Carolina Hearing Doctors provides a wide selection of custom hearing protection in North Carolina, fitted and recommended by licensed audiologists.

We hear a lot of loud noises every day. This can be from things like hunting, shooting, racing, listening to music, watching performances, and doing woodworking. Even when we do chores like using a chainsaw, fixing things at home, or vacuuming, it can be really loud.

These loud sounds can hurt our ears. Sometimes, just hearing a loud noise once can cause permanent hearing loss. But usually, the damage happens when we hear these loud noises over and over again.

Types of Hearing Protection

There are many kinds of hearing protection for different activities.

  • Active custom electronic hearing protectors:

These are good for hunting, racing, and musicians. They use electronics to protect your ears.

We highly recommend SoundGear Custom Fit electronic hearing protection. When you purchase through us, we are able to take impressions of your ears to ensure a comfortable and snug fit.

These are helpful when you need to hear people talking but still need protection from loud noises.

They are good for target shooting, working in noisy places, and some music activities.

These are the simplest and offer the most protection from all loud sounds.

To use most of these personal hearing protectors, you need to get ear impressions made in our office. This ensures a comfortable, secure fit.

Ready-made Hearing Protection

Ready-made hearing protection includes earplugs or earmuffs, which you can buy in stores. These help make loud sounds quieter so they don’t hurt your ears. They are easy to get and not too expensive.

But to ensure they work well and feel comfortable, you need to make sure they fit right. Also, consider what you are doing when you use them to pick the best type.

Earplugs are small, soft pieces that fit into your ears to protect against loud sounds. They are usually made from foam, silicone, or wax. Earplugs help make loud noises quieter, so they are great for concerts, construction sites, or even for sleeping better.

They are comfortable and easy to carry. You can get earplugs that you use once and throw away or ones that you can use many times. They come in different types to reduce noise at different levels, so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Semi-insert earplugs are earplugs connected to a band that goes around your neck or head. They are easy to use because you can quickly remove and insert them without losing them.

These earplugs are great for places where there is sometimes loud noise, like manufacturing floors or workshops. They help reduce noise and are comfortable to wear for a long time.

Earmuffs are devices you wear over your ears to protect against loud noises. They have ear cups connected by a headband, which creates a seal around your ears to block out sound. The ear cups are cushioned, and the headband can be adjusted for comfort, even if you wear them for a long time.

Earmuffs are great for noisy places like factories, shooting ranges, or construction sites. They reduce noise a lot but still let you hear what’s happening around you and talk to others nearby.

Custom Hearing Protection

Custom hearing protection means earplugs or earmolds made to fit your ears perfectly.

Because they are made just for you, custom hearing protection is more comfortable and fits better than store-bought ones. They offer great protection and are a good choice if you care a lot about your hearing health and comfort in noisy places.

But remember, custom hearing protection can cost more and may take more time to get compared to ready-made options.

Carolina Hearing Doctors’ audiologists can help you pick the best hearing protection for your needs and lifestyle.

Custom Earplugs
Style 49 earplugs are a top choice for musicians and concert-goers. They are also great for anyone who needs to hear well in noisy places. These earplugs are popular with music teachers, DJs, flight attendants,  bartenders,  servers, dentists, and dental workers. Style 49 earplugs fit inside your ear canal and are almost invisible.They reduce the volume but let you hear everything clearly. You can choose filters that reduce sound by 9, 15, or 25 dB.These earplugs come in different materials and colors. They cost $205, and this includes getting ear impressions and fitting.

Sleep plugs are soft and comfy earplugs made to help you sleep well by blocking out noise. They are made from foam or silicone and fit snugly in your ears. Sleep plugs reduce sounds like snoring, traffic, or noisy neighbors.

They are designed to be comfortable and not cause any pressure so that you can sleep soundly. These earplugs are great for people who wake up easily or need to sleep in noisy places.

Tunz Duo S from Soundgear requires custom ear impressions by a hearing professional.

In-ear monitors (IEMs) are small audio devices that fit inside the ear canal and provide high-quality sound. Musicians, audio engineers, and stage performers use them to hear themselves or the mix of sounds during live shows or recordings.

You can get IEMs custom-made to fit your ears or ones that fit most people. They block out other noises, provide clear sound, and let you have a personal audio experience. People like them because they are easy to carry, comfortable, and provide precise sound in different places.

Hearing Protection For All Lifestyles and Activities

Dr. Mills is knowledgeable about the different types of hearing protection and can help you choose the best one for your needs.

HUNTING

Style 39 Hearing Protection Earplugs are made for hunting and other places with loud, sudden noises. These earplugs have a full-shell design with a special valve that closes when it gets too noisy. This lets hunters hear clearly until they fire their weapon, and then it protects their ears from the gunfire.

The Tunz Duo from Soundgear requires custom ear impressions by a hearing professional.

Musicians need special hearing protection to keep their ears safe from loud sounds. Regular earplugs reduce too much sound, especially at low frequencies, which can change how they hear music and other performers. There are special products to fix this, like custom in-the-ear monitors, custom high-fidelity earplugs with acoustic filters, and generic flat-frequency response earplugs.

Dr. Mills is a musician and is very knowledgeable about these products. He can help you find the best options for great sound quality and strong hearing protection.

AQ Swim Molds are earplugs made for swimming or showering. They keep water out of your ears and block out sound really well. These earplugs come in many colors and color combinations and have a noise reduction rating of 27 dB.

Custom ear molds are personalized earpieces crafted to fit an individual’s ear shape and size precisely. Made from materials like silicone or acrylic, they provide a comfortable and secure seal, ideal for various applications such as hearing protection, hearing aids, or in-ear monitors. 

 

Custom ear molds offer superior noise isolation, enhanced comfort, and improved sound quality compared to generic alternatives. They are tailored through a process involving ear impressions taken by professionals, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance for the user’s specific needs.

Types of Custom Ear Molds

Custom ear molds offer several important benefits for individuals seeking personalized hearing protection or audio solutions. They are crafted to match the unique contours of each person’s ear, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit. This custom molding not only enhances comfort but also improves the effectiveness of the ear molds in providing protection or delivering sound.

Vinyl ear molds are custom-made earpieces made from soft vinyl material that fit snugly into your ear canal. They are used for hearing protection, communication devices, or hearing aids. Vinyl molds are comfortable and stay in place well, blocking out noise and preventing slippage.

The flexible vinyl makes them easy to put in and take out, and they are durable. These molds are made from impressions of your ears, so they fit perfectly and work great.

Silicone ear molds are custom-made earpieces made from soft silicone material that fit perfectly into your ear canal. They are used for hearing protection, hearing aids, in-ear monitors, or communication devices. Silicone molds are comfortable, stay in place well, and block out external noise.

Silicone is flexible and hypoallergenic, making it easy to put in and take out without irritating. These molds are made from impressions of your ears, ensuring they fit just right and work perfectly.

Acrylic ear molds are customized earpieces meticulously crafted from durable acrylic material to fit snugly into the ear canal. They are commonly utilized for hearing protection, hearing aids, or in-ear monitors. Acrylic molds offer a firm and secure fit, effectively attenuating external noise and minimizing the risk of displacement during use. The rigid nature of acrylic ensures longevity and stability while providing excellent sound isolation. These molds are individually tailored based on precise impressions of the user’s ear, ensuring superior comfort and functionality.

Custom Ear Protection | North Carolina

Carolina Hearing Doctors provides custom ear protection in North Carolina.

Dr. Mills is experienced with most forms of personal hearing protection and can provide direction on what is most appropriate for your particular needs.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment in either of our two convenient locations at Winston-Salem and Clemmons, NC.