Hearing damage is more common than most people realise, and the delicate auditory system of the human ear is vulnerable to damage from a wide range of everyday situations. It’s not just going to a rock concert or using machinery that can damage your hearing. Prolonged exposure to traffic noise, riding a motorcycle for more than a short period of time and a whole host of other common situations can cause either temporary or even permanent hearing loss.
So how do you know if the noise level you’re being exposed to could damage your hearing? If you have to shout to communicate with a normally hearing person at a distance of about three feet then the noise level is potentially harmful. Other signs to watch for are if the noise levels are actually painful, if it causes a ringing sensation in your ears or causes temporary hearing loss for up to several hours after exposure.
Protecting your hearing with a good set of earplugs may seem like an extreme solution, as most people labour under the misapprehension that earplugs block out all sound. With modern developments in hearing protection, that is no longer the case and earplugs can offer a real solution to auditory protection.
Macks earplugs are the biggest selling earplug in the United States, and their reputation has been built on their ability to protect users while offering a level of comfort that other earplugs cannot equal. Their Pillow Soft® silicone earplugs use a specially developed, moldable silicone ‘putty’ that covers the entrance to the ear canal without the need for inserting a plug into the actual ear. This makes them far more comfortable than conventional earplugs whilst still effectively blocking out harsh or sharp sounds that may damage the delicate inner ear. Their popularity has been aided by the sheer number of people whose partners snore and have finally been able to get a good night’s sleep, thanks to Macks earplugs!
Macks earplugs also come in different sizes for adult and children. This means that if a child uses earplugs to protect the ear canal whilst swimming, the earplug they use fits securely because it is designed for a smaller user. Adult earplugs would simply fall out, leaving the child’s ear exposed.
Macks earplugs do not block out all sound.Hearing protectionin the form of well-fitted earplugs is designed to bring noise levels down to a safer, more comfortable level. Most people without damaged hearing have no problem carrying on a conversation while wearing earplugs. In noisy or loud environments such as pubs and nightclubs, the earplugs actually filter out the background noise, making conversation clearer and easier to understand.
Earplugs are rated according to the amount of sound they stop from entering the ear. This is indicated by an NRR number. NRR stands for Noise Reduction Rating and means that, if you wear a product with an NRR of 29, for example, the noise entering your ears will be reduced by 29 decibels. This reduction allows you to continue to hear what’s going on around you but without running the risk of permanent or temporary hearing loss.
Macks earplugs are the most popular brand in America and their easy to use and safe range of earplugs is now rapidly gaining popularity elsewhere. As the general public becomes more aware of just how easily their hearing can be damaged, Macks earplugs look like becoming the benchmark by which all other earplugs are judged.
