How are Custom Molded Earplugs Made?

All over the world, millions of people are affected by hearing loss. From ear infections to injuries to types of medication to complications at birth to certain neurological factors, there are a whole lot of different reasons why hearing loss can impact many people’s lives.

However, the most common cause of hearing loss for many people is being exposed to loud noises for an extended period of time. When most people think about the need for ear protection they think about things like clubs or loud gigs, and that’s certainly true. However, there are also plenty of other situations that can cause hearing loss. People who work in manufacturing and construction can often spend a lot of time working in loud environments which can present the risk of damage to their ears and hearing loss. Likewise, the same applies to those who work in performance-based careers. However, it’s a risk to assume that hearing loss can impact everyone in one way or another. We all find ourselves in environments where there is the chance of your hearing being damaged at times.

Because of that, the best thing that you can do is to make sure that you always have your ears properly protected using earplugs. There are a lot of different earplugs available, but for many people there is no beating custom earplugs. Custom molded earplugs are made based on the shape and size of the wearer's ears. 

This means that they are often far more comfortable and effective as cutting out harmful sounds than many standard, disposable earplugs. We will discuss how they are made and why they are more effective than the disposable alternative.

How are custom molded earplugs made?

The first and most important thing that needs to happen when creating custom molded earplugs is for an impression, or mold to be taken of the ear canal. This allows for the earplugs to be made in such a way that they are able to fit perfectly into your ears. 

These impressions are taken by trained professionals. A dam is created in the ear canal and then the canal is filled with the impression material. After it is set, the impression material is carefully removed from the ear in such a way that ensures that there are no creases. It is carefully inspected before being packaged and sent to a laboratory for fabrication.

In recent years there have been many changes to the way that custom molded earplugs are made. It is becoming more and more common for audiologists to use laser scanners to make a digital image of the impression and that image is then sent to the laboratory to make the mold from which the earplug is made. 

This means that it’s possible to make as many molds as possible from a single image. This means that it is easier than ever for people to get custom molded earplugs, especially after having their initial impressions taken. 

Why choose custom molded earplugs?

There are a lot of factors that make custom molded earplugs superior to disposable foam plugs. However, a lot of people are unsure because of the potential increase in price. However, the benefits more than make up for the value. 

For one thing, they are far more comfortable than disposable earplugs. Because they are specifically molded to fit your ears, they aren’t going to be exerting the same kind of pressure that a lot of disposable earplugs can cause. Instead, they fit snugly enough that they won’t move around or let in any excess sound, but they will often be comfortable enough that it’s easy to forget that you’re even wearing them. 

Custom earplugs are often far more hygienic than foam earplugs because they aren’t porous and therefore don’t absorb moisture. Disposable earplugs can raise the risk of things like ear infections whereas custom molded earplugs are often antibacterial. Not only that but they’re also far longer-lasting by definition than disposable earplugs. 

This means that they’re not only more convenient than disposable earplugs but it means that they can also often end up costing you a lot less in the long-run despite the potentially higher initial price point.

If you have any questions about protecting your hearing or want any more information on hearing loss, you can learn more by getting in touch with Brentwood Hearing Center at (615) 866-0431