Custom hearing protection: for work, music, sleep, water and hunting

In short

Custom hearing protection is an earmould made from an impression of your ear canal. It seals, does not press and can be worn for hours. With the right filter it protects at work, at concerts, when hunting, swimming or sleeping. For noisy workplaces the employer often covers the cost.

Why custom instead of foam

Foam plugs from the chemist protect when they sit correctly, and that is exactly where it usually fails: they are not inserted deep enough, they work their way out, they press after an hour. And they dampen all tones equally, so voices become muffled. An earmould is made for your ear canal. It sits the same every day, goes in with one movement and lasts for years. The filter inside decides how much and which sound gets through.

Which hearing protection for what

Work and noise

From an average of 85 decibels a day, hearing protection at the workplace is mandatory. Workshop, building site, farming, metalworking, vehicle hall: what counts here is attenuation to DIN EN 352, in a way that still lets you hear colleagues and warning signals. We choose the filter to match the noise level at your workplace. Many employers cover the cost; we issue the certificate.

Music

Anyone who makes or listens to music wants it quieter, not duller. Musician filters attenuate all frequencies equally, usually by 9, 15 or 25 decibels, and the sound is preserved. For choir, band, orchestra, DJ desk and concert visits.

Sleep

Snoring next door, the road outside the window, night shifts sleeping by day: sleep protection is soft, flat and without a filter so it does not press when lying on your side. The alarm clock still gets through.

Water

Swim protection keeps water out of the ear canal: for children with grommets, for adults prone to ear canal infections or after ear surgery. It floats, in a bright colour, so it can be found again at the pool.

Hunting and shooting sports

A gunshot is around 140 decibels and damages the inner ear in an instant. Impulse filters let quiet sounds through and close at the bang. For hunting there are also electronic versions that amplify ambient sounds.

Motorcycling

Wind noise inside a helmet exceeds 100 decibels at motorway speed. A motorcycle filter takes out the roar and keeps the satnav audible.

How your earmould is made

1. Impression: we look into the ear canal with the video otoscope and take an impression with soft silicone. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
2. Manufacture: a laboratory makes the earmould from silicone or acrylic, with the filter we chose together.
3. Fitting: at the second appointment we check fit and seal, for noise protection also the attenuation, and show you insertion and care.

Care

Wipe with a damp cloth in the evening, bathe in cleaning tablets once a week, keep the filter dry. If your ear canal changes, for instance after major weight loss, we make a new earmould. In between we check the fit free of charge, without an appointment, in every shop.

What it costs

Custom hearing protection is not covered by statutory insurance, except where medically necessary, for example swim protection with grommets. For noisy workplaces the employer usually pays. We quote the price in the consultation; it depends on material and filter. More on the variants is on our hearing protection page.

Book an appointment for the impression in Glückstadt, Horst, Wedel, Barmstedt or Itzehoe. Your hearing gets one chance; hair cells do not grow back.