Custom Hearing Protection to Help You Hear Better Longer

None of us think twice about putting on protective gear when we participate in various sporting events or work activities, but we tend to take a more relaxed approach when it comes to protecting our ears.

Like any other part of your body, your ears rely on the care you provide in order to function properly. The right level of care, including proper protection, can mean that you’ll enjoy better hearing for longer.

The second leading cause of hearing loss overall and the primary cause of hearing loss in individuals under the age of 65 is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In addition, noise exposure when you’re young can hasten the pace of presbycusis as you age.

Fortunately, the damage is preventable, and Hometown Hearing Centre has 18+ locations with a dedicated team of individuals ready to help with custom hearing protection for work, hobbies, social activities and more.

Hands with gloves on hold a hearing protection gadget

What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)?

Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent damage to the tiny hair cells in your ears, known as stereocilia, from loud sounds. These hair cells do not regrow and are non-replaceable.

NIHL usually makes it difficult to hear high-frequency sounds, like the voices of women and children, and those with a high-frequency hearing loss struggle to make sense of words with “s,” “f,” “sh” and “th” sounds in them. Other signs of NIHL include:

Pain in your ears following loud noise exposure.
You talk too loud or shout when talking to others.
Ringing, whooshing, roaring or buzzing sounds in your ears, known as tinnitus.
Hearing loss in both ears with one ear being far worse (asymmetrical hearing loss).

Noise-induced hearing loss is common in certain occupations, including:

Miners
Oil and gas extraction
Agriculture
Forestry and lumber
Construction and carpentry
Military

An image showing a large industrial building

In addition to damage caused at work, many activities included in hobbies, social activities and household chores can also lead to NIHL without proper protection, including:

Hunting and shooting sports
Riding motorcycles and snowmobiles
Attending loud concerts, major sporting events or going out to the club
Operating lawn and home improvement equipment
Using earphones or earbuds at high volumes

4 Steps to Ensure the Future of Your Hearing

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Step Four

1. Recognize when things are too loud.

Here Is a Rule of Thumb: You know it's too loud if you have to lean in close to talk to someone next to you or shout at them. If you leave an event and your hearing is muffled and/or your ears are ringing, you have experienced a temporary threshold shift.

2. Assess the damage you’ve already done.

Make an appointment with a licensed hearing professional for a comprehensive hearing assessment. This allows you to establish a baseline against which future hearing loss will be measured, get a jump on correcting any damage you already have and/or obtain proper hearing protection for the activities in which you regularly participate.

3. Wear hearing protection during activities known to cause damage to your ears.

Even disposable foam earplugs provide some hearing protection against NIHL, but if you’re regularly exposed to loud noise at work, while doing household chores or during recreational activities, invest in custom ear protection that provides the precise amount of protection you need.

4. Take steps to avoid exposure to loud noise.

Replace damaged mufflers, loud machine parts and use lubricant to reduce friction and lower noise. Turn the music down, especially when you’re using earbuds or headphones. In addition, avoid walking directly past active construction sites or roll up your car windows for a quieter ride if you’re stuck in traffic on a busy highway.

Hearing Protection Available from Hometown Hearing Centre

Custom earmolds provide the ideal solution when it comes to noise protection because they are more comfortable to wear, stay in place during vigorous activity and can provide precise noise filtering without eliminating the natural sounds of the environment around you.

Hearing Protection for Hunting, Shooting and Outdoor Sports

Proper protection can include specialized electronic earmuffs that prevent damaging hearing loss by reducing noise from gunfire or loud machinery. Select styles further allow you to amplify low-level sounds, making these sport headphones ideal for activities like hunting while providing an adjustable and secure fit for your protection.

Earmolds are also available for hunting, shooting and sudden noise. These earplugs filter instantaneous noise by closing when damaging noise levels are reached but allow for normal hearing at all other times.

In-Ear Monitors for Musicians, Performers, Sound Engineers and Stage Staff

In-ear monitors have revolutionized the music industry for their ability to protect hearing while delivering clear and consistent sound. They eliminate feedback, lower on-stage noise levels and increase freedom of movement but allow performers to hear in the tones necessary to perform properly.

Swimming and Surf Earplugs

These earplugs are 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.

Other Custom Earplugs:

Sleep Plugs – Comfortable and uninterrupted rest. Great for shift workers with non-traditional hours.

Motorsport Plugs – Designed with a hollow canal for under helmet use to reduce wind buffeting.

Occupational Plugs – Ideal for high-noise industrial environments and construction sites.

iCustom Plugs – Use with any bud/button style earphones.

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The future of your hearing depends on how well you take care of your ears now.

The professionals at the Hometown Hearing Centre nearest you can help you hear better after you’ve done the damage, but we’d rather prevent it by providing you with custom earplugs to protect your ears at work, when you’re doing chores around the house or while enjoying your favourite activities.

Submit the adjacent form and a member of our team will call you back to address your questions or concerns or help schedule an appointment.

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