3 Things You Should Understand About Hearing Protection

Hearing protection that isn't doing its job is putting your ears at risk. Here are three things to keep an eye out for.

Despite your best efforts, you may occasionally come into something that makes it difficult to use hearing protection, whether at home or at work. That's a difficult situation to cope with. After all, you're trying to do what you're supposed to be doing. The earmuffs you wear while working, earplugs when attending a show and your colleagues' constant ranting are all things you do to protect yourself from the noise.

The point is that when you're doing everything perfectly and yet encountering difficulties, it can be extremely frustrating to say the least. The good news is that if you are aware of some of these easy problems that can cause interference with your hearing protection, you can better prepare yourself for them in the future. And this will ensure that your ear protection continues to function properly even if you are having some difficulties.

Using the Wrong Type of Ear Protective Equipment

Earplugs and earmuffs are the two most used forms of ear protection. Earplugs are small and, as the name implies, can be inserted directly into the ear canal to provide protection. They're like noise canceling headphones that don't play music, but they're for your ears only.

When you're in an environment where the noise is rather constant, it's best to wear ear protection. In situations where loud sounds are more sporadic, earmuffs are suggested.

A simple explanation is that when your surroundings are calm, you will likely want to take off your hearing protection, which is more difficult to do with earplugs than it is with earmuffs. Earplugs need a bit more effort to insert and are easily misplaced, so you may find yourself in the position of having to replace the lost plugs when you most need them.

Wearing the appropriate hearing protection in the appropriate situation should keep everything under control.

Your Ear Protection May Be Affected by Your Anatomy

The human body is very diverse. That's why your colleagues' vocal cords are so big, while yours are more normal in size. It's also why you can have a smaller ear canal than the normal person.

Because of this, your ear protection might not work as well. When it comes to disposable hearing protection, most people think that one size fits all or at the very least, a small, medium or large scenario. Consequently, if you have unusually small ear canals, you may have difficulty getting those earplugs to fit properly, leading you to give up completely and discard the earplugs in frustration.

This can put you at risk, negating the benefit of the hearing protection you were trying to establish for yourself in the first place. Another example is those with large ears who frequently struggle to find earmuffs that fit comfortably. It is recommended that those who work in noisy workplaces wear hearing protection that has been specifically fitted to their ears.

Inspect Hearing Protection for Signs of Wear and Tear

Every time you wear your hearing aids, you should be applauded! However, regular use will cause your hearing protection to degrade, so it's important to monitor this. Replace your earmuff cushions when they become hard and they're no longer pliable.

Remove your hearing protection and clean it. Ears are not the most hygienic portion of the body. Take your hearing protection apart before cleaning it to ensure that all of the dirt and grime is removed from inside. Take care not to flush your earplugs down the drain.

Examine the band on your earmuffs if you wear them. If the elastic on the band is worn out and doesn't keep the earmuffs in place, you'll need to buy a new band.

Performing regular maintenance on your hearing protection is essential if you want to continue receiving the benefits of that protection. Having an open and honest talk with a highly qualified audiologist is a good option if you have any questions about how to accomplish this or how to make sure you're prepared for anything that can interfere with your hearing protection.

The health of your ears is critical. It is worthwhile to take the time to properly protect it. For more information or to book an appointment, call Hinderliter Hearing Services today at 248-430-8425.