Earplugs (to keep sound out)

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Richard Fangnail - 28 Nov 2007 17:29 GMT

If you use earplugs to keep noise out while you're sleeping - have you
found that some work better than others? Sometimes they irritate the
ear or fall out while sleeping.

In terms of physics, shouldn't the plug be as long as possible to
block more sound waves? Yet being longer would cause them to fall out
more.

They make ones that cover the ear rather than go inside the ear, but
I've read that they fall off.

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Larry Bud - 28 Nov 2007 20:52 GMT

> If you use earplugs to keep noise out while you're sleeping - have you
> found that some work better than others? Sometimes they irritate the
> ear or fall out while sleeping.

I've used the foam ones that you roll into a thin tube, then quickly
insert into the ear, they expand out. I've never had them fall out.

> In terms of physics, shouldn't the plug be as long as possible to
> block more sound waves? Yet being longer would cause them to fall out
> more.

I think there's a point of diminishing returns. Your head transmits
sound very well, which is why your voice sounds different to yourself
than when hearing it on a recording.

Even if you could block 100% of the sound entering the ear canal,
you'll still be able to hear sounds. It's just a matter of blocking
most of the sound.

And this is my main complaint with earplugs: I end up hearing MYSELF
rather than outside noises. Every breath I take sounds like it's
amplified.

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