Find Your Perfect Ear Protection
Not all earplugs are created equal. Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you with the right ear protection for your life.
What do you need ear protection for?
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Already have some hearing loss?
Earplugs protect your hearing going forward. For the hearing you've already lost, Hearing Buddy gives you real-time captions so you never miss a word — in conversations, meetings, or anywhere life gets loud.
Everything You Need to Know About Ear Protection
Understanding NRR Ratings
NRR stands for Noise Reduction Rating — it's the official measure of how much sound earplugs can block, tested in a lab. But here's the thing: real-world protection is roughly half the NRR number. To estimate actual protection, subtract 7 from the NRR, then divide by 2. So NRR 33 earplugs give you about 13 dB of real protection. That's still significant — enough to make a dangerously loud concert safe for your ears.
How to Insert Earplugs Properly
Most people don't get enough protection because they don't insert earplugs correctly. For foam plugs: roll the plug into a thin cylinder with clean fingers, reach over your head and pull the top of your ear up and back to straighten the ear canal, insert the plug, and hold it for 20-30 seconds while it expands. For silicone and flanged plugs: use a gentle twisting motion and push until you feel even pressure and a good seal. A proper fit should noticeably muffle sound.
When You Need Ear Protection
Hearing damage starts at sustained exposure above 85 dB — that's roughly the level of heavy city traffic. A typical concert hits 100-115 dB. A motorcycle at highway speed: 95-110 dB. Power tools: 90-110 dB. A gunshot: 140-170 dB. The louder the sound, the faster the damage. At 100 dB, you can sustain hearing damage in just 15 minutes. Wearing ear protection isn't overcautious — it's the most practical thing you can do for your long-term hearing health.
Questions & Answers
For concerts and live music, look for earplugs with an NRR of 12-20 dB. Musician-grade earplugs in this range reduce volume evenly across frequencies, so music still sounds great — just safer. Concert volumes typically hit 100-115 dB, so even moderate protection makes a real difference.
Foam earplugs are safe when used properly. The key is clean hands during insertion, not pushing them in too deep, and replacing disposable ones regularly. Reusing dirty foam plugs can introduce bacteria, so toss them after a few uses. If you experience pain or irritation, try a smaller size or switch to silicone.
Most earplugs are safe to wear for 8-12 hours at a stretch. For sleeping, wearing them nightly is generally fine as long as you keep them clean and give your ears a break during the day. If you notice earwax buildup, soreness, or muffled hearing after removing them, take a break and consult a hearing professional.
Yes — earplugs are one of the most effective ways to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Consistent exposure to sounds above 85 dB damages the tiny hair cells in your inner ear over time, and that damage is permanent. Wearing proper ear protection in loud environments is the single best thing you can do for your long-term hearing health.
In lab conditions, NRR 33 blocks 11 more decibels than NRR 22. In the real world, the actual difference is roughly half that — about 5-6 dB of additional protection. That might not sound like much, but decibels are logarithmic: every 3 dB doubles the sound intensity. So NRR 33 earplugs block significantly more sound energy than NRR 22.
You can reuse foam earplugs a few times, but they lose their ability to expand and seal properly after repeated use. More importantly, they collect earwax and bacteria. If you want reusable protection, invest in silicone or custom-molded plugs that are designed to be washed and reused hundreds of times.
Protect your hearing today
Whether you're heading to a concert, blocking out noise for better sleep, or protecting your ears at work — the right earplugs make all the difference.
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