Often, hearing loss is age-related. However, another leading cause of hearing loss is due to sudden or prolonged exposure to noise. If you know you will be in a noisy environment for any period of time, it’s vital to have hearing protection. Audiology Associates of Missouri offers many types of hearing protection for industrial workers and home/hobby use.
Because noise exposure causes hearing loss, it’s important to consider how often and what types of sounds you encounter. For example, lawn mowers, truck engines, motorcycles, garbage trucks, chainsaws, pneumatic drills, jet engines, rock concerts and gunshots all can lead to hearing loss. And there’s more – construction workers, factory workers, musicians, airline workers and others also are at risk of hearing damage. We offer custom earmolds and earplugs for the best possible protection against hearing loss.
Custom earmolds
Hearing aids often come with custom earmolds, but they’re not only used for hearing loss. Custom earmolds without hearing aids are designed to uniquely fit the contour of your ear, ensuring greater comfort and better protection. Earmolds can be solid or soft with different styles available, depending upon your noise exposure. The most popular style of earmolds are full-shell and half-shell. Full shell earmolds completely cover the interior portion of your outer ear, while half-shell earmolds fit just inside the lower portion of your outer ear.
Earmolds can completely block sound or can allow you to hear speech while still protecting your hearing. These specific types of earmolds are available in electronic and non-electronic models. They’re often used by musicians or TV newscasters. There also are earmolds designed specifically to fit over earbud headphones or under boom-mic sets for use in many professions.
Custom earplugs
You’re probably familiar with over-the-counter earplugs, especially the soft kind that you squeeze to fit into your ear canal. The skilled hearing experts at Audiology Associates of Missouri create custom earplugs for our patients that are made to uniquely fit your ear canal. Most people find custom earplugs are more comfortable than over-the-counter styles. Some custom earplugs block all sound while others allow some sound to pass through. They can be used to reduce your exposure to high-decibel events such as rock concerts or noisy chores (such as lawn mowing), on the job, or for sleeping. Custom earplugs also often are used by swimmers for ear protection.
Musician earplugs
Many musicians find that long-term exposure to sound along with higher volumes creates the need for hearing protection. However, there’s also a need to hear instruments and voices clearly. Specialized earplugs provide the protection needed by musicians and other professionals to reduce harmful sound volumes without distorting speech or music.
Musician earplugs can be ready-fit or custom fit. Ready-fit earplugs provide decibel reduction and still allow the user to hear conversation or singing. Custom-fit earplugs provide a high quality of sound with greater comfort and fit. They’re used by musicians, sound crews, recording engineers, band teachers, disc jockeys, airline workers, athletes and coaches, medical professionals and industrial workers.
In-ear musician monitors
These electronic models provide hearing protection while allowing musicians to hear the music exactly as the audience hears it. They’re often used in large venues to reduce distortion and crowd noise. Custom in-ear monitors are specifically fit to your unique ear shape while universal in-ear monitors provide a semi-custom fit by using interchangeable foam or silicone tips.
Our Custom Hearing Protection Products
Music:
providing clear sound at reduced decibel levels. This style is available in three filter options: 9dB, 15dB or 25dB.
Swimming:
these devices provide water-tight protection during swimming and showering as well as noise reduction. They are designed to float.
Sleep:
- Offers comfortable and uninterrupted rest.
- Great for shift workers and credited with saving many relationships!
Motorsport:
specifically designed with a hollow canal for use under a helmet, these also help reduce wind buffeting.
Surf:
providing protection against surfer’s ear and swimmer’s ear, which can be caused by exposure to wind and cold water. These also float and allow the user to hear conversations.
Occupational:
these devices are available for anyone working in high-noise environments or places with long-term exposure to loud noise.
iCustom:
For use with any bud/button style earphones.
Hunting:
we offer several choices of hearing protection for hunters exposed to sudden noise. A filter allows for normal hearing and instantly closes when exposed to damaging noise levels.
DefendEar 1:
this style provides amplification for situational awareness and immediately deadens the noise (attenuation) when you pull the trigger.
DefendEar 2:
this style provides protection in two modes: Game Mode for intermittent shots and Clay Mode for continued shots.
DefendEar Hunter:
this style provides increase protection when firing larger caliber firearms (Normal Mode) and reduces wind noise when shooting in windy conditions (Wind Reduction Mode).
When it comes to your hearing, your first choice is Audiology Associates of Missouri. We offer custom solutions to fit your needs. If your work or play involves exposure to loud sounds, it’s time to see our hearing experts for a hearing check and hearing protection.