How Do Audiologists Make Custom Ear Plugs?
Making custom ear plugs involves placing a piece of foam (attached to a string) deep into your ear canal, guided by a light source. Once the foam is properly placed and sufficiently blocks the canal, a mix of silicone material is loaded into a syringe and used to fill the ear. After 5 minutes, the silicone is set and removed from the ear with the exact dimensions of the ear. These ear impressions are then sent via courier to a lab to be made.
Musicians like custom plugs because they can use interchangeable filters to reduce music volume without artificially distorting the sound. Custom plugs can be made in any colour you choose or a swirl of colours to make them unique and customized.
What Are the Benefits of Custom Ear Plugs?
Optimized Comfort
Custom earplugs provide superior comfort compared to generic products. Users acclimatize quickly and are no more aware of their earplugs than their watches or rings. Sensations of pressure should be minimal or not detectable at all.
Optimized Noise Reduction
Since the fit is customized, the ear is properly sealed, reducing damaging noise better than a poorly fit generic plug.
Optimized Fit
Generic earplugs don't fit everyone. Some ear canals are narrow, some have sharp bends, and some angle upwards. Generic earplugs require a wide and straight canal, so properly getting a foam plug in the ear is not always easily achieved. Custom plugs fit any size and shape of the ear canal. They can even be customized to attach to a set of existing earbuds (e.g., Apple Airpods, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Bose QuietComfort, etc.). Using custom plugs makes your existing earbuds fit even more securely and comfortably.
Optimized Quality
Disposable earplugs are typically meant for one-time use, and the material breaks down quickly. Custom earplugs have approximately a 5-year lifespan. Eventually, the material shrinks slightly, or the ear canal changes shape with weight changes. Still, the longer lifespan makes it worth the investment.
Washable
Generic earplugs can collect dirt, bacteria and grime from both the hands and surfaces. They quickly become unhygienic and can cause ear infections because of the foreign particles introduced to the ear canals.
By contrast, custom-made hearing protection is easy to clean with mild dish soap and water.
Get Custom-Made Hearing Protection
Contact our office to book your appointment for custom plugs and protect your ears for years to come.
