Ear Plug Superstore - Official Blog

March is Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM).

Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM), a national month-long holiday observance founded by the National Association for Music Education, is a program dedicated to raising awareness about the many benefits of providing high quality music education in schools. School music programs enrich students' lives both immediately and for years and years to come. During this month-long celebration of music in our schools, we at Ear Plug Superstore encourage you and your family to celebrate by playing music and singing together, attending concerts, and supporting music programs in your local schools -- all while striving to raise awareness about the importance of hearing protection for musicians.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Threat for Music Students

School-age children are quickly becoming the most likely group to suffer from permanent noise-induced hearing loss. In our increasingly noisy world, with headphone and earphone usage reaching an all-time high, this isn't such a surprise. Ignoring the problem, however, is no longer an option for savvy parents.

Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent -- and so it has become not only wise but necessary to provide hearing protection for school-age children. This is especially true if your child participates in a marching band or orchestra. While inexpensive foam ear plugs will absolutely provide the much-needed protection from noise, a pair of musician's ear plugs (such as the extremely popular Etymotic ER-20's, or the new Mack's High Fidelity Ear Plugs with two sizes of fit tips) will dramatically increase the quality of sound your child can hear.

Note that college students require proper hearing protection, too. Some universities are beginning to require undergraduate students to have yearly hearing tests and education in noise-induced hearing loss topics, including the use of hearing protection devices. For older students, a set of musician's ear plugs are a very practical must-have item, and even a very good quality, high-end pair of earplugs will still only cost a fraction of what a typical college textbook costs. Students who invest in hearing protection are making a life-long investment in their hearing. It really is that simple.

Music Educators are at an Exceptionally High Risk of Hearing Loss

78% of music teachers are exposed to noise levels exceeding the safe maximum sound levels set for an OSHA controlled industrial workplace. That means an average band teacher could actually be taking in as much noise as a worker using a jackhammer for eight hours a day!

Indeed, up to 86% of music teachers have been shown to suffer from some degree of noise-induced hearing damage. This statistic represents an incredible sacrifice on the part of music educators who dedicate their time and talents to teaching students how to play and enjoy music -- at the cost of their own ability to hear.

Fortunately, awareness about the need for hearing protection among music educators is rising. This is likely due to an overall increase in hearing protection awareness, combined with an explosion of new hearing protection products created specifically for musicians that make wearing ear plugs a much more comfortable and attractive option.

As always, any hearing protection at all is better than nothing. But for music teachers, our strong suggestion is to invest in a pair of professional lab molded musician's ear plugs. These ear plugs provide Natural Sound hearing, which means minimal sound distortion and faithful sound quality don't have to be sacrificed to get that important protection from noise. Lab molded custom fit ear plugs are also the most comfortable ear plugs available, and they're incredibly durable, making them ideal for hours of daily use, from morning band rehearsal all the way to private lessons in the evening.

Until next time, be safe and love your ears.
Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
Ear Plug Superstore

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

Have you done your good deed yet today? We’re donating child ear muffs to needy students. Learn more & help now: http://sharetherelief.earplugstore.com/

3 Tips to Stretch Your Tax Refund & Protect Your Hearing

Tax season can be a nightmare... but when that sweet refund check finally arrives in the mail, we can breathe a sigh of relief and plan how to spend that money wisely. The average refund for 2015 is $3,120 so far. That means now is a great opportunity to invest in a few important expenses you may have been putting off.If you've been waiting for a few extra dollars before investing in some much-needed hearing protection, now is the time. And with a little clever planning, you can stretch just a small fraction of your refund to seriously get ahead when it comes to protecting your hearing!

Here are three easy tips for getting the most out of your hearing protection spend:

1) Figure out what kind of earplugs you need, and then buy them in box quantities instead of single pairs. If you already know what kind of earplugs best suit your needs, and you use earplugs frequently for work, sleeping, etc. then it just makes sense to buy a box. (We also sell cases of earplugs, but for individual users, that's probably a bit overkill!) Industrial foam earplugs -- which work well for many non-industrial uses -- are all available in money-saving box quantities. Since these are non-perishable, you can stock up on a full year's worth of earplugs in one fell swoop. If you don't already know what kind of foam earplugs best suit your unique ears, check out our assortment packs -- these are an inexpensive way to easily try out several different kinds of foam earplugs, so you can find the perfect brand and style that provides the comfort and noise reduction you're looking for. And once you know what you like, picking up a box can save big versus buying them by the pair. Remember, foam earplugs always work best when used once and then thrown away and replaced. It can be tempting to reuse disposable foam earplugs, but resist the urge to cut corners. Your ears are important! Use foam earplugs properly -- aka just once -- to ensure your ears stay clean, healthy, and hygienic, and to ensure you're always getting the maximum rated protection from your earplugs. Again, a box is the perfect way to use disposable foam earplugs properly without spending much.

2) Go custom. A set of custom-molded earplugs is much more expensive than a single pair of regular, off-the-shelf universal fit earplugs, without a doubt. However, if you frequently use earplugs for swimming, music, work, or sleeping, it's important to realize that your hearing protection has become a critical part of your day-to-day life. And when that happens, custom-molded earplugs can become a real money-saver in the long run. While you've got a little extra refund cash to play with, now is a great time to invest in a set of professional lab custom-molded earplugs that suit your application (swimming, sleeping, etc). These earplugs not only fit better and work more effectively than their non-custom molded counterparts, but they also last a whole lot longer. Foam earplugs need to be replaced after every use, and even those sturdier reusable earplugs will need to be replaced every couple of weeks, depending on use. A good set of custom molded earplugs, however, can last for years with frequent cleaning and mindful storage. In the long term, frequent earplug users will see serious savings by going custom. Consider making that one-time investment with some of your refund money, and you'll reap the benefits for months or years to come.

3) Don't throw them out: refurbish your earmuffs and earphones. When you've used your hearing protection earmuffs on the job or at home, day in and day out, you'll eventually find that the ear pads -- the cushions that fit over each earcup and make contact with your skin -- are often the first part to wear out. And as the ear pads get worn, they can become thinner and less resilient, making your earmuffs not only less comfortable, but also less effective at blocking noise. But you don't have to buy a whole new set of earmuffs to fix the problem! Inexpensive hygiene kits, which consist of a new set of ear pads and often also replacement foam sheeting for the inside of the earcup, are available for many models of earmuffs. These can make your earmuffs -- including those high-dollar electronic models -- feel like new again, for as little as $5. And just like you can replace the ear pads on a pair of earmuffs, you can also get new replacement ear tips for your in-ear earphones. Available in many shapes and types (most notably multi-flanged silicone tips, and foam tips in different sizes), you can find replacement tips to make your earphones fit like new again. Or sometimes, better than new! Don't throw out your old earmuffs and earphones when you can easily refurbish them on your own -- for a tiny fraction of your refund.

Until next time, be safe and love your ears.
Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
Ear Plug Superstore

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

Have you done your good deed yet today? We’re donating child ear muffs to needy students. Learn more & help now: http://sharetherelief.earplugstore.com/

National Sleep Awareness Week - A Follow-Up

A couple weeks ago, we posted about Holly Boettner, MPH, CHES at California State University, Long Beach, and her Sleep Awareness Week (March 2-8) events, designed to help students understand just how critical it is to get a good night's sleep. Getting good quality (and quantity) sleep can be difficult at any age -- but it's a special challenge for students living on a campus where something is always happening and somebody down the hall always seems to be awake all night. This plethora of constant noise seems to be present at every college -- and while it's definitely a colorful and exciting part of The College Experience, students just aren't getting the sleep they need.

Fortunately, Holly and CSU are working to educate students on sleep, why it's so important, and how to get more of it.

Check out these photos from the event! (We were happy to donate earplugs for Holly and her team to give away to students who stopped by her booth.)

Holly writes,

Attached are two pictures from our table today. I also posted the pictures/information on our social media accounts... The outreach was very successful your earplugs were prizes for our “wheel trivia game”.

We are planning to continue our Sleep Awareness outreach in the future. We realize the importance of sleep awareness and educating our students on better sleep habits. Plus, providing ear plugs to the students always helps!

Thanks again,
Holly Boettner

 

Thank you, Holly, for letting us help you get the word out about how important it is to get a good night's sleep!

If you want to get more sleep, and better quality sleep, check out our Sleeping With Snoring Checklist for some helpful tips and advice.

Until next time, be safe and love your ears.
Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
Ear Plug Superstore

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

Have you done your good deed yet today? We’re donating child ear muffs to needy students. Learn more & help now: http://sharetherelief.earplugstore.com/

National Sleep Awareness Week is Coming!

Did you know that the first week of March (March 2nd - March 8th) is National Sleep Awareness Week?

Holly Boettner, MPH, CHES at California State University, Long Beach is preparing a whole event to help students at her campus become aware of 1) how crucial it is to get a good night's sleep, and 2) how students can improve their lifestyle habits to get the sleep they so badly need.

Holly describes her Sleep Awareness event:

"Would you like to be less stressed? Have better grades? Be sick less? or Just be in a better mood? Well, then you might just need to go to bed! That’s right! Sleep is important for a number of reasons and we want you to get a better night’s sleep. The Student Health Center would like to announce that it will be hosting a Sleep Awareness Campaign on Thursday, March 5, 2015 in concurrence with National Sleep Awareness Week. The goal of this campaign is to inform our college campus about the importance of a good night’s sleep. For the college-age population, we are focusing our sleep awareness information that is relevant with campus current lifestyles, such as: Caffeine and Sleep; Diet, Exercise and Sleep; Food and Sleep; and Napping 101. Also, we will be highlighting sleep benefits, sleep tips, napping, sleep myths, and with Daylight Savings just around the corner, we will provide information how not to lose too much sleep. There will be an opportunity for students to test their sleep knowledge by taking a short Sleep IQ Quiz and to participate in Sleep Trivia to win prizes such as ear plugs or eye masks."

If you happen to be in the area, this great event will be taking place Thursday, March 5th from 11am-1pm near the CSULB University Bookstore and The Nugget.

For those of us elsewhere in the world, Sleep Awareness Week is an excellent time to consider whether we are really getting the sleep we need. If snoring or other noises are keeping you awake at night, now is the time to take action to get better sleep.

Until next time, be safe and love your ears!
Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
Ear Plug Superstore

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

Have you done your good deed yet today? We’re donating child ear muffs to needy students. Learn more & help now: http://sharetherelief.earplugstore.com/

Stunning Christmas Gift Ideas from Ear Plug Superstore

Cross It Off Your Shopping List Baby Ear Muffs Earphones for Work Electronic Shooting Ear Muffs Ear Plug Hats Great Gadgets Sound Oasis S-850 Travel White Noise Alarm Clock PlaneQuiet Solitude X Noise Cancelling Headphones 3M Tekk Worktunes AM/FM Radio Ear Muffs Sleep-Eze 2013 In-Ear White Noise Generator Just for Kids Disney Princess Little Mermaid Aqua Ears Ear Plugs Disney Cars Aqua Ears Ear Plugs ReVO Earmuffs for Babies and Children Etymotic Ety-Kids Safe Listening Earphones Featured Gift Idea Music Muffones Fashion Ear Muffs with Built-In Earphones Alpine MusicSafe Pro Musician's Ear Plugs Etymotic ER20 Musician's Ear Plugs Crescendo Drummer Ear Plugs for Musicians Stocking Stuffers NFL Ear Plugs Snoring Relief Kit Hatphones Fashion Winter Hats with Built-In Earphones Mack's Dreamgirl Soft Foam Ear Plugs Bargains & Bundles KonoAudio KidzSafe Earbuds for Kids + FREE Earphone Cord Winder (a $5.99 value) Sleep-Eze In-Ear White Noise Generator - with FREE Ear Pillow Howard Leight Sync AM/FM Radio Earmuffs - Now 23% Off! Try 'em All Ear Plug Assortment Pack: 48 Assorted Pairs

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Ear Plug Superstore.

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

Have you done your good deed yet today? We're donating child ear muffs to needy students. Learn more & help now: http://sharetherelief.earplugstore.com/

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Press Release: Share the Relief Program is Live, EPSS to Donate Ear Muffs to Needy Students

Press Release: Share the Relief Program is Live, EPSS to Donate Ear Muffs to Needy Students

 

August 12th, 2014

Does your child's school provide noise protection ear muffs to students who need them?

Summary: Many children in school classrooms are unable to concentrate because they suffer from Acute Noise Sensitivity. The simple solution is to provide the kids with child sized ear muffs to protect them from the pain noise causes them. Schools cannot afford to buy all the ear muffs they need, so Ear Plug Superstore has launched Share The Relief: For each MyTMuff we sell, we will donate another one to an elementary school for use by their students.

Does your child often cover his ears with his hands? Does he run screaming from the room when a particular part of a song plays on television? Does he have trouble settling down in the classroom to do his work? These and many other indicators may suggest that the child has ANS.

A growing segment of the world’s population suffers from Acute Noise Sensitivity (ANS), meaning they are hypersensitive to general or specific sounds -- a very difficult condition to have in our increasingly noisy world. Sounds from concerts, loud parties and raucous conversations that people with normal hearing can enjoy often cause physical pain to those suffering from ANS. As a result, these unfortunate people -- including very young children through all ages of adults -- live a constrained life: one without concerts, parties and other loud venues. They cannot enjoy even the most mundane amusements, because so many of them include sound levels which those with ANS find physically painful. As a result, these people are often socially withdrawn, depressed, and miserable. Especially troubling are the young children who suffer this condition, without their parents, teachers or care-givers even knowing about it.

Many children with ANS remain undiagnosed throughout their school years, suffering physical pain from the ordinary sounds found in every schoolroom. Children with autism spectrum disorders, as well as those suffering Meniere’s disease and Hyperacusis, which can occur as a side effect of dietary imbalances as well as from a variety of illnesses and health conditions, all may suffer from ANS.

For children suffering from this condition, each day can become a terrible struggle, and because this condition is not out there in the public awareness, it is quite likely in most cases that the child is simply left to suffer in a painfully noisy world from which they can rarely escape.

The simple solution is to provide the child with a pair of child-sized noise protection ear muffs. With this inexpensive and perfectly safe hearing protection, your child may get the relief he needs to experience life in a whole new way.

Some enlightened school administrators have begun to equip their classrooms with ear muffs for use by all their students, for when the kids are taking tests. They have found that simply giving the kids relief from distracting noises enables the children to perform much better on their exams.

At Ear Plug Superstore we have created Share the Relief, a program in which we donate a child ear muff to a school for each MyTMuff we sell. We invite you to learn about our program and help us get the word out about this crippling disorder and the simple solution for those who suffer from ANS.

Be part of the answer: Help us Share the Relief today.

Tom Bergman
Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

Do-It-Yourself Ear Plugs for DIY Dynamos

Ear Plugs for Do-It-Yourselfers

		Everyone knows power tools can be dangerous without proper safety precautions. Crescendo DIY ear plugs were designed for Do-It-Yourself work and hobbies around the home workshop, lawn, or garage. These ear plugs cut hazardous noises while still allowing you to hear what's going on around you thanks to special filters (similar to the ones often used in musician's ear plugs). Improve your all-around safety with these easy-to-fit, low-profile ear plugs. These ear plugs may be used over and over for weeks, with just a gentle wash in warm water and soap after every couple of uses.

Dewalt is a name you can trust when you need serious tools -- and now Dewalt also offers ear plugs for serious noise. At NRR 33, Dewalt ear plugs provide some of the strongest noise protection you can get. These foam ear plugs are corded, so you can just sling them around your neck between uses. A bell-shaped design and slow-recovery foam help you get the fit you need to block hazardous noise effectively, while providing enough comfort for all-day wear. These inexpensive foam ear plugs should be replaced after just a few uses as an effective and hygienic part of your DIY safety kit.

		Pluggerz Hobby ear plugs are an excellent choice for projects both large and small. Even the all-mighty Dremmel tool, which is pretty quiet when you just turn it on, can drop some serious decibels during actual cutting and drilling. Whether you're looking to cut the ringing ears after a few hours of working on a project, or whether you need a set of good ear plugs for tasks around the house, Hobby ear plugs have you covered. These plugs not only cut noise, but also feature special filters that help keep important safe sounds such as voices clear and audible. A great hearing protector for DIY dads.

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Make Your Own Do-it-Yourself Ear Plugs

Did you know you can make your own custom molded ear plugs?

			Professional lab custom molded ear plugs offer the ultimate personalized fit for one-of-a-kind noise blocking and comfort for your unique ears. However, these professional custom molded ear plugs can be pricey, starting at around $100. DIY custom molded ear plugs offer a much less expensive custom hearing protection solution. With DIY custom ear plugs, you get the kit you need to make your own custom ear plugs right at home. Choose a color, mix the materials with a quick knead by hand, and you can create your own custom-fit ear plugs in about ten minutes. (Pick up a few sets and you can make custom ear plugs for the whole family!)

Fair warning: DIY custom ear plugs are only as good as you make them. Getting the ear plug material down into each ear canal far enough is critical for adequate noise blocking. Made correctly, you can achieve as much as NRR 26 protection from noise with a properly made set of DIY custom ear plugs.

Until next time, be safe and love your ears.
--Sarah Bergman, Web Developer

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More Ways to Connect With Us:

 

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Ear Plug Superstore

Not sure what to get Mom for Mother's Day?
Mother's Day is May 11th, 2014. Here are some Mother's Day gift wishes from some of our very own EPSS moms:
 

What gift would you love to get this Mother's Day? Sound Oasis Sound Therapy S-650 White Noise Machine Why is this on your Mother's Day Wishlist? Brett my 15 year old son is very good with Violet my 7 year old daughter. But alas, they are siblings. Therefore, they argue, yell, break things, and make messes they have no intention of cleaning up. So the thought of turning my bathroom into a “spa” with the S-650 sounds like a little piece of Heaven on Earth. Then simply move the machine to the bedroom, maybe change sound selection and boom. OUT LIKE A LIGHT. It is easy to use, has an alarm clock, (with SNOOZE!) a standard 3.5 mm earphone jack, volume control, a sleep timer, battery backup and is so compact and attractive! --Veronica, Awesome Mom with Two LOUD Kids     What gift would you love to get this Mother's Day? SleepPhones Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for Sleeping Why is this on your Mother's Day Wishlist? I would like the sleephones that are wireless and bluetooth capatiable because I would enjoy falling asleep to music and they would block out all the night noises like dogs barking, traffic, and husband's snoring!!! --Wenona, Super Proud Mother of Thomas, 11, and Alysta Jo, 8 :)

Still Need Ideas? Check this out:
Got Ears?® Sleep Oasis Comfort Pack: Possibly the Perfect Mother's Day Gift.

Got Ears?® Sleep Oasis Comfort Pack Contents:

• One Sleep-Easy electro-mechanical white noise machine lets you choose low or high volume. White noise to gently lull her to sleep.
• One premium sleep mask, fully adjustable. Includes a satin nose piece that comfortably blocks light facilitating sleep any time.
• One ear plug trial pack including 25 different foam ear plugs selected from more than 50 brands and types as being best for sleeping.

[get it now]

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From all of us at Ear Plug Superstore, we wish you and your family a very Happy Mother's Day!

Until next time, be safe and love your ears.
--Sarah Bergman, Web Developer

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Earplug-Filled Easter Eggs - Do Not Eat

Happy Easter from all of us at Ear Plug Superstore!

Lose Sleep & Lose Your Health - Sleeping Hearing Protection Matters

Most of us just don't get enough sleep. All too often, we lose out on our recommended daily 7 minimum hours of sleep because of disturbing night time noises:

• Noisy neighbors
• Traffic and sirens
• Snoring spouses
• So many more awful sleep-disturbing night time noises!!!

Learn more about what sleep loss can do to you from this infographic from the Huffingon Post, and consider checking into our safe and effective solutions for sleep and snoring relief.

 

Until next time, be safe and love your ears -- and get some sleep!
--Sarah Bergman, Web Developer

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