Hearing Protectors
Description
Hearing protectors are devices that are designed to protect a person’s hearing ability. These can be inserted into a person’s ear canal, or can cover the entrance of a person’s ear canal, or can cover a person’s entire ear. Hearing protectors are developed for preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). They protect the ears from high decibel levels. An earplug is a type of hearing protector designed for protecting a person’s hearing from loud sounds or the intrusion of dust, foreign bodies, water or excessive dust. Generally, earplugs are made up of moldable silicone or wax. An earmuff is also a hearing protector but consists of a metal or thermoplastic head-band, which fits over the head. There are two kinds of earmuffs, namely, acoustic earmuffs (ear defenders) and thermal earmuffs.
Types
Hearing protectors are classified as follows:
Specifications
The specification for hearing protectors include:
Battery
Microphone
Indicator
Volume control
Advantages
Some of the advantages of using hearing protectors are:
Weak sounds are amplified, thus hearing is enhanced
Blocks harmful noise of high frequency, but enables the passage of harmless sounds
Sudden noise impulses are shut out instantaneously
Applications
Hearing protectors have a broad range of applications:
Are worn during water sports and swimming
Are used to prevent tinnitus and hearing loss among other ailments
Are worn by musicians playing loud music
Are used by people while traveling in airplanes
Acoustic earmuffs are used by people working on construction sites
Thermal earmuffs are used in cold environments for keeping a person’s ears warm
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