in, as long as they’re fitted correctly. If you see the addition of ear plugs to your sleep routine as a long-term plan, then it’s worth getting custom fit plugs.
This will reduce the chance of ear wax building up in the canal, which could cause an ear infection. Wear with caution though – custom fit ear plugs are extremely effective at blocking noise, so could cancel out your alarm clock!
If you’re budget conscious, foam ear plugs are a good option. While they’re comfortable to sleep in, they do tend to harbour bacteria, so will need to be replaced regularly. Silicon and rubber earplugs do cost more but can often be moulded to your ears and have a longer life span. Custom fit plugs prevent sound leakage and more sophisticated models reduce sound to a safer noise rather than entirely blocking it out.
You can find more information on hearing protection from our specialists, here.
If you’d like further advice on earplugs, or alternative ear protection, our friendly team of audiologists at The Hearing Care Partnership will be able to assist you. You can also view our entire hearing protection range in-store. Call 0800 52 00 546, book your hearing test online or pop into your nearest THCP branch.