Ear plugs are ideal for a quiet night's sleep or for those who work in particularly noisy places, like at construction sites or on a railroad train. People constantly exposed to noise who don't protect their hearing can start losing it as early as in their 20s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, notes. While ear plugs provide some safeguards, they also have a few risks of their own.
Types
Ear plugs come in a few different varieties. Foam ear plugs are made of a soft, squishy foam material and are meant to be disposable. Re-usable ear plug, generally made of rubber, plastic or silicone, have a molded shape that fits into the ear canal. Canal caps are one more option. Canal caps are a pair of either foam or re-usable ear plugs that are attached to a headband.
Insertion
Any ear plug is useless unless you insert it properly. Foam ear plugs expand to fit your ear canal and need to be rolled into a tight cylinder before you insert them in your ear. Re-usable plugs need to fit flush against your ear, which you can ensure with a tip from the CDC. It says to place one arm over your head to gently pull on the top of the opposite ear. Continue to pull on your ear as you insert the plug in a slow, back-and-forth motion until your ear canal is sealed. Insert canal caps with either method, depending on the material.
Foam Plugs Risks
A major hazard for foam ear plugs is the risk of infection from using dirty plugs, notes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the CDC. This risk frequently comes up in greasy or dusty work environments where workers often remove and then re-insert the foam plugs. Foam plugs are meant to be disposable, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, says if you must re-use them, you can wash them in soap and water a limited number of times.
Re-usable Plugs Risks
Proper fit is a concern for re-usable ear plugs, the CDC says. Unlike foam plugs, re-usable plugs do not expand to fit your ear. While a lot of the re-usable plugs come in small, medium and large, some people end up needing a different size for each ear. Re-usable plugs also come with slightly different designs that also effect fit. Follow the general insertion guidelines but also heed any additional specific instructions from the manufacturer.
Misconception
Ear plugs are not likely to poke out your ear drums, the CDC notes. The largest standard ear plugs are only about 0.75 inches long while the average ear canal measures in at 1.25 inches. The ear canal path to the ear drum is also curved, preventing you from sticking anything directly into your ear drum.
