Hearing protection
Understanding noise and how to protect your hearing
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent — but it’s also one of the few kinds you can almost entirely prevent. This guide explains how loud is too loud, how noise does its damage, and what to look for in the right protection.
How loud is too loud?
Sound is measured in decibels
Every rise of 10 decibels (dB) sounds roughly twice as loud — and the louder a sound, the less time it takes to cause harm. At 85 dB, damage can build over a work day. At 95 dB it can begin in about two hours; at 110 dB, in minutes.
The good news: just 10 dB of protection can turn that risky two-hour limit into a safe twelve. Use the scale to see where the sounds in your life fall.
| 165 dB | 12 Gauge Shotgun Blast | |
| 140 dB | Jet Engine | |
| 110 dB | Chainsaw, Jackhammer, Snowmobile, Motorcycle | |
| 105 dB | Rock concert, power saw | |
| 100 dB | Impact Wrench, Bulldozer, Spray Painter, Tractor | |
| 95 dB | Damage can begin in about two hours | |
| 90 dB | Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss | |
| 60 dB | Normal Conversation | |
| 30 dB | A quiet library | |
| 0 dB | Faintest sound audible to human ear |
Why it matters
How noise harms your hearing
Understanding what’s happening inside your ear is the best reason to protect it early.
It adds up over time
Damage builds with every loud exposure — a concert here, a mower there — long before you notice any change.
It doesn’t grow back
Loud noise destroys the tiny hair cells deep in your inner ear, and unlike skin or bone, they never regenerate.
It’s often painless
There’s usually no ache to warn you — the first sign is often ringing in the ears or missing words in a crowd.
The options
Four ways to protect your ears
From budget foam for the odd loud weekend to custom electronic protection you can still hear through — there’s a fit for every level of exposure.
Electronic Ear Plugs
Active protection that blocks harmful noise while you still hear.
View details →
Foam vs custom
Why a custom fit protects better
A protector’s rating only counts if it seals properly. That’s where the printed NRR on a box of foam can mislead — and where custom-moulded plugs pull ahead.
A better, lasting seal
Moulded to your ear, custom plugs block noise more consistently than one-size foam that shifts and loosens.
They keep their rating
Foam compresses and leaks within minutes; a lab’s NRR rarely holds up in the real world — a custom fit does.
Comfortable for hours
A personal fit you can wear through a full shift, concert or hunt without the soreness of jammed-in foam.
Custom fitting
Protection made for your ears
When you’re ready, book a fitting and we’ll take a quick, comfortable ear impression, talk through your exposure, and match you with the right level of protection.
