10 THINGS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT EARPLUGS

1. Earplugs do not need to block out ALL of the sound, look for attenuating or muffling earplugs 

2. It is impossible to achieve “absolute silence”; sound is also transmitted to the eardrum by bone-conduction 

3. Custom fit are not necessarily the best; but certainly most comfortable and discrete

4. We can supply earplugs for music listening and sound engineering; a lot of good and relavent information here: http://soundadvice.info

5. We list over 20 different types of earplugs mostly for sound, but others for pressure balancing: stops pain during aircraft cabin-pressure variations

6. Never share earplugs: it can promote ear infection

7. Earplugs are advised if your workplace exceeds 80dB and mandatory if 85dB or above: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/noisindx.htm is the government website that give full details of the current legislation. The "noise dose" is not that straight forward and we would advise anybody researching this subject to look at the HSE site. Also in our Audiology section there is a noise dose calculator which will give an interactive idea of how it noise dose is determined. There is also a good site that describes noise related hearing loss: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/noise.asp

8. The process of ear impressions for custom fit does not hurt. If you need impressions made, we have access to a network of Audiologists across the UK

9. Tinnitus is not curable through conventional medical practice. There are therapies and management regimes that will help

10. At 120 dB you can still suffer hearing damage even with the best earplugs

PS One person in in seven in the UK have a hearing problem with increasing numbers of young people presenting with problems. A statement from Deafness Research UK: The deterioration of the ear which accompanies ageing still leaves more than half of all people over the age of 60 with a hearing impairment, and an increasing number of young people have their hearing permanently damaged through exposure to loud noise: usually music.