Brochure

Hearing Protection
Initially you may be concerned that you’ll be unable to hear while wearing protection.
However, unless you already have a signicant hearing loss you’ll be surprised how
well you can hear speech and many other sounds while protected in the noise.
When you properly wear hearing protectors you’ll be protected from temporary
hearing shifts so that you are able to hear as well after a noise exposure as when it
started. People with hearing loss also benet, since without protection noise will
continue to damage their hearing until it is difcult to distinguish sounds under even
the best of conditions.
Hearing Protector Fitting Tip
When either a plug or muff is properly fitted, the sound of your own voice should change,
becoming deeper, hollow, or muffled due to what is called the occlusion effect. If you don’t
hear the change, or if it isn’t the same in both ears, you have not obtained a proper fit and
acoustic seal in either one or both ears.
Tip: Talking in Noise
When you wear plugs or muffs in noise you tend to speak less loudly than otherwise because
the protector makes your own voice seem louder and the surrounding noises seem quieter. So,
you have to speak up – speak more loudly than you think you need to. Others will appreciate
this, and your message will be better understood.
Semi-inserts, also called canal caps, consist of pods or
flexible tips on a lightweight headband. Because they are
quick to put on and take off and easy to store around
the neck, they are ideal for intermittent use. Those
that just cap the canal entrance give rise to a larger
occlusion effect (see above) which can be annoying to
some wearers.
Earmuffs have rigid cups with soft plastic cushions that
seal around the ears to block noise. Muffs come in
one-position or multi-position bands, and are also sold
in styles for attachment to hard hats. Cushions may be
filled with foam, liquid, or a combination; let personal
preference be your guide. For sustained exposures to very
loud noises, or if you feel the need for more protection,
wear muffs and plugs together (dual protection) for an
additional 5-10 dB of noise reduction.
Hold the large ends
of the pods and
swivel them to
direct the tips
into the earcanal
openings. Firmly
push and wiggle
the pods into the
canals until a snug
seal is obtained.
Pulling on the outer ear
while pushing on the pods will be helpful
to most wearers.
Most semi-inserts can be
cleaned in the same
way as premolded
earplugs. Since the
headband holds
the tips in place to
provide an acoustic
seal, don’t tamper
with it or the protection
the device provides
may be reduced. Many
manufacturers sell replacement tips.
Cushions can be cleaned
with warm soapy water
and rinsed thoroughly.
Do not use alcohol or
solvents. Cushions
normally need
replacing at least
yearly, or whenever
they become stiff,
cracked, or no longer seal.
Don’t modify earmuffs in any
way, and especially do not stretch or abuse the
headbands as this will reduce your protection.
Muffs must fully enclose
the ears to seal
against the head.
Adjust the head-
band so cushions
exert even pressure
around the ears to
get the best noise re-
duction. Pull hair back
and out from beneath the
cushions. Don’t store pencils or wear caps
under cushions. Thick or poorly fitting eyeglass tem-
ples may also cause some loss in noise reduction.