Hearing Protection
Short answer
Hearing protection reduces the sound energy reaching your inner ear. Noise-related hearing damage is generally considered permanent but also largely preventable, and the protector people actually wear — comfortable, appropriate for the environment, and not over-attenuating — is the one that protects them.
Hearing protection is the one part of hearing care that is entirely preventative. It matters most for people exposed to noise repeatedly: at work, on stage, in the audience, on a motorcycle, or around power tools.
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Who it may be for
- You work in a noisy environment
- You are a musician, sound engineer or regular concert-goer
- You ride a motorcycle or use power tools
- You are a light sleeper or live somewhere noisy
- You already have hearing difficulty or tinnitus and want to protect what you have
Common signs and symptoms
- Ringing in your ears after a noisy shift, concert or event
- Temporarily muffled hearing that recovers the next day
- Needing to shout to be heard where you work
- Discomfort at everyday sound levels
What happens during the appointment
A discussion of your noise environments and what you need to still be able to hear
Examination of the ears
Guidance on protection types: foam, filtered musician plugs, custom-moulded plugs, over-ear defenders
Ear impressions when a custom fit is chosen
Fitting checks and advice on care and replacement
What to expect afterwards
Good protection should feel unremarkable. Custom and filtered options aim to reduce level while keeping speech and music reasonably natural, which is usually what makes people wear them consistently.
Good to know
- Noise-related hearing damage relates to both how loud a sound is and how long you are exposed.
- The most protective plug is the one worn correctly and consistently, not the one with the highest rating.
- Distance and breaks from noise are protective too, alongside protectors.
Common questions
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