What is Custom Hearing Protection?

When looking at hearing protection options for work or leisure, you will inevitably encounter standard earmolds and custom hearing protection. Moreover, you naturally want the best solution to prevent both immediate and progressive hearing loss. While your audiologist can help determine the most suitable choice, a little research goes a long way to pointing you in the right direction.

What is custom hearing protection, what is the process of getting it, and is it worth the investment? Here’s all you need to know.

What is custom hearing protection?

Hearing protection comes in many forms, including standard earplugs and ear defenders. However, these are off-the-shelf solutions that offer a standard fit. Custom hearing protection, also known as custom-fit hearing protection, is a specialized earplug that is designed and manufactured specifically for your ears.

Custom hearing protection can only be obtained from an audiologist and is made from a hard-wearing silicone material, and is designed to fit comfortably in the outer ear while a protruding earplug inserts into the ear canal for optimal protection against loud sounds and noise exposure in a wide range of professional and recreational settings. 

Why custom hearing protection?

While standard hearing protection can provide a good level of protection against the dangers posed by various situations, custom hearing protection offers even greater safety. The combination of a custom fit and the use of a filter system ensures that outside noises are limited to safe levels while moisture damage and other threats are also eradicated.

Custom hearing protection offers a wide range of additional benefits, including but not limited to;

• Increased comfort, especially when worn for several hours
• Improved hygiene thanks to antibacterial coatings and high-quality silicone material
• Reusability and durability also reduce the long-term costs

Furthermore, custom hearing protection from a reliable audiologist will deliver optimal peace of mind. 

How are custom hearing protection earmolds made?

Custom hearing protection earmolds are fully personalized to your ears. The design and manufacturing process begins with the audiologist taking an impression or 3D scan of your ear. Once the exact dimensions are known, the design is sent off to a laboratory where your custom earmolds can be manufactured and delivered.

The hearing protection is made from a silicone material that is hard-wearing and hygienic, while users can also select the colors that they want. A fitting appointment will confirm that the design is perfectly matched to your comfort and requirements. 

When should custom hearing protection be worn?

Knowing when to wear custom hearing protection is equally as important as finding the right product. Versatile ear protection can be worn in a wide range of scenarios while you can also have customized earmolds made for specific situations, including;

• Custom hearing protection for sleep
• Motor racing earplugs
• Custom hearing plugs for music
• Swimming earmolds
• Shooting earmolds

Whatever the reason for wanting custom hearing protection, contacting your audiologist is the first step to protecting your ears for a lifetime of healthy hearing.