As musicians, your hearing is your main priority of concern. You need them to be able to listen to the music around you, as well as what you’re playing too. If your hearing is damaged in any way, then it might be something that affects your performance but could also damage your chances of continuing in this profession, whether it’s your career or doing it as a hobby. Earplugs are a great way to protect your ears so that they’re not exposed to excessive noise levels that could end up damaging your hearing permanently. But are custom-fit musician earplugs worth the cost?
Disposable vs custom-fit earplugs
Disposable earplugs are something that is widely accessible, and they’re cheap enough to buy for occasional usage when protecting your ears. They come in different options, whether it’s a standard foam earplug to some that are made out of a soft putty and can be molded to your outer ear’s shape. Disposable earplugs are good for muffling the sound and so, therefore, might be more suitable for those who are watching a performance or in an environment where it’s simply noise that doesn’t need to be crystal clear. Take a building site, for example, hearing the sound clarity of a hand drill isn’t really necessary, but playing an instrument is.
The problem with disposable earplugs is that for musicians, muffling the sound isn’t helpful. The sound should be lowered enough to protect the ears but still clear enough to hear the sound properly.
Comparing features of disposables vs custom-fit
When it comes to comparing the features of disposable earplugs vs custom-fit ones, it’s good to focus on three areas; sound quality, comfort and cost. This can help to ensure you have the best earplugs that are needed depending on what you require them for.
Sound quality
The quality of sound is obviously important for musicians as they rely on hearing their own music and what’s around them. As mentioned above, disposable earplugs simply muffle sound, whereas when it comes to custom-fit ones, they have special filters that can help continue to provide the quality of sound but lowering it enough that it’s not going to impact your ear health in any way.
Comfort
With comfort, you want the earplugs to fit snugly and without any movement or aggravation. Therefore, custom-fit earplugs are going to be more beneficial because they’ve been created for you specifically, whereas disposable ones are just generic in shape and size. One of the things you’re paying for in custom-fit ones is the quality of fit so that you don’t really feel any difference when you have them in. That way, you can play for hours on end without needing to fiddle or adjust them in your ear. This is something that can be beneficial when all attention needs to be on what you’re playing.
The cost
The cost is obviously the deciding factor for many musicians, especially those who might have done well so far simply using disposable ones. Disposable earplugs are all well and good, but they’re a major waste on the environment. With custom-fit earplugs, you will invest a little more upfront, but their longevity and comfort will prove worthwhile.
Are custom-fit musician earplugs worth the cost?
So, are custom-fit musician earplugs worth the cost? Yes, they are if you are someone who wears them for gigs and your job perhaps entails working as a musician. Hearing loss or permanent tinnitus can be career ending events for a musician. For anyone else, it might not be something that’s worth getting if the sole purpose is to simply muffle the sound that’s excessive. They’re a great investment and will produce less waste than disposable ones do. They’re fit to your ears specifically, meaning you get the best comfort possible.
If you’re looking to get custom-fit earplugs, then it’s worth approaching a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). They can do a proper test and evaluation on what type of earplugs are best for you in order to provide hearing protection. They can discuss your budget, preferences and then find the perfect pair for your hearing. You can learn a lot more by contacting Better Hearing of Madison County at (315) 693-3637. We can provide all the information needed when it comes to making a decision on custom-fit earplugs. Protecting your ears is essential and a worthy investment in any case.
