In addition to hearing aids, earmolds and earplugs are the next step to protecting hearing. Exposure to loud noises over a prolonged period can cause irreversible hearing loss. Early detection makes treatment easier, with the added benefit of being introduced to new ways of protecting hearing. Professionals that work long days around loud machinery have mandatory hearing protection rules. For everyone else, their understanding of the necessity of earmolds and earplugs will be less. That is where Total Hearing Care can provide guidance, by educating patients about the benefits of wearing earplugs. And with an in home visit, there is time to discover multiple custom accessories.

Custom Earmolds and Earplugs

Eamolds come in different styles and are available to be custom ordered. Full and half shell are the styles that have the most demand, with their physical coverage signaling the amount of noise exposure they block. An attenuator is used with earmolds to enhance speech, a feature that is useful for musicians. Support for earmolds that can be used with earbuds and headsets has grown considerably over the years, with styles that favor specialty uses. When earplugs are out of the question, a custom earmold is the choice for filtering out loud noises.

Patients that are used to wearing universal earplugs should notice the limitations of the design. With custom earplugs, those limitations are removed. Just like custom earmolds, earplugs favor specialty uses. Besides the comfort boost, custom earplugs excel for the task they were meant for. There are earplugs available for hunting, swimming, construction, flying, music creation, sleeping and more. The swimming earplugs, in particular, are useful, with the ability to float on water so they are never lost. Using custom earplugs goes beyond filtering out loud noises, and protects the ears in the best way possible.

Hearing Protection

In the high tech world of music, musicians need to protect their most prized possession. In the industry, everyone needs to block out loud sounds without eliminating them completely. That means normalizing audio and not muting it while still providing top tier protection. Musician’s earplugs accomplish this task, normalizing the frequencies that are too high and keeping them on the same level as the rest. Non-custom options are available, but the better benefit comes from using custom. Sound levels up to 20 dB can be reduced with musician’s earplugs thanks to their deep fit in the ear canal. Outside of in-ear musician monitors, the name of the earplugs is a bit misleading. They are suitable for any audio activity where sound needs to be balanced. With the help of a trained hearing aid specialist, patients will get the correct hearing protection for their needs.

Hunting:

Hunting, shooting, and sudden noise. A filter instantaneously closes when damaging noise levels are reached. Allows essentially normal hearing at all other times.

Music:

Ideal for performing musicians and concert-goers. Also great for flight attendants, bartenders, waiters, dental professionals. Allows wearer to hear sounds accurately but at reduced levels. Have 3 filter options: 9dB, 15dB or 25dB.

Swimming:

For swimming and showering – and they FLOAT! Also provide superb noise reduction.

Sleep

Offers comfortable and uninterrupted rest.
Great for shift workers and credited with saving many relationships!

Motorsport

Designed with a hollow canal for under helmet use to reduce wind buffeting.
Comfortable and easy to remove.

Surf

Designed to prevent surfer’s ear and swimmer’s ear caused by exposure to cold water and wind.
The floatable material is molded with a sealed membrane spanning the sound bore that keeps cold water and air out of the ear canal but allows for conversation and hearing while in the ear.

Occupational

Ideal for high-noise industrial environments.

iCustom:

For use with any bud/button style earphones.

DefendEar 1:

Amplification for situational awareness.
Noise attenuation when you pull the trigger.

DefendEar 2:

Game mode: Optimized for intermittent shots.
Clay mode: Optimized for continued shots.

DefendEar Hunter:

Normal mode: provides standard Digital 1 features.
Wind Reduction mode: Ideal for shooting in windy conditions.