Dos and Don’ts of Hearing Protection

Hearing protection is an effective way to maintain excellent hearing health in a wide range of industries. From airports to construction work to live music venues, proper hearing protection will prevent hearing loss problems in the future. However, while the idea of wearing hearing protection seems simple enough, there are specific dos and don’ts of hearing protection that anyone exposed to dangerous noise levels regularly must know so they can feel assured that they enjoy the best results. 

Keep your ear defenders clean

If you wear your ear defenders every day, you need to make sure they are as clean as possible. When working in busy environments, such as construction sites, dust, dirt and debris can easily breach your ear defenders, and this can affect their quality or cause damage. You will also need to remove earwax from your earplugs so they fit in your ears properly, otherwise, you risk them not working as effectively as they should. 

Consider custom earplugs

The majority of people who wear earplugs will opt for the standard model. These can be effective if you need them now and again, but if you need to use these earplugs every day, such as for music concerts, custom earplugs are an excellent alternative. A custom set of earplugs will fit your ears perfectly and therefore provide the best protection.

Furthermore, they also reduce waste, as you don’t need to discard them at the end of every day. 

Check noise reduction 

Although all ear protection offers can keep your ears safe from excessive noise levels, you still need to check the noise reduction rating to ensure you select the most appropriate type of ear protection. Ear defenders that only offer protection up to 100 decibels would not be of any use on an airport runway, where plane engines can reach sound levels of up to 140dB, so make sure you buy ear protection with a suitable rating. 

Remove them in noisy environments

People unfamiliar with wearing hearing protection can find it difficult to adjust to wearing them at first. As it protects your ear from loud noise, it also means you may not be able to hear others, which makes it tempting to remove your hearing protection to have a conversation or receive instructions. However, you mustn’t do this when exposed to a noisy environment. If possible, get away from the machinery so you can hear more clearly. 

Insert them incorrectly 

Inserting your earplugs or wearing hearing protection incorrectly means you will not get the full benefit from them, and it could even feel awkward. You might need to adjust your hearing aids continuously, which can affect your focus and might cause you to expose yourself to dangerous noise levels, even if this is only for a few seconds. 

Forget to clean your ears 

Besides looking after your hearing protection, you should also make sure to clean your ears to prevent a buildup of earwax. Your audiologist will recommend the best way to clean your ears to make it easier to hear others, even when wearing hearing protection, and ensure no misunderstandings that put you and others at risk.