Molded Ear Plugs

Often referred to as custom ear plugs (or earplugs!) because that’s exactly what they are. Just as you go to an optician to have your eyes “measured” for the exact lenses you need, so too you go to an audiologist to have your ear measured – not to have your hearing tested, although you might decide to while you are there – but literally to have the dimensions of your ear measured so that a custom molded ear plug can be specifically made for the shape, dimensions and volume of your own ear.

Incidentally before they do that the audiologist will inspect your ear to make sure there are no issues like too much wax, infections or anything else which could damage your ear.

The procedure is straightforward, and in a nutshell involves a viscous liquid substance being injected gently into your ear. After it has set, it doesn’t take long, the audiologist will gently remove it. It is from this impression of your ear that the mold is made from which your molded ear plugs are cast. By the way this does not necessarily have to be by the audiologist. There are organisations on the internet to whom you can send your mold and they will make up your custom ear plugs. I’ll be having a look at these in a later post.

What this procedure brings you is that the molded earplug is the perfect fit – benefiting you not only in terms of comfort, but also of course in terms of its effectiveness in reducing noise.

Naturally having your own molded ear plugs, just like anything else “bespoke” – made just for you, is more expensive than off the shelf, standard earplugs. But like a lot of things in life you get what you pay for. And most custom ear plug users get new ones about every 5 years, so the lifetime value of the molded earplugs begins to make sense economically as well as aurally.

You can save money by buying kits online to do your own mold impression, I’ll be reviewing these in a later article.

For the best ear plugs, molded earplugs are the ones to go for.

Ear Plugs for Sleeping

There are many reasons for wearing ear plugs for sleeping. And there are as many different types of earplugs. The best ones are molded ear plugs simply because they fit exactly to the contours of the individual ear, so not only do they keep out the noise which is the whole point, but equally importantly they are very comfortable. Anyone who has worn shop bought foam, silicone or wax earplugs knows that they can sit uncomfortably in the ear and so defeat the object of getting a good night’s sleep.

Molded ear plugs can be much more expensive than standard ones, but over the lifetime of a typical custom made pair, usually about 4 years, the cost per night is next to nothing – a tiny price to pay to guarantee noise-free slumber with all the health benefits that brings.

There can be however issues with some custom molded ear plugs in that they can be too hard, and thus uncomfortable. It’s best to ensure that they are made from soft but durable silicone.

Also if using one of the DIY kits available on the internet, the trick is to use slightly less of the product than recommended so the ear plug doesn’t irritate by sticking out too much and hence interfere with a good night’s sleep.

So for night shift workers sleeping during the day, for those whose partners snore, and indeed for anyone whose sleep is disturbed by noise, the simple solution of blocking out that noise with custom molded ear plugs is the best.

Molded Ear Plugs for Swimming

Anyone who has ever suffered swimmer’s ear as a child or an adult will know how painful it is, and anything to prevent it will be welcomed. Also now becoming known as surfer’s ear due to the growing popularity of surfing, even in cold northern seas.

Swimmer’s ear occurs because normally the inside of the ear is coated with a layer of wax which prevents bacteria getting hold on the skin. Lots of exposure to water washes this protective surface away, giving opportunistic bacteria a chance to get a foothold and thrive, leading to pain, inflammation, discharge, and temporary loss of hearing.

Molded ear plugs are probably the best way to keep water out of your ears, and so greatly reduce the chance of contracting the infection which leads to all that suffering and inconvenience of not being able to swim or participate in other water sports, let alone the hassle of the treatment (usually anti-biotic ear drops).

The advantages of molded earplugs are that they fit snugly to the exact shape of the individual ear; this means that they achieve the triple result of maintaining the inner ear dry; being comfortable to wear; and staying in the ear despite all the turbulence around them owing to the swimmer’s strokes and turns, or surfer’s tumbles.

In the unlikely event that an ear plug falls out, then it is worth ensuring that the manufacturer guarantees it will float! In most cases the choice of colour is such they are easy to spot in a pool, not so much in the open ocean. In this case a simple neck cord will do the job.

Of course these custom made ear plugs are equally useful for other water sports where the wearer is wary of swimmer’s ear – sailing, kayaking, canyoning all come to mind.

Over the counter ear plugs are OK, but for real comfort and efficiency, custom molded ear plugs are the way to go. What price do you put on being able to hear?

Motorcycle Ear Plugs

No matter how expensive, well made, padded and well-fitting your helmet is there will always be wind noise. Other factors which contribute are the aerodynamics of the bike and helmet, the liner of the helmet, and of course the weather!

In some circumstances and at certain frequencies, the helmet can actually increase the amount of noise.

Many bikers wear ear plugs to protect their ears, and a lot choose molded ear plugs.

They’re certainly effective in terms of comfort and performance, and although they’re more expensive than off-the-shelf ones, they do tend to last a lot longer (5 years or so if looked after), so the long-term value is excellent.

If spending a long time on the bike, perhaps touring, then the last thing you need is to be distracted by is that annoying, uncomfortable feeling in your ear or ears of the foam, silicone or wax ear plug putting pressure on the insides of your ear.

Apart from just the irritation, it can also lead to infection, something you don’t need on a touring holiday or in your day to day work or commute.

With molded ear plugs you won’t even notice they’re there.