Ear Plug Superstore - Official Blog

Summer's Coming: Summer Season Hearing Protection

Ah, late spring! What a wonderful time of the year. Summer is just around the corner -- the signs are everywhere. The birds are chirping, the grass has greened up, the trees are once again full and lush, and our neighbor has started weed-eating every Saturday morning at 7a.m. like clockwork.

As a matter of fact, now that we can sit outside on the deck enjoying the sounds of the approaching summer, I'm reminded that this is the season when hearing protection is most in demand -- and no wonder! As we break out the mowers and motorcycles, the bikes and boats, and the four-wheelers and fireworks, the inevitable side-effect of all that summer fun is a whole lot of noise. Here's how we suggest you keep your ears protected during your favorite summer activities.

Protect the kids!

Children have especially sensitive hearing structures in their ears, and once your hearing is damaged, it is damaged for good. The same goes for adults: the delicate sound-sensors in your ears sadly cannot be repaired. That means your children's hearing needs protecting whenever they are going to be exposed to loud noise of any kind. We recommend ear muffs for the little guys, from infancy up to the age of about 3 or 4. Children beyond the choking-hazard age can then start to use ear plugs (we always strongly encourage adult supervision), but until about 7 years of age, we recommend molded earplugs made of silicone putty or wax instead of foam ear plugs. These moldable ear plugs are not inserted deep into the canal, but are instead just used to fill the outer ear and cover the canal opening. And for older kids and teens, music and concert ear plugs become a vital summer accessory for attending concerts and other noisy outdoor events.

If your older kids are really into the music scene, we especially recommend the ER-20: it turns down the volume to safe levels without distorting a single chord, it has a pretty cool high-tech look, and it comes in a variety of colors, making it a good bet for getting older, image-conscious kids and teens to actually wear their earplugs at shows.

And sound isn't the only thing you can protect your kids' ears from. Water in the ear (and the resulting swimmer's ear) is another summer hazard for kids that can be easily prevented by regular use of ear plugs. We recommend floatable putty buddies, which work great, have a fun look for the kiddos, and really do float -- so you're less likely to lose them! If some good water earplugs aren't enough, or if it's particularly important that your kids' ears stay water-free (if they have ear tubes, for example), pair those putty buddies with an ear band-it headband to keep the ear plugs in and moisture out, for maximum water protection.

And if your little ones do get water in their ears, we actually have a couple of options that can help. Mack’s Dry and Clear drops break surface tension to help the water drain out, and are terrific if you do get water in the ear. Alternatively, Mack’s has also recently released a new ear dryer that gently blows warm air into the canal to help dry those ears. Cirrus has also dreamed up a new product this year that we like a lot: ClearEars, which are water-absorbing ear plugs that actually draw water out of the ear. All of these ear care products are especially helpful when your child has ear tubes, or is very prone to ear infections.

Protect your pets!

Everyone has a story about a dog that runs for cover every fourth of July when the first firework goes off. If this sounds like your own best four-legged friend, Safe and Sound Pets has a solution. Mutt Muffs (which are exactly what they sound like: earmuffs for dogs!) were invented for pilots who wanted to take their pets up in their noisy airplanes. Canine Corps officers are also big users of the Mutt Muffs, as they help their charges to remain focused in chaotic, noisy situations. Comfy and safe, we've found that these canine earmuffs are a great solution for dogs that are sensitive to all kinds of loud sounds, including fireworks, shooting events, and crowded venues with lots of noise. The dog can still hear with the Mutt Muffs on --  they just reduce the volume enough so that most animals are not freaked out so much by the overwhelming noise.

Protect the whole family!

Summer is the time when every Dad becomes a handyman -- so make sure Mr. Fix-It is good to go in terms of protective gear. Ear muffs with a built-in radio do double duty: they make the mowing more enjoyable, and they protect his hearing (or hers!) at the same time. From lawn work to honey-dos to tinkering in the workshop, ear protection is every bit as important for the do-it-yourselfer as eye protection is!

Of course, mowing and power tools aren't the only engine noises you should protect your ears from during the summer season. Drag races call for hearing protection for the whole family, as do tractor pulls, boating events, dirt bike races, and of course NASCAR events. And if you're worried about missing out on the thrill these loud events offer, never fear: no ear plugs can ever block all the sound around you, so you will still hear plenty of the noise that makes these events so exciting even while your ears are safe and sound. The only difference is that, if you use a good pair of ear plugs, you will actually get to continue hearing after the event is over!

Happily, protecting the whole family during fun, noisy summer activities is easier, more comfortable, and more effective than ever before. Today’s ear plugs and ear muffs are a far cry from the ordinary plugs and muffs of yester-year. There are specialized hearing protectors for babies and children, for swimming and flying, for shooting, for motorcycling, and even for sleeping. There are ear plugs that let you hear perfectly -- but at a reduced volume, without the muffled effect you get from ordinary foam ear plugs. There are electronic hearing protectors that not only protect your hearing, but that also amplify sound so you can hear better with them on than you can with your naked ear.

With all these choices easily at hand, it's a snap to get really prepared for summer -- and now is the time.

So when you're done stocking up on sunscreen, charcoal, and those little candles that (supposedly) keep the mosquitoes away, don't forget to complete your summer gear-up with some ear protection for the whole family. Stop by our store to check out the products we've recommended here, and pick up the hearing protection you need to protect you and your family this summer -- and all year long.

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

--Tom "Dr. Earplug" Bergman

Inside Feature: White Noise for Snoring

In the third and final installment of our 2010 Mother's Day information series, we take a closer look at the most heavy-duty solution for snoring out there: white noise. As you ladies know, snoring is serious business, and you may have already tried white noise to block it out -- without success. Here's the inside scoop, moms: a white noise machine alone isn't enough for the most extreme snoring. We take you inside the world of white noise for snoring so you can learn how to fight the loudest, most obnoxious, sleep-stealing snoring out there.

Inside Feature: White Noise for Snoring

If you've tried breathing strips, nasal sprays, ear plugs, and everything else you you can to find a way to sleep with a snoring bed partner -- and nothing has worked for you -- then it's high time to try white noise. You're overdue. Here's why.

Your husband's snoring, if it is extreme could actually be as loud as 90 dB at times. That's almost three times as loud as normal conversation -- no wonder you're missing sleep! And if this is the kind of snoring you're dealing with, it's no surprise that even the best of ear plugs isn't providing you with peace.

Now, white noise works by blocking out the noises you're hearing with smooth, featureless noise of equal volume that your brain can easily filter out. Like the hum of an air conditioner in the background, your mind eventually stops processing the white noise altogether -- and with it, any other noises you're hearing, like snoring. But to block out 90 dB of snoring, you need 90 dB of white noise; that's a lot of noise! In fact, that much white noise for eight hours a night could seriously damage your hearing. So what do you do?

The answer: you pull out the big guns. Combine white noise and ear plugs to knock out that snoring and sleep like a baby without damaging your hearing for the sake of peaceful slumber. Here's what you do.

Go ahead and crank your white noise up until it's the same volume as that snoring (up to 90 dB in extreme cases). Now it'll be pretty loud in your bedroom -- and that's when you put your ear plugs in. The very best earplugs have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 33. That will reduce the level of the sound you're hearing to about 57 dB. That's quieter than normal conversation. And here's where the magic happens: of the noise that makes it through your ear plugs, all you'll hear is the white noise, at a volume similar to that of a box fan running in your bedroom.

And there you have it, the key to white noise for snoring: Ear plugs + white noise = safe, effective relief from snoring.

One more important thing: your snoring bed partner will also need a set of ear plugs if you've got your white noise cranked up to a high volume, as again, even white noise can damage your hearing if it's played as loudly as we've been talking about here. So not only do you need earplugs, but so does your husband, in order to make this solution safe for both of you.

But since the snoring is his fault to begin with, he should be willing to wear some nice soft ear plugs so that you can get your much-needed sleep, right?

And if he won't wear ear plugs (a small sacrifice in the name of getting the rest you need!), you might just want to make him sleep somewhere else. Or you can get yourself a set of comfy custom molded earphones, plug them into your white noise machine, and get the effect of noise-isolating ear plugs and white noise all in one, without your husband hearing a thing.

One last note: this strategy will work great for the next-door neighbor who plays the TV all night or moves furniture around on your ceiling until the wee small hours. But be careful that you do not use this strategy when you have sounds you need to hear because you will very likely hear NOTHING -- not kids in the other room, not people knocking on the door, not even that snoring -- except the soothing, comfortable masking sound as you sleep blissfully through the night, every night.

And that concludes our informational Mother's Day article series. From all of us at Ear Plug Superstore, we hope your Mother's Day is warm, relaxing, and restful. Being a mom is hard work, so we hope our advice helps you get your hard-earned beauty sleep -- you deserve it, moms!

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Sleeping With Snoring: What Every Woman Should Know

It's part two of our three-part Mother's Day weekend special -- and this time, we're talking snoring. We've heard about husbands snoring, boyfriends snoring, and even pets snoring, but wherever the snoring is coming fromit doesn't have to keep you up at night. Read on...

Sleeping With Snoring: What Every Woman Should Know

You try to sleep. You toss and turn, you struggle to get comfortable, and you're finally about to get to sleep -- but moments before you drift off to dreamland, the snoring starts, and you're wide awake again. Sound familiar?

Snoring is a big drag, and except for the occasional YouTube video of a super-cute snoozing panda, snoring is no laughing matter. When your husband snores, you probably can't sleep very well -- and missing sleep leads to stress, which can put a serious strain on your relationship. One woman we know had so much trouble sleeping while her husband was sawing logs that she actually dragged her pillow into the closet and slept there for a little relief!

If the closet-sleeping approach isn't your speed, you're not alone. But if you can't (or just don't want to) make separate sleeping arrangements, you're left with only two choices: make the snoring stop, or defend yourself from that snoring.

"Make the snoring stop" -- a very popular demand -- has created a veritable cornucopia of solutions that include sprays, nostril expanders, pills, pillows, jaw re-positioners, and of course, surgery. If you choose this road, first have a heart-to-heart with your doctor before you try any of these products. Every one of them has some risks, which vary from minor to major, and you just need to be careful that in your quest to get some sleep, you do not harm your hubby.

Of course, "just making it stop" isn't always an option. Even surgery, I am told, is effective in less than half the cases in which it is used. Just remember that the people trying to sell you products to stop that snoring won't always tell you the product's risks, downsides, or failure rates. That's not to say you shouldn't try solutions to make the snoring stop -- just don't get your hopes up too high, and above all, protect your (and your husband's!) health.

And at the end of your quest, after you have visited with your physician, after you have tried all the gadgets you think might work for you, you're left with option two: defend your ears from that snoring! Remember that there are always ear plugs for sleeping. Those humble, inexpensive little blobs of foam rubber that you stick in your ears are, without any doubt, the safest and most effective solution to sleeping with a snorer that exists today. Give them a try sometime.

All you have to lose is your sleeplessness.

Mother's Day Special: 5 Free Tips To Help Mom Get Better Sleep

Each day this Mother's Day weekend, we'll be offering an article aimed specifically at helping the fabulous moms in our lives sleep better. Noise is the number one contributor to sleeplessness, as any woman who's tried to share a bed with a chronic snorer will tell you! So from general tips for helping her get a good night's rest, to a two-part guide on sleeping with a snoring bed partner, this weekend is all about Mom here at Ear Plug Superstore.

Mother's Day Special: Tips To Help Mom Get Better Sleep

There is no doubt about it: being a mom is hard.

Moms take care of us, they support us, they nurse us when we're sick, and they continue the work of motherhood long after we're no longer wearing diapers that need changing. On Mother's Day, we celebrate our moms and our wives, and we show our love for all the special, hard-working women in our lives. And as part of that celebration, I'd like to share with you a gift that you can give your favorite female this Mother's Day that won't cost you a dime: better sleep.

The facts are in: we simply are not getting enough sleep. A few lucky souls sleep like a happy baby, and some suffer from insomnia virtually every night -- but thanks to stress, traffic noise, lumpy mattresses, and husbands who snore like jackhammers, it's safe to bet that our moms are spending too many restless nights unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. And missing sleep isn't just irritating; it can cause stress, health problems, and really make you feel terrible.
So this mother's day, help the hard-working mom in your life get the sleep she needs and deserves! Here are five tips you can share with your mom to give her the gift of sleep this mother's day.

1. Help her cut out the afternoon caffeine. Coffee, energy drinks, tea, soda pop, and even chocolate all contain amounts of the drug, and it's easy to get more of it than we realize. The effects of caffeine can last for hours, even after that initial buzz has worn off. Help mom cut down on her caffeine intake after noon, and she'll be sleeping better by nightfall.

2. Help mom exercise. It's hard to stay fit, and nothing helps like having a loved one help you stay on the horse. Go with mom to the gym or just take walks together, and those little aches and pains that keep her awake will start to fade, letting her get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer. Don't exercise right before bed, as this can make it hard to sleep; earlier in the day is better. And if mom doesn't have time to exercise, or if she's older or otherwise unable to walk or work out comfortably, then advise her to stretch for a few minutes before bed.

3. Don't fight just before bed. Whether she's your mom or the mother of your children, you're bound to have conflicts from time to time -- just work hard to make sure that time isn't right before she's trying to go to sleep! Plan your arguments for early in the day. Going to bed angry is always a bad idea for sleep’s sake. Sometimes you can get your angry spouse to agree to postpone the discussion until morning or lunch the next day without either of you having to give in or lose the argument. As a bonus, if you can both agree to postpone the argument, it may even be less stressful when you finally do get around to it. At least you will both have had a better night’s sleep than you would have had if you kept at it until the fight was resolved.

4. Make it dark where she sleeps. Humans are hard-wired to function in the daytime. Accordingly, we do not do well trying to sleep when it is light outside. (Those of you who have worked the night shift know about this in dreadfully real terms.) Make sure there are no lights to disturb mom's sleep; it's not just uncomfortable, but light seriously decreases the quality of sleep she'll get. Her best sleep will always happen in the dark. If mom doesn't have shades or curtains for her windows, try getting her to wear a comfy sleep mask. She'll sleep much, much better, and she'll feel like a movie star.

5. Eliminate or reduce the noise in mom's bedroom, and try to stop that snoring. Just like we will always sleep better in the dark, we will sleep better when it is quiet, too. This is a difficult one for many moms, especially those whose husbands snore! My best advice to you is to try the above tips on this list first: most of them will help with snoring as well as with getting a good night’s rest. Once you have tried these and the snoring persists, there are a world of snoring remedies available--but be wary. These options fall roughly into three categories: sprays, drugs and supplements, and mechanical devices or surgeries. Some of these remedies may help some people, but none of these will help everyone -- and our customers tell us that all of these snoring “miracle cures,” even the surgeries, eventually fail as long-term solutions. Always be careful with drugs and unregulated “food supplements,” which can be downright dangerous. If snoring is what's keeping the special mom in your life from getting her beauty rest, stay tuned -- this weekend, we'll be following up with more tips to help mom sleep with snoring or use white noise to block out that dream-stomping sound.

To sum up, remember that sleep is crucial for our health, happiness, and well-being.  And no one deserves the joy of real rest and rejuvenation more than our hard-working moms. So this Mother's Day, don't just get her flowers and a card -- well, do get her those, she'll probably like them. But also give her the gift of blissful, peaceful, life-improving sleep!

It's free, and unlike flowers, it could actually change her life.