Custom Hearing Protection and Musicians Plugs
The two most common forms of hearing loss are age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). While stopping presbycusis is difficult, noise-induced hearing loss is preventable with custom hearing protection.
More than 1 billion people are at high risk of noise-induced hearing loss, especially teens and young adults ages 12-35, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). From concerts and loud live events to blasting music on radios and personal devices, the world has only gotten louder and louder.
Hearing protection can help alleviate the damages of noise-related hearing damage , whether it be from a one-time extreme noise event or long-term exposure. Earplugs, even generic ones, can provide adequate protection when attending concerts or going hunting. However, custom-molded hearing protection brings a tight acoustic seal that will protect your unique ears, no matter the context you’re needing them for.
If you’re a musician, a hunter, an avid concertgoer, or looking to protect your hearing for the long run, your search for custom hearing protection in the Bay Area ends here with us. Berkeley Hearing Center provides custom hearing protection for a broad range of lifestyles, occupations, and activities.
Do I Have Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)?
NIHL can affect us at any time and age. Exposure to loud noise, whether it be a one-time event or over a prolonged time period (like listening to music every day at full volume), will damage the hair-like sensory cells in the inner ear.
Any sound over 85 decibels (dB) can prove to be damaging, and the longer you listen to a loud sound, the more likely you’ll suffer hearing damage from it.
Everyday Sources of Loud Noise
Some examples of loud noise at different times that can all cause damage include
90 dB
100 dB
110 dB
120 dB
130 dB
145+ dB
What Benefits Do Custom Earmolds and Earplugs Give Me?
Looking to protect your ears with something a little more than drugstore earplugs? Custom earplugs and earmolds, made to fit the custom contours of your ears, provide the best solution for hearing protection because they:
Provide an airtight acoustic seal for greater protection
Greater wearing comfort so you can protect your ears for longer
Less likely to fall out or move around when you’re active
Provide a more accurate frequency response
Prevent reverberation inside your ears by allowing sound to pass both ways so you won’t deal with that “plugged up” feeling
Come with replaceable, precision-engineered filters for specific, measurable protection & natural sound
Manufactured from medical-grade silicone for less irritation & easier wear
Provide a unique fit for each ear
Unsure of where to start? You have a myriad of options for custom hearing protection when partnering with us, including:
Custom Solid Noise Plugs
Offering the most all-inclusive hearing protection, solid noise plugs are made of medical grade silicone that offers more comfort than foam plugs.
They’re available in a wide array of colors and come with accessories to help keep them safe and in place.
Custom Sleep Plugs
Sleep plugs are made of medical-grade silicone and allow you to lie on a pillow with no discomfort.
These are also good options for motorcyclists, as they fit comfortably under the tight fit of a helmet.
Custom Swim Plugs
Swimmer’s ear and surfer’s ear can contribute to permanent hearing damage, but these conditions are preventable with floating silicone swim plugs.
Designed to create a watertight seal within the ear, swim plugs help reduce your chances of developing a swimmer’s or surfer’s ear.
Acoustic Filtered Plugs
Acoustic filters allow you to hear speech clearly while providing protection from sounds at a high frequency.
These kinds of earplugs are perfect for those who work in moderate noise and need to communicate with their coworkers. Also made of medical-grade silicone, these plugs are available in a wide range of colors.
Musicians are one of the groups of people that run the greatest risk of developing NIHL. All genres of musicians could be at risk, not just rock ‘n roll or heavy metal rockers!
Musician Earplugs
Our musicians earplugs come in both custom-fitted and non-custom options and are made of materials designed to be worn for extended periods of time. Music isn’t blocked, but high-frequency sound is; you can enjoy the melody without sacrificing the sound, whether you’re making the music or watching it performed.
In-Ear Monitors
Stage monitors for musicians can provide necessary sound to pass through without damaging hearing or sacrificing the musical feedback needed to perform well.
While musicians earplugs are designed to help professional music-makers, they can be beneficial to all sorts of creative virtuosos, such as:
Students in the school band or orchestra
Music teachers or conductors
Concert or festival attendees*
Nightclub workers or patrons
Entertainment industry staff (including roadies, managers, and bodyguards)
*Musicians earplugs can actually improve the fidelity of amplified concerts by reducing distortion associated with the auditory system being overdriven.
Looking to Protect Your Hearing?
Noise-induced hearing loss can be easily prevented with hearing protection. Whether you’re a musician, a construction worker, or someone looking to safeguard your hearing for the long run, custom hearing protection provides the most comfortable and protective experience so that you can continue to hear the life you love.
Contact us using the adjacent form to get in touch with one of our doctors of audiology.
