Hearing Protection: Why Should You Use It?

Hearing protectors, also known as “ear protectors,” “earplugs,” or “earmuffs,” are accessories commonly used by workers who are constantly exposed to noise in the workplace. In the field of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), they are classified as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). However, what few people know is that there are different types of hearing protectors, and some are designed not to distort sound.

The danger of prolonged noise exposure

Noise exposure is part of everyone’s daily life. However, what few people realize is that, depending on the noise level—measured in decibels (dB)—there is a maximum limit that should not be exceeded for a certain amount of daily exposure time.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), an adult should not exceed a limit of 80 dB over 40 hours per week in order to avoid hearing loss. For children, the World Health Organization recommends not exceeding 75 dB over a forty-hour workweek.

According to Annex No. 1 of NR (Regulatory Standard) 15, the tolerance limits for continuous (uninterrupted) or intermittent (with pauses) noise exposure are as follows:

Noise exposure is not only about hearing loss: sound sensitivity

According to speech-language pathologist Amy Sarow, Head of Audiology at the U.S.-based company Soundly, sound sensitivity refers to when a person has an intensified—often uncomfortable—response to sounds that most people are able to tolerate or ignore.

According to Amy, there are two types of sound sensitivity:

• Called “misophonia”, this type of sensitivity is characterized, according to Sarow, by situations in which “sounds—such as the clatter of dishes or the constant clicking of a pen—cause distress regardless of volume. This discomfort can persist even when these sounds are not particularly loud or aggressive.”
• Sensitivity to “any sound that reaches or exceeds a certain volume threshold, sometimes as low as that of a normal conversation.” In this case, according to Amy, these reactions “can vary widely, ranging from mild irritation or discomfort to feelings of aversion and, in severe cases, even physical pain.”

Who usually has sound sensitivity?

According to Amy, sound sensitivity is more common among neurodivergent individuals, such as those diagnosed with autism or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Sarow says that the manifestation of this type of sensitivity “can range from mild discomfort to an intense and overwhelming reaction to a specific sound.”

Beyond sound sensitivity and worker protection: hearing protectors at music concerts

Using hearing protectors can go beyond sound sensitivity or protecting workers from hearing loss. At music concerts, both stage workers and audience members can—and should—use hearing protection. However, in this case, there are models designed to prevent sound distortion.

Thanks to research and products developed by Etymotic, an institution focused on the study and design of hearing-health-related products, hearing protectors were created that use triple-flange ear tips.

These Etymotic hearing protectors were designed to reduce noise levels by up to 20 dB across the entire sound spectrum, without distorting the sound and while preserving speech intelligibility when talking to people around you. This makes it possible to listen to a live concert without sound distortion, preventing bass from sounding “blown out” and increasing the clarity of musical instruments and vocal performances.

Different models of in-ear hearing protectors

There are several models of Etymotic in-ear hearing protectors. The simplest is the ER20, which has ear tips permanently attached to its structure.

Personally, I prefer the ER20XS model, which allows the ear tips to be removed and later washed with soap and water.

Etymotic also offers custom-made versions of its hearing protectors, as you can see in the images below.

About Etymotic

Founded in 1983, Etymotic is a U.S.-based company focused on research and development of acoustic products, with the goal of designing research instruments capable of accurately detecting and evaluating hearing loss. The company was responsible for inventing in-ear headphones, and its commercial models feature a sound signature considered “neutral” and provide passive noise attenuation between 35 dB and 42 dB.

About Soundly

Soundly was born from the desire of Blake Cadwell, co-founder and CEO of the company, to make research on hearing aids easier by providing clear and accessible content, delivering information more efficiently to those seeking solutions to hearing-health-related issues.