Custom musician earplugs: Are they worth the investment?
Numerous professions face risks from excessive noise exposure, including workers in the construction, manufacturing, and aviation sectors. In these industries, the use of protective equipment such as earmuffs and earplugs is critical to prevent noise-induced hearing damage.
Individuals working in the music industry also regularly experience high-intensity sounds for extended periods of time, placing them at significant risk for hearing impairment. This poses a unique challenge to musicians, as preserving their hearing capacity is particularly crucial since auditory acuity forms the foundation of their craft. Research audiologist Michael Santucci, AuD, captures this paradox perfectly: "The great irony of being a musician is that the sound produced—the very essence of the musical experience—represents a long-term health risk to the artist."
While hearing protection remains vital for safeguarding this essential ability, traditional solid earplugs present a dilemma; they can compromise musical performance by altering sound quality and reducing or muffling high frequencies. A significantly more expensive option to generic earplugs is custom moulded earplugs - but are custom musician earplugs worth it?
Table of contents
Here's a quick guide to custom musicians earplugs, and whether or not they might be worth it for you specifically:
TL;DR
1. What Are Custom Musician Earplugs?
2. Why Do Musicians Use Custom Ear Plugs?
4. Are Custom Made Ear Plugs Worth the Price?
5. Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Custom Hearing Protection?
6. How Are Ear Impressions Taken?
7. FAQs
8. Conclusion
What are custom musician earplugs?
Custom musicians’ earplugs are tailor-made to fit the wearer’s exact ear canal anatomy. An audiologist will take impressions of the ear canals which are sent to the manufacturer, who will create bespoke plugs based on this shape from flexible silicone. The plugs will have a small vent into which different acoustic filters can be placed to attenuate the sound reaching the eardrums. The filters lower the different frequencies more evenly, so as to reduce the overall sound dosage, without distorting the integrity of the sound.
Why do musicians use these custom earplugs?
Musicians face regular exposure to high intensity sounds throughout performances, rehearsals, and recording sessions, significantly increasing their risk of developing audiological problems including hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis (heightened sensitivity to loud sounds). Custom earplugs provide superior protection against these extreme sound levels while maintaining better sound quality compared to standard foam earplugs or earmuffs. This allows instrumentalists, vocalists, DJs, and other performers to hear with greater fidelity while keeping sound exposure within safer ranges.
Benefits of custom-fit earplugs
While generic foam, plastic, or putty earplugs offer a convenient and affordable hearing protection option, their one-size-fits-all design presents significant limitations. Musicians with smaller or more curved ear canals often struggle to achieve a comfortable fit, while those with larger ear canals may find that generic plugs fail to stay securely in place or provide adequate protection due to poor sealing.
Custom-fit musician plugs address these challenges by offering a tailored hearing protection solution. Crafted from soft, medical-grade silicone and moulded specifically to the individual’s ear canal anatomy, these plugs deliver optimal comfort, security, and hearing safety. This precise fit ensures reliable protection even during energetic performances that involve extensive movement.
Are custom-made earplugs worth the price?
Understandably, anything “custom” comes with a higher price-tag than something that can be purchased off the shelf. At Hobart Hearing Care, a pair of custom musicians’ earplugs is valued at $250, and the appointment cost is $75. Each set of musician’s earplugs includes one set of filters (choice of 10dB, 15dB or 25dB). Additional sets of filters can be purchased for $120/pair and can be swapped in and out of a single pair of musicians’ earplugs – this provides options for musicians who may play different instruments or prefer different levels of protection during practice versus performance. While custom-made earplugs are more expensive than basic plugs, for professional musicians spending long periods in loud music, these will offer the best level of protection, comfort, retention and fidelity, and will usually last 12-24 months.
If music is part of your profession, this could also be claimed as a tax deduction. For musicians who are beginners, those pursuing music as more of a casual hobby, or for those on a tighter budget, generic hearing protection plugs are still an excellent option. At the end of the day the best hearing protection is the one that you will wear – finding an option that you are comfortable with is the most important thing, and any hearing protection far better than none at all.
Who should (and shouldn’t) use custom hearing protection?
Custom musicians’ plugs are suitable for a range of professions and pastimes, including musicians, music teachers, producers, backstage crew/technicians, students or anyone playing live music regularly. If you’ve had difficulty with universal earplugs in the past, whether it be difficulty inserting them or trouble with retention, custom earplugs are an excellent option, as they provide a perfect fit for your ear.
For those who are just starting their music career, playing infrequently, or on a tight budget, over-the-counter hearing plugs may be a better option. Also, if you have had major ear surgery in the past, it is important to let your audiologist know before they take the impression. Those with mastoid cavities will require packing of the cavity before an impression is taken, and it may not be safe for you to proceed with the impression.
Individuals working in other fields who are subject to loud noises (e.g. construction) may also benefit from custom hearing protection plugs. However, given the aim of hearing protection in these industries is to block out the maximum noise possible, solid custom plugs would be a more suitable option (i.e. with no acoustic filter). Hobart Hearing Care can also assist with these type of plugs!
How are ear impressions taken?
Ear impressions are 3D imprints of your ear canal that are used to model your custom ear moulds from. First, the audiologist will examine your ear canals using otoscopy. If you have significant wax in your ears, it may be recommended that this is removed first, so the impression material does not push the wax in deeper. If everything is clear, a small foam or cotton ‘stopper’ will be inserted into each of the ear canals to stop the impression material going too deep into the ear. The audiologist will then mix the impression material which is inserted into the ear canals (it is a green putty, and it can feel a little cool in the ears). This takes 5 minutes to set, after which the audiologist will remove the solid impressions, and inspect the quality before posting to the manufacturers.
Your audiologist will ask some questions about your preferences, including colour (clear is most readily available, although sometimes brighter colours are available), whether you want a connecting cord between the plugs, which filters you would like (10dB, 15dB or 25dB – the larger the number, the more sound is cut out). Once the impressions are posted, your custom earplugs generally take about 3 weeks to arrive. Hobart Hearing Care will generally send you a text to let you know they’ve arrived, and then we book a fitting appointment to check the fit, make sure you’re comfortable with how to insert and remove the plugs, and talk about cleaning and caring for your plugs.
Other common musicians’ earplugs questions you may have
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Musicians’ earplugs have a filter, which allows some sounds to be passed through to the eardrum; regular earplugs are solid and do not have a filter, to attenuate the maximum amount of sound (these are best used in noisy workplaces such as construction sites).
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No, in-ear monitors need to be custom made separately to your musicians’ earplugs. Please give us a call to discuss the options, as we may need to check with our manufacturers ahead of time to ensure they can manufacture something compatible with your chosen technology.
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Your custom-moulded earplugs should last for 12 months but will often last longer (up to 24 months). You may need new earplugs after 24 months as your ear canals can change shape over time and may become too tight or lose.
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Custom earplugs typically take 3 weeks to arrive after the impression appointment – we will send you a message or give you a call to book the follow up appointment.
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All earplugs will change the sound quality and frequency range to some extent, including musicians’ earplugs; however musicians’ earplugs have acoustic filters designed to reduce the impact on the music quality and provide a more true sound. Solid plugs tend to reduce the high frequency sounds more.
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If you are often subject to loud music exposure – whether it be from playing or simply enjoying music – these plugs are suitable for you.
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Musicians’ earplugs should not be used for swimming, as the filters may be damaged by water. Solid custom earplugs are recommended for sleep, swimming and general noise reduction, as they will keep out the most sound. Solid sleep plugs, swimming earplugs and hearing protection plugs are also available at Hobart Hearing Care!
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On the day you pick up your custom earplugs, you have 60 days’ to return them for a re-make if they are too tight, too loose, or uncomfortable.
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Your earplugs may be washed with warm water and gentle soap; however always remove the acoustic filters prior to washing, as these must remain dry. The filters can be cleaned with a dry brush.
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The following provides a rough recommendation from GN Resound:
10dB: Vocalists, guitarists, people who attend regular chamber music concerts in small rooms.
15dB: Classical musicians, guitarists, bass players and live concert goers.
25dB: Drummers, percussionists, rock musicians and regular live concert goers.
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Our custom earplugs are all manufactured using high quality materials by GN Resound.
Conclusion
Custom musicians’ earplugs are a great investment for musicians to protect one of their most important assets - their hearing - without compromising the fidelity of the music they are listening to. They are also usually the most secure option and provide maximum comfort for people needing to wear hearing protection for long periods of time - especially if you have struggled with universal plugs in the past. However, for many, over-the-counter options provide a great alternative; particularly for those playing infrequently or more budget conscious. Regardless of which option you choose to protect your hearing - any hearing protection is always a better choice than none at all.
References
1. Santucci, M. (2009). Protecting Musicians from Hearing Damage: A Review of Evidence-based Research. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 24(3), 103–107. https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2009.3023