Earplugs For Sleep (41 Photos): How To Use Wax And Other Earplugs? How To Choose Earplugs For Noise And Snoring? Reviews

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

During sleep, the energy produced during the day is restored in a person, the body is filled with new forces in order to rush into the abyss of daily activities with high activity in the morning. That is why sleep must be organized correctly. Rest should not be disturbed by extraneous sounds and noises. However, it is not always possible to comply with these requirements. Noisy neighbors, the roar of car engines outside the window and many other factors negatively affect the peace of mind during sleep. The only sure salvation in such situations are earplugs.

History of creation

The history of earplugs began back in 1907 in Germany. Technological progress and the introduction of new modernized devices began to interfere with urban residents not only at night, but also during the day. German scientists, realizing that the impact of extraneous noise during sleep negatively affects human performance, decided to develop special earmolds ., allowing you to block out most of the extraneous sounds. For this, the Ohropax company was created, which to this day is engaged in the development and production of earplugs.

BUT In 1962, a couple of musicians decided to create earplugs from silicone material . Their development was to the liking of many Americans. Then, in 1972, the name Ross Gardner was added to the list of earplug inventors.

There is an opinion that German scientists borrowed the idea of wax earplugs from Homer. His poem The Iliad tells that the main character, heading to the island of Ithaca, had to overcome a difficult section of the path - the island of sirens. These creatures, singing melodiously, knocked sailors off course, directing their ships to the rocks. Odysseus, in order not to fall for a musical trick, inserted wax plugs into the rowers' ears, thereby saving the ship and the crew from certain death.

The assortment of modern models of noise-insulating liners is distinguished by a wide variety. On store shelves, you can find universal and professional earplugs.

There are also special ear plugs for swimming and working in difficult conditions.

Peculiarities

Surely everyone knows what earplugs are. This meaning is an abbreviation of the phrase "take care of your ears." From a constructive point of view, these are devices inserted into the ear canal, thereby protecting the ears, brain and nervous system from the negative effects of extraneous noise that interfere with good rest.

Many models of earmolds can be found on store shelves today .th, with certain features and some disadvantages. For example, soft models are tender and light. They practically do not put pressure on the tissues of the ear canal.

The earbuds, made of a harder material, suppress up to 95% of extraneous sounds. Models that anatomically repeat the structure of the ear canal, deliver a minimum amount of discomfort during long-term use . Most notably, the earplugs easily block extraneous noises, however, the sound of an alarm clock or alarm signal passes without any problems.

It should be noted that there are special earmolds designed for musicians, divers, swimmers . On airplanes, passengers are given special earplugs to protect the hearing aid from pressure drops.

In addition, special noise-canceling earbuds have been developed for intelligence officers, only the devices look like miniature wireless headphones.

What are they?

In a generalized sense, earplugs are a device that protects the human hearing during sleep. But this opinion is wrong. The earmolds are primarily divided into 2 main groups . Some models are reusable, while others are designed for single use. Based on this principle, products are divided according to their service life. Today there are many types of earplugs, divided according to the principle of action.

By the principle of action

Swimming

The professional variety, not intended to rid the swimmer of water entering the ear canal. Most often they are made of dense materials that are not exposed to the negative effects of moisture . But at the same time, the devices allow a person to hear the words of the coach and other people.

Models for travelers

The presented earplugs cannot be attributed to a separate category. They are also designed for recreation, such as on an airplane or on an intercity bus. Their distinguishing feature is the presence of a filter that protects the ears from blockage.

Musical earbuds

Quite often, a musician just needs to use earplugs. They are distinguished by active noise cancellation during concerts and rehearsals, protecting their owner's hearing from high decibels.

Diving earplugs

The presented type of earbuds are used by divers as protection against water penetration into the ear canal. In addition, they protect the hearing aid from pressure at great depths.

Sleep earplugs

Individual soft products that can be used both at night and during the day. With them, a person feels the maximum comfort during rest. Sleep earbuds memorize the anatomical features of the structure of the ear canal, thereby adhering tightly to the walls of the hearing aid, protecting the person from extraneous noise.

Motorcycle Liners

Smart products designed specifically for motor sportsmen. With their help, a person hears the noise of the engine of his iron horse at acceptable sound frequencies.

Although earplugs are mostly used by adults, you can find similar products for children in pharmacies. However, it is extremely rare for babies to use them. Otherwise, they get used to the absence of extraneous sounds, then with age they have problems with sleep.

By material of execution

Among other things, earplugs are divided according to the material of execution.

From wax

Wax earplugs are ideal for day and night relaxation. They are comfortable, soft, do not rub the skin, do not put pressure on the ear canal. And most importantly, they are distinguished by high noise insulation . The wax earplugs contain several types of paraffin and natural wax. The most appropriate name for these is "stubs" rather than inserts. Before inserting the products into the ear canal, they must be slightly kneaded in your hands. Thanks to the warmth of the human body, the wax becomes softer and easily blocks the ear canal, gradually adjusting to the anatomical features of the ears.

Unfortunately, Despite their many advantages, wax earplugs have several disadvantages . First, it has a limited lifespan. The manufacturer indicates on the packages the duration of use is 3 days. Secondly, the high cost. Not every user is ready to pay a large sum for three days of use of earplugs.

Polyurethane

Unfortunately, many users unknowingly confuse polyurethane earplugs with polypropylene foam. Despite the similarity of names, there is a huge difference between them . The foam inserts are denser and cause discomfort. Polyurethane is very soft. Provides minimal pressure on the ear canal. The service life of polyurethane earplugs is no more than 5 days.

Made of polypropylene

The foam earplugs should never be used for sleeping. Sure, soft texture polypropylene is used to create them … And yet it has a high density, which creates a less comfortable operating environment.

Latex

Natural latex is also used to create earplugs. The noise reduction level of the latex liners is 80%. The material itself is resilient, but not very comfortable. Designed and made from latex, earmolds are reusable . But this does not mean that they are capable of serving for several years.

Silicone

The presented variety of material is ideal for creating earplugs for sleeping. The most convenient form is the round model . They resemble small balls that easily block the ear canal. Silicone itself is a soft, hypoallergenic material. Due to its unique properties, it competes with wax.

Electronic

Modern people, trying to keep pace with technological progress, give their preference to noise-masking electronic earbuds. Outwardly, they resemble a pea in a silicone vacuum. Their peculiarity lies in the ability to play soothing melodies . A specially designed application for your phone will help you to choose the desired track. There you can also set an alarm, which will be directly broadcast to the ear canal.

The manufacturer of electronic earplugs, before creating new models, conduct 3D scanning of the auricles of different people, thanks to which a dimensional grid is drawn up - S, M, L.

Popular brands

Today, there are many brands dedicated to the development of noise isolating earmolds. The leading position in the list of the best manufacturers is taken by Ohropax . The brand has been making hearing protection products since 1907. The company specializes in the manufacture of wax, silicone and foam inserts. The lineup of the company is distinguished by a wide assortment in different price categories. It is noteworthy that the wax-ups can be customized according to individual anatomical requirements. It is enough just to pinch off a certain amount of material from the finished structure.

The second place in the list of leaders is occupied by the Swiss company Calmor . The third place rightfully belongs to the French brand Quis. The motto of the presented campaign is “a century of silence”. And this is not surprising, since the brand has been around since 1918. The company represented is engaged in the development of military earmolds, distinguished by high quality and reliability.

In fourth place in the ranking of the best manufacturers is the German company Moldex . The brand specializes in personal hearing and respiratory protection. Fifth place rightfully belongs to Alpine. For more than 20 years, the company has been manufacturing and releasing devices for ear noise isolation on the world market. A distinctive feature of the models of the presented brand is the presence of a soft filter that allows you to hear the sound of an alarm clock or an alarm signal.

The sixth place is taken by the American company Howard . She makes earmolds with a memory effect. Seventh place rightfully belongs to Robinson Healthcare Limited, which manufactures reusable silicone earplugs, similar to wax models. In the last place in the rating of the best manufacturers of noise-insulating earbuds is the Hush company. The represented brand is engaged in the manufacture of earplugs for relaxation. The company is also developing electronic earbuds, thanks to which you can listen to calm melodies before bed.

The main thing is that the earbuds of the Hush company, after the first use, remember the anatomical features of the structure of the ears of their owner.

Which ones to choose?

It may seem that choosing earplugs for personal use is easy. In fact, you need to pay attention to several important criteria.

• The amount of noise reduction . The main purpose of creating earplugs is convenience, safety and blocking of extraneous noise. Of course, you can choose a very dense sound-blocking model, which allows you to limit the negative influence of external sounds as much as possible. However, resting or swimming with sealed earbuds will be uncomfortable. Materials with a high level of noise isolation are not so elastic and put strong pressure on the walls of the ear canal. In fact, no model can get rid of extraneous sounds by 100%. As an example, it is proposed to consider interesting statistics. The loudness of strong snoring fluctuates around 110 dB. The volume of a quiet conversation ranges from 30 to 35 dB. The maximum noise reduction of the earbuds is 30-40 dB. Accordingly, no expensive high-quality model will be able to save a person during sleep from snoring of a spouse or spouse.
• Comfort of use . Sleep earplugs should be highly comfortable. It is very convenient to use models that you don't feel. There is nothing surprising in this, a person has to spend more than 1 hour with earplugs in his ears, while keeping his head in different positions. Therefore, the main criterion for earplugs for sleeping is elasticity and softness. Swimming and diving liners must be of high density. However, the reinforced performance material puts pressure on the sound passage.
• Elasticity of the product . In this case, it all depends on the anatomical features of the ear canal. Unfortunately, universal models cannot be found. However, wax and silicone liners are considered to be the most elastic.
• Softness . For sleeping, it is preferable to use ultra-soft polyurethane earplugs. However, they do not have a high degree of sound insulation. Moreover, for people with sensitive ears, they may seem somewhat harsh. The most suitable soft option is wax products.
• Hygiene . Whichever earplugs the user chooses, it is very important not to forget about the cleanliness of the ears themselves and the earbuds. Wax models are more flexible in terms of care. But polyurethane, polypropylene and latex products need to be changed in a timely manner.
• Dimension . It is very important to choose earplugs that are comfortable in size. Otherwise, the product may fall out of the ear during use.

How to use it correctly?

Earplugs are an individual device that is strictly forbidden to give to other people. Before using the earbuds, it is necessary to clarify how they should be inserted and what are the features of the subsequent care. Subject to the rules, it will be possible to significantly extend their service life.

• Before inserting the earbuds into your ears, the product should be lightly wrinkled in your hands. Human warmth softens any material.
• After that, you need to insert earplugs into the ear canal. Under no circumstances should you press or force the earmolds into the ear canal. It is necessary to screw in the earplugs with a slight movement of the hand. But do not be afraid that the earbuds will completely drown out extraneous noise. The presence of a special filter allows the user to hear an alarm clock or a crying baby.
• After use, the earbuds must be carefully removed.

It is important to remember that you must clean your ears with a cotton swab before inserting the earbuds. After use, the earplugs need to be rinsed, dried and placed in a special container supplied in the kit.

Review overview

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of positive and negative reviews regarding a particular model of earplugs. However, there are also truthful comments that can be found on the manufacturers' official websites. According to statistics, Calmor brand inserts are preferred by users . Others choose Ohropax. However, it is best to try this or that branded product yourself, the main thing is to determine the basic requirements for earplugs.