Truly effective ear muffs/plugs?

[tickyul]

Give custom-made earplugs a try.


Good off-the-shelf plugs can do a good job, but they will only do so much. Blocking noise by plugging your ears, or covering your ears, will only block out so much.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Give custom-made earplugs a try.


Good off-the-shelf plugs can do a good job, but they will only do so much. Blocking noise by plugging your ears, or covering your ears, will only block out so much.

I understand all that, but the vast majority of products are specifically designed to allow normal conversation while blocking harmful sounds. I was looking for something that's as completely anti-sound as possible, given physiology.

But the need has passed. I have removed my working chair several miles from the source of the irritation. It's called "home."

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Give custom-made earplugs a try.


Good off-the-shelf plugs can do a good job, but they will only do so much. Blocking noise by plugging your ears, or covering your ears, will only block out so much.

I have custom-made ones that fit in the canal, made by an audiologist at a university. The came with filters - one set to reduce noise by 25 db and one set for "total" noise blockage. The filters are inserts. You pop one out and press another in. Total is not total, but pretty good for mowing the lawn or using power tools. The 25 db reduction filters are great for concerts - nice fidelity without the noise, and no ringing afterward.

They cost me about $100 and I could use pre-tax HSA funds for them. Not sure if that is still allowed after the IRS adopted changes for using HSA funds. For me, it was 100 well-spent dollars.

[softcrunch]

I use silicone ear plugs for sleeping. They block out most noises though really loud noise still wakes me up, but works better than foam type. The size have to be big enough to fill up your ears.