Is there such thing as earplugs that wrap around the ear?

Posted , 3 users are following.

I struggle to fall asleep at the best of times but I have to wake up early for work and live on a busy noisy street with drunk people singing, shouting, screaming outside on their way home. I usually wear foam earplugs to block out the noise but they've started to make my ears sore and it's not bearable to have them in so I'm not able to block out the sound. I've also had an ear infection and blocked ears as a result of using earplugs! 

I've tried silicone earplugs but didn't get along with them, couldn't get them to mould right and usually they'd end up getting stuck in my hair lol.

So I was basically wondering does anyone know of any products that wrap around your ear and block out noise, as opposed to earplugs that go into your ear? Kind of like what builders wear but that would be comfortable to sleep in!

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Bluebird,

    I've had some obnoxious neighbors before too. I found that a fan works best. The constant drone it produces drowns out other noise, but since the pitch or volume or the fan never changes, it shouldn't disturb you.

  • Posted

    I doubt there's any material thin enough that has the sound attenuation needed to the do the job that way. 

    I used to live in a flat where the constant hum from the fridge/freezer in the flat above practically drove me nuts.

    I tried wax ones which you can mould to the correct shape – I didn't get on with them, but they might be better while your ears are sore. Apparently the French, who seem to have more problems living in apartments than most, are very fond of their "boules Quiès" – so much so that they are pretty well the French term for earplugs.

    Using foams ones my ears did get sore sometimes. I used to have about three pairs on the go at a time with two of the pairs drying out after being "washed" in the hand with neat hair shampoo or shower gel (and possibly antiseptic disinfectant) and thoroughly rinsed – of course, getting them dry is important to avoid soreness developing. I did use chain chemists ones but eventually found I could buy them more cheaply on  a well known Internet auction site with varying degrees of firmness. The differing pressure on my ears from the differing degrees of firmness may have given some helpful variation to the situation.

  • Posted

    Its horrible not being able to sleep without ear plugs or fans..I'm the same way.

    I do like the silicone ones....I mold them to go into the eardrum.....I couldn't use the foam ones....they were infecting my ears as well.

    But it seems the only thing that works...is Melatonin for me...a fan and my silicone ear plugs.....Melatonin is not sold OTC in the UK....

    It is the US.

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