Off Topic — Earplugs

[Crohn2357]

Off Topic — Earplugs

I have recently started using earplugs to be able to concentrate while I am studying. It’s a great invention.

It’s in my ears about 14 hours a day every day. I am wondering if this can be harmful for my ears over the long term?

This is the product I have been using:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0784D69W...39d9e7be3202&ie=UTF8&qid=1525628804&sr=3&th=1

I take them off before sleep.

They cause a very slight pain in my ears during the day but I wouldn’t mind about it if it’s not harmful to use for a long time every day over a long term period.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I'm not sure about wearing ear plugs every day for this long. My husband has a career in which he has to wear ear plugs quite often throughout the day when he works around running airplanes outside. Reason being that he's a mechanic and the big ear muff type things he uses doesn't protect very well. However, he doesn't wear them for 14 hours straight.

But, if these you're using are giving you pain I'd be concerned. Are you not putting them in properly? Too deep into the ear? Or, maybe it's possible they might not be the right ones for you. Because, I'm thinking they shouldn't be hurting you when they're in. I think I'd ask your doctor though to be sure. Maybe they'd have some better suggestions...

 

[Crohn2357]

I think I know the technique of putting them in properly well, but you may be right about putting them too deep in my ears. I probably have a small ear canal and that might also be the reason. The pain is very mild, but you are right on finding it concerning. I will try putting them less deeply into my ears, or some other variations in technique. If this persists I will look for another ear plug.

Regardless of this issue, I still wonder about the original question in principle (if anyone wants to write): is it harmful to use earplugs for a long time like that?

 

[Scipio]

Regardless of this issue, I still wonder about the original question in principle (if anyone wants to write): is it harmful to use earplugs for a long time like that?

I don't think anyone knows whether wearing earplugs for 14 hours a day is harmful or not because no one else has ever tried to wear earplugs for that long. That's very unusual.

 

[my little penguin]

Why wear them for 14 hours straight ?
Why not noise canceling headphones
Are you wearing them 14 hours a day every day or just some days to study ?
Breaks for eating and sleeping with them out I assume

In an heavy industrial ear plugs are mandatory .
So if a worker is working a 12 hour shift
Then potentially the ear plugs would be in most of that time outside of breaks /lunch
On a regular basis

You would need to look at OSHA standards
They would have information on what is and is not safe in terms of ear pkfs

Ear plugs by themselves can cause irritation in the ear
This can be painful

https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/hearingconservation.pdf

There is a lot of info on osha website so it would take a bit of searching

 

[Crohn2357]

I don't think anyone knows whether wearing earplugs for 14 hours a day is harmful or not because no one else has ever tried to wear earplugs for that long.

@Scipio, I think that assumption should not be made easily. As far as I know there are many people who use earplugs every night during sleep and also in the daytime.

@MLP, my apartment is near the main road and the noise distracts me from studying, that’s why i use them so long.

I tried earmuffs but didn’t find them comfortable.

 

[Lady Organic]

I live on a main street too and one trick I have is to run a little heater on the ''fan position'', for a background noise, during the night. At the fan position, there is not even wind, just a little fan noise. This is truly helpful to cut the other noises, cars, neighbors, etc...
Nurses in local clinics have lot of experience with ears and wax drainage for instance. They could be a good source of information and first line screening too.

 

[Crohn2357]

I think an ENT doctor can also do the screening. It’s good to keep in mind.