Earplug
From Free net encyclopedia
An earplug is a protective device that is meant to be inserted in the ear canal to protect the wearer's hearing from loud noises or the intrusion of water or excessive wind.
Image:Disposable foam earplugs.jpg
Hearing protection
This kind of protection is often worn by industrial workers who work within hearing distance of loud machinery for long periods of time. Musicians who perform music styles noted for their loud nature, especially rock music, often wear earplugs to prevent their own performances from deafening them. Earplugs are rated with "Noise Reduction Ratings" or NRRs (Sound Reduction Ratings, or SNR, in the European Union), which provide a guide to the noise protection, in decibels, afforded by the device.
Some earplugs are made of a soft foam material that is typically rolled into a tightly compressed cylinder (without creases) by the wearer's fingers and then inserted in the earcanal. Once released, the earplug expands until it seals the canal, blocking the sound vibrations that reach the eardrum. Other plugs simply push into the ear canal without being rolled first. Sometimes earplugs are connected with a cord to keep them together when not in use.
Other devices that provide hearing protection include electronic devices worn around and/or in the ear, designed to cancel out the loud noise of a gunshot, while possibly amplifying quieter sounds to normal levels. While rich in features, these electronic devices carry a price over one hundred times their foam counterparts.
Since they reduce the sound volume, earplugs are often used to help prevent hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears), amongst other ailments.
Protection from water
Some earplugs are primarily designed to keep water out of the ear canal, especially during swimming. These may be made of wax or silicone which is custom-fitted to the ear canal by the wearer. Ear plugs may also be made using a piece of Blu-tack molded to a round shape, or cotton wool with petroleum jelly.Template:Fact
These plugs also provide some sound dampening.
See also
es:Tapones para los oídos he:אטמי אוזניים pt:Protetor auricular fi:Korvatulppa