| Earmuffs are objects designed to cover a | | | | (Sound Reduction Ratings, or SNR, in the |
| person's ears for protection. They | | | | European Union), which provide a guide |
| consist of a thermoplastic or metal | | | | to the noise protection, in decibels, |
| head-band, that fits over the top of the | | | | afforded by the device. Most earplugs |
| head, and a pad at each end, to cover | | | | are made of memory foam that is |
| the external ears. They come in two | | | | typically rolled into a tightly |
| basic kinds: | | | | compressed cylinder (without creases) by |
| Thermal earmuffs: the original type, | | | | the wearer's fingers and then inserted |
| worn in winter to keep a person's ears | | | | in the earcanal. Once released, the |
| warm. They were invented by 15 year old | | | | earplug expands until it seals the |
| Maine resident Chester Greenwood in | | | | canal, blocking the sound vibrations |
| 1873. He came up with the idea while his | | | | that reach the eardrum. Other plugs |
| grandmother made the muffs. | | | | simply push into the ear canal without |
| Acoustic earmuffs, also known as ear | | | | being rolled first. Sometimes earplugs |
| defenders: cups lined with | | | | are connected with a cord to keep them |
| sound-deadening material, like thermal | | | | together when not in use. Other common |
| earmuffs and headphones in appearance, | | | | material bases for earplugs are wax or |
| which are worn as hearing protection. | | | | silicone, which is rolled into a ball |
| These may be carried on a head-band or | | | | and carefully molded to fit over the |
| clipped onto the sides of a hard hat, | | | | external portion of the ear canal, |
| for use on construction sites. Some | | | | providing a snug custom fit for the |
| manufacturers combine headphones with | | | | wearer. |
| ear defenders, allowing the wearer to | | | | Other devices that provide hearing |
| listen to a music, communication or | | | | protection include electronic devices |
| other audio source and also enjoy | | | | worn around and/or in the ear, designed |
| protection or isolation from ambient | | | | to cancel out the loud noise of a |
| noise. Acoustic earmuffs were created in | | | | gunshot, while possibly amplifying |
| Italy in 1984. | | | | quieter sounds to normal levels. While |
| Earmuffs or muffs is a name sometimes | | | | rich in features, these electronic |
| lightly given to headphones. | | | | devices carry a price over one hundred |
| An earplug is a protective device that | | | | times their foam counterparts. |
| is meant to be inserted in the ear canal | | | | Since they reduce the sound volume, |
| to protect the wearer's hearing from | | | | earplugs are often used to help prevent |
| loud noises or the intrusion of water, | | | | hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of |
| foreign bodies, dust or excessive wind. | | | | the ears), amongst other ailments. |
| Protection from water | | | | Musicians' or 'Hi-Fi' earplugs |
| Some earplugs are primarily designed to | | | | Some earplugs are manufactured to |
| keep water out of the ear canal, | | | | provide a direct decibel drop without |
| especially during swimming. These may be | | | | affecting the user's perception of bass |
| made of wax or silicone which is | | | | and treble levels. These are commonly |
| custom-fitted to the ear canal by the | | | | used by musicians and technicians both |
| wearer. | | | | in the studio and in concert to avoid |
| A effective and simple ear plug to block | | | | over exposure to high volume levels |
| water from the ear canal is a cotton | | | | whilst providing a good balance over the |
| ball saturated with petroleum jelly. | | | | frequency range. |
| (Gently knead an equal volume of cotton | | | | Musicians who perform music styles noted |
| ball and jelly together. Cut into bean | | | | for their loud nature, especially rock |
| sized plugs.)A 2003 study published in | | | | music, often wear earplugs to prevent |
| Clinical Otolaryngology, found that the | | | | their own performances from deafening |
| cotton ball/petroleum jelly ear plug was | | | | them. |
| more effective at keeping water out of | | | | Musicians' earplugs are designed to |
| the ear, easier to use, and more | | | | attenuate sounds evenly across the audio |
| comfortable than wax plugs, foam plugs, | | | | band thus enabling musicians to still |
| EarGuard, Aquafit, or EarSeal. The | | | | hear upper harmonics, vocals, cymbals |
| cotton ball/petroleum jelly plugs are | | | | and other high frequencies etc clearly, |
| not intended as hearing protection. | | | | but at a reduced volume level. This type |
| This kind of protection is often worn by | | | | of earplug usually gives an attenation |
| industrial workers who work within | | | | of only about 20dB and are not intended |
| hearing distance of loud machinery for | | | | for protection from very high noise |
| long periods of time. Earplugs are rated | | | | levels (>105 dB). Earplugs for musicians |
| with "Noise Reduction Ratings" or NRRs | | | | are made by a number of firms. |