I have street noise (cars, engines revving uphill, etc) coming thru my bedroom window keeping me awake. I use foam earplugs and a sound machine now. Someone suggested custom earplugs. Which earplugs are best for me?
My husband hates my white noise machine. Says it makes his tinnitus worse. Suggestions?
Maria
Maria,
Thank you for the question.
First, before you give up on foam ear plugs, I want to make sure you are using them properly. Please take a look at our how-to video on getting a good fit.
For most sleeping with noise situations, foam ear plugs provide enough noise reduction when deeply inserted. That said, there are some folks who find them uncomfortable or ineffective due to the conformation of their ears. Sometimes the simplest solution is to get a different foam ear plug. We carry more than thirty different kinds, and they vary in shape, size, length, density, and color, so there are a lot of variables to consider. If you need to explore the range of foam ear plugs, you might consider one of our trial packs which make it easy.
If foam ear plugs will not work for you, custom ear plugs might provide a better solution. The benefits of custom ear plugs include a better fit, easier insertion, greater comfort, and long life (measured in years). However, a well fitted foam plug will nearly always block more sound than will a custom ear plug.
Another possibility for you to consider is our personal isolation system which consists of a set of isolation earphones plugged into a white noise machine. This will let you comfortably enjoy your own white noise without bothering your sleeping partner.
You can also just get the BST100 white noise machine and plug in your own earphones, or perhaps a set of Sleep Phones.
Or, you can use the wireless sleephones with your smartphone as a white noise source (Note: the bst100 can receive a Bluetooth signal but cannot send one to the Bluetooth sleephones.)
Finally, it occurs to me that the reason your sleeping partner may object to the white noise you are currently using is that you have it turned way up? You might could turn it down if you get your ear plugs more deeply inserted, or perhaps not use it at all. If you still do need it after deep insertion of the plugs, maybe he could be persuaded to also use ear plugs? Just a thought.
Hope this helps.
Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore
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