The Right Hearing Protection Tailored to Fit Your Ears

A. Noise intensities are measured in decibel (dB) units with zero representing complete silence and each level of intensity on the scale a multiplication of intensity (i.e., 10 dB is 10 times louder than complete silence). Intensities below 85 dB are considered safe without hearing protection, while exposure to a sound intensity of 85 dB is safe from damage for up to 8 hours without any form of protection.

With each increase of 3 dB of intensity, the amount of time you can be exposed to each sound level without protection is cut in half. Here are some examples of the amount of time you can be exposed to each sound intensity without hearing protection:

• 88 dB = 4 hours
• 91 dB = 2 hours
• 94 dB = 1 hour
• 110 dB = 90 seconds
• 120 dB = 7 seconds
• 130 dB+ = instant damage

Lawn equipment, chainsaws, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and power tools have noise levels of between 90 dB and 105 dB, so engaging in activities where they are used for between 30 minutes and two hours can cause damage when your ears are left unprotected. Listening to music on headphones or earbuds at high levels (110 dB to 115 dB) for more than a few seconds or a little over one minute is particularly dangerous to your hearing. Major sporting events, live concerts, or nightclubs often reach levels of up to 135 dB, while discharging a firearm will have an intensity level in excess of 145 dB.

A. For a more secure fit and greater comfort as well as the capacity to change filters in order to accommodate noise levels during different activities, custom hearing protection provides the best hearing protection solution.

A. The best hearing protection for hunting and shooting should filter firearm discharges at or in excess of 145 dB while allowing the user to retain situational awareness and hear the sounds of the surrounding environment.

A. Gas powered lawn mowers operate at around 90 dB, so to err on the side of caution, you should wear hearing protection if you are going to be using your lawn mower for more than two hours.

A. NRR stands for Noise Reduction Rating, which was devised to give purchasers and users of hearing protection a guideline on what amount of noise protection they can expect from the hearing protection products they purchase.

Each rating attenuates (filters) noise to varying degrees at different frequencies, but in general, the NRR rating is the amount of general noise reduction of the product. For example, a product with an NRR rating of 30 would reduce the amount of noise exposure to your ears by 30 dB, bringing the use of a chainsaw (105 dB to 110 dB) down to levels of safe operation for more than 8 hours.

A. Musicians earplugs provide filtering of loud volume music without distorting the tone of those sounds, allowing the performer protection while allowing them to maintain pitch. Some versions can also include music monitoring, which eliminates the need for on-stage monitors.

A. Insurance companies see earplugs as elective, but some companies will allow you to set aside the cost of custom earplugs for occupational use in your FSA (flexible spending account).