Those who are bothered by ambient noise can use earplugs when working or sleeping. But are earplugs good for your ears, even if you use them more often? And what should you do if earplugs don’t fit well or even hurt? Meldpunt asks ear specialist Dennis Kox everything about sound-damping earplugs.
Are earplugs healthy?
Sound-absorbing earplugs come in all shapes and sizes. They are made of beeswax, malleable or solid silicone, foam, or plastic. Is one earplug better for your ear than the other? And can earplugs do any harm if you use them a lot? ENT doctor Dennis Kox of the Five Lakes Clinic in Haarlem answers our questions.
“Silent earplugs can’t hurt your ears,” Kox begins. “Unless you are allergic, they cannot damage your ear canal. Even if you use them for years, it will not have a negative effect on your hearing organ.” What Kox sees more often is that something goes wrong with the ear because someone does not use earplugs. “I often have patients who have been at a pop concert or fireworks and have less hearing afterwards. While I’ve never had anyone in the clinic who had an earplug through their eardrum. What I did come across is that a malleable earplug was stuck in the ear. I had to figure that out with an operation.” But that’s not harmful either. “Everything you can put in your ear, you can take out.”
Are dirty earplugs bad for your ear?
The packaging of earplugs usually states how often you can reuse an earplug. What can happen if you don’t follow those rules? According to Dennis Kox, little happens then. “In theory, bacteria can grow in earplugs. But there are also bacteria in your ear. Earwax is not antibacterial, but it does ensure that dirt particles are collected. The inside of your ears is covered with skin. Putting a dirty earplug in your ear is just as bad as holding a dirty earplug in your hand.”
How often should you replace earplugs?
“It is important to replace earplugs regularly. But that mainly has to do with how it works. If a foam earplug becomes hard because of the dirt, they can’t dampen sound as well. Wax earplugs can break more easily after a few uses, causing a part to get stuck in your ear. Then you have to go back to the doctor to have your ears ejected. Check the packaging to find out how often you can use an earplug.”
How should you store earplugs?
In between uses, you can store the earbuds normally, says Kox. “You have special drying cabinets for hearing aids, but they are actually not necessary. Store in dry air is fine. For example on your bedside table.”
Earplug does not fit well or hurts
In principle, an earplug should not hurt. If so, the earbuds are probably too big or too tight. Then look for a different size earplugs, or earplugs made of softer material. You may also need to get used to the caps. Sore ears due to earplugs can’t hurt. But if it starts to hurt more and more and your ears become thick and red, then something is wrong. Also make sure that the type of earplug matches what you’re using it for. Noise-cancelling earplugs for concerts have filters that ensure that the music still sounds beautiful. For motorcycling, there are earplugs with filters that match. And earplugs for sleeping should not protrude too far. Can’t find noise-dampening earplugs that are comfortable and work well? Then visit a hearing care professional. They can advise you or make custom earplugs.
Do not put other objects in your ear
“There is one thing you absolutely must not do when it comes to earplugs. If a piece gets stuck in your ear, don’t mess around with all kinds of objects in your ear to get it out. “The ear canal is very thin and fragile,” explains Kox. “If you mess with devices here, you can damage it. This puts you at risk of an ear infection or a hole in your eardrum. In the event of a blockage, always go to the doctor to ask if he or she wants to remove the (piece of an) earplug.”