What We Do

The size and shape of your earplugs can vary from something quite small that fits discreetly into the ear canal, to earplugs that fill the bowl of the ear. The style of the earplug is sometimes determined by the nature of the environment in which it is to be used. The same is true for the choice of earmold material, which is usually some type of vinyl or silicone. We will help choose the best style and material for your ears and for your needs.  They can also be more comfortable over time and can be cleaned with soap and water. They can be made in a variety of fun colors for easy recognition, also making them harder to misplace. They can even be linked by a cord, so that they always remain together and can hang around your neck when not in use. These cost a bit more than off-the-shelf hearing protection but the custom fit makes them a more personalized solution over time. As with off-the-shelf hearing protection, custom earplugs attempt to block as much sound as possible for maximum protection.

 Some people who share this need are:

• Musicians
• Sound-board operators
• Dentists
• Pilots
• Band teachers
• and many others…

Musician’s Earplugs are made the same way as custom earplugs, described above. However, unlike earplugs which are simply intended to reduce as much sound as possible, musician’s earplugs are designed to attenuate (reduce) sound in a very specific way. Musician’s earplugs reduce the level of the sound getting through to the ear canal, but attempt to maintain the frequency characteristics of the original signal. This allows musicians to play or sing along more easily, by hearing the sound as it was intended to be heard, only softer. This also makes them nice for concert-goers. Most custom-made musician’s earplugs use filters designed by Etymotic Research, and are identified by the initials ER (for Etymotic Research) followed by the decibel attenuation of the filters. Thus:

• 25 dB attenuating filters are called ER-25
• 15 dB attenuating filters are called ER-15
• 9 dB attenuating filters are called ER-9

The filters snap into the special custom molds and can be removed at any time so that the mold can be cleaned with soap and water. (The filter itself should not get wet.) Some musicians keep filter sets of various attenuation levels, so that they can use the level most appropriate to the venue. When we order your musician’s plugs, we will help you choose a level that is right for you. Although we generally refer to these as Musician’s Earmolds, the same product can be used for many others as noted above. Dentists, for instance, are regularly exposed to the shrill sound of high-speed drills, but need to communicate with patients and staff. Pilots are exposed to engine noise, but need to communicate with the flight crew and be prepared to hear radio communications. Band teachers spend years in concrete-walled classrooms with a cacophony of instrumentalists, but need to hear the questions and comments of their students. (Not to mention the noise during lunch duty in the cafeteria!) So although these are usually called musician’s earmolds, their use is certainly not limited to musicians. ​ Auditory Services will help you choose and obtain the right hearing protection for your needs. Your hearing is so important. Let us help you preserve it.