Prolonged exposure to very loud noise can lead to the destruction of the nerve endings in your ears, which in turn can cause hearing loss, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, or AAO-HNS. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety suggests protecting your ears from noise that measures 85 decibels or higher, which includes a number of situations ranging from construction and factory work to attending a rock concert. The type of ear protection you choose may depend on your individual comfort level and how much noise can be blocked out.
Insertable Ear Plugs
Insertable ear plugs are small devices made of foam, a moldable putty-like material or silicone that you place inside your outer ear canal. The plug forms a seal against your ear so that high volumes of sound are blocked. This type of ear protection is available without prescription at drugstores and mass merchandisers, and can also protect your ears from water and its associated conditions, such as swimmer's ear. A more advanced ear plug custom-made for your ear shape and size may be preferable if you work in high-noise environments on a regular basis. Less expensive foam ear plugs generally do not last as long as custom earpieces and you may need to replace them routinely due to tearing or the harboring of bacteria.
Ear Muffs
Ear muffs, not the warm, fuzzy kind you wear in the winter, protect your ears a little better than insertable ear plugs. Like the winter-wear ear muffs, this type of hearing protector is made with padding that blocks as much as 30 decibels in some cases, according to North Carolina State University's Environmental Health and Safety division. The muffs are attached to a band worn over your head, so that each ear is completely enclosed and sealed off from ambient noise. If you work in extremely loud conditions, you may choose to protect your hearing through the use of both ear plugs and ear muffs at the same time. The AAO-HNS points out that glasses or loose long hair can compromise the seal of the ear muffs and let noise leak in; alternate accommodations for vision correction and tying back your hair may be required.
External Ear Plugs
An external ear plug, called a semi-insertable plug, is a form of ear protection that doesn't go completely inside your ear canal, but blocks off noise when it is placed on top of your ear canal. You are also required to wear a canal cap, or a form of protection worn around your head on a headband. External ear plugs aren't as effective in protecting your hearing as either insertable ear plugs or ear muffs because noise can still seep in around the caps.
