If you must be exposed to loud noise, wearing hearing protec- tion in the form of earplugs or earmuffs is recommended.
The least expensive type of hearing protection is the foam plug that you can buy in the drugstore for less than $1 a pair. Inserted properly they can attenuate noise up to 25dB or so. These are a good option for people who are able to roll up the plugs into a small diameter and who have large, straight ear canals.
For people who are unable to insert the off-the-shelf plugs or who need to wear plugs for long periods of time, custom made ear plugs might be a better so- lution. Custom made plugs re- quire that we take an impression of your ears in the office. We send the impressions off to a lab and custom ear- molds are made for you. You have choices of styles and colors when ordering custom plugs. Custom plugs cost $170 for the pair.
There are some specialty styles of custom plugs for musicians and for hunters. Musician’s molds have a filter to equally attenuate all frequencies so music isn’t dis- torted. The hunting plugs allow sound to come through naturally until a loud sound triggers the closing of a valve to protect hear- ing. These specialty molds cost a bit more than the custom ear- plugs.
Finally, parents and grandpar- ents listen up! There is a new product on the market called Kidzsafe Earbuds that are com- patible with any audio device.
No matter how high your child turns up the music, the ear- phones will keep the volume level below 85dB. The best part is that these earbuds cost only $19.95.
If you have questions about any of these products or if you want an appointment for us to take impressions of your ears please call our office at 925-676-8101.
