Earplugs - Not Just For Swimming

When we think about earplugs it might be that swimming lessons spring to mind, with the teacher barking instructions at you, which simply sound muffled due to the earplugs in your ears.  There is, of course, a valid reason why we are encouraged to wear earplugs when we swim.  The main reason is that we can very easily pick up an inner ear infection.  This might sound like a minor inconvenience, but for those who have had the misfortune of suffering from this affliction, they will soon testify, that, depending on the severity of the infection, it has caused them many a sleepless and pain filled night. 

The inner ear is connected to the rest of our face, head and shoulders, and so any movements, or resulting throbbing can be very painful.  This can have a negative effect on our everyday lives.  So, how can we avoid getting the dreaded ear infection?  Earplugs in the pool are the answer, and not only do they stop infections flowing in to our ears, they are also a nice way to stop water getting in full stop.  We have all had the embarrassing experience of water just openly dripping from our noses after we have been swimming.  Earplugs are the answer.

Earplugs aren't solely for preventing infection; they are also a very useful tool for protecting our ears from another potentially harmful force. In this case, noise can cause the ear an enormous amount of lasting damage, especially if we are exposed to it on a regular basis. Our ears are like any other part of the body, in that they react poorly to shock.  The shock element here being loud noises, and not necessarily on the audible scale either. Some noises can inflict permanent damage to the inner ear, leaving us with chronic ailments such as tinnitus, which sadly never goes away. Wearing earplugs can help to minimise the amount of harm that comes to individual's ears. 

There are a wide range of different earplugs available on the market, the afore-mentioned specialist swimming versions being just one variety.  There are also specially designed noise limiting earplugs that are a mandatory requirement in some industries.  Working near to heavy industrial machinery for a long period of time can lead to various hearing problems, though luckily the risks can be minimised by wearing earplugs.

And then there are the standard, easy to get your hands on, earplugs that one might pick up online or in the local chemists. These are the perfect solution for a number of noise related situations. For example you may be working a night shift, which requires you to sleep during the day. Having a pair of earplugs to hand can mean the difference between a good day's sleep or a poor one.  The same can be said if you live in a flat and the next door neighbours are particularly loud at the weekend; rather than being a party pooper, popping on your earplugs might be the solution to a good night's rest.

~ 31 October 2011~