The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety notes that hearing loss is a serious health condition that is 100 percent preventable, but 100 percent irreversible. Persons exposed to any type of loud noise should wear hearing protection, including gun shots and load machinery. There are several types of widely available protective devices that can be worn to effectively prevent hearing loss.
Expandable Ear Plugs
Ear plugs are a type of hearing protection that insert into the ear canal to prevent load noises from damaging hearing. There are three types of ear plugs described by National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. The first type, expandable ear plugs, are made of a foam-like material that is compressed, inserted into the ear, and then allowed to expand to seal the ear canal. The protection that expandable ear plugs provide require that the plug ultimately seals the ear canal, leaving no space for noise to access the inner ear. People with small ear canals may have difficulty compressing the foam ear plugs small enough so that they easily fit into the ear canal prior to expansion.
Pre-molded Ear Plugs
Pre-molded ear plugs are made of silicone, plastic, or rubber. They are not as as easily compressed as foam expandable ear plugs, so choosing the proper size is necessary to form a proper seal in the ear canal, but not be too big that they are uncomfortable.
Canal Caps
A third type of ear plug is a canal cap, which are ear plugs that are attached to a metal or plastic band that extends around the head. This type of plug can be worn when needed, but then hung around the neck via the band when not needed. Like other types of ear plugs, canal caps need to properly fit into the ear canal and form a seal to prevent noise from entering the ear.
Ear Muffs
Ear muffs are a completely different type of ear protection that cover the entire ear and form an airtight seal around the outside of the ear. The muffs are connected by a plastic or metal band that wraps around the head to keep the muffs in place over the ears. The American Academy of Otolaryngology reports that this airtight seal is necessary for proper hearing protection. Thus, people with beards, glasses or long hair may have trouble getting the ear muffs to form the proper seal.
