Earplugs are the ideal option for people who cannot fall asleep when they hear sounds. There are loud children, honking horns, and loud apartments from surrounding people. Think of someone who lives in Manhattan, or someone who has children. Sleep is disturbed by sound and those who cannot properly function the next day because they did not get enough quality sleep do not appreciate their situations come morning. Thus, research suggests that people who hear earplugs when sleeping—sounding horns or shouting in the streets can lead to increased levels of stress and cardiovascular mortality over time. By avoiding these things, silence is golden and it begins with earplugs.
The purpose of earplugs is to ensure sound does not echo into a person’s ear canal. Made from silicone or foam or wax, earplugs can block anywhere from 20 to 30 decibels of sound. This is great for muffling what’s around but not fully blocking everything out—something that may alert hypervigilant people or even inability to hear alarms. Great for people who work night shifts yet have to sleep during the day, they are inexpensive and easily packable—one can include earplugs in their suitcase without concern, taking them on the run easily.
However, it’s not about just reducing noise—earplugs promote comfort in seemingly traumatic scenarios. Imagine being on a plane when a child is screaming five rows up—earplugs get rid of that nonsense. Therefore, some people crave earplugs to control their sleep efforts. But it may not be healthy. Let’s see the other side.
Drawbacks of Using Earplugs When Sleeping
Although earplugs seem fairly innocuous, having them every day can complicate matters. First is earwax and infections. When inserting an earplug into your ear, you are putting a foreign object in your ear canal. If your hands are dirty or the earplugs are riddled with bacteria, you can easily give yourself an ear infection. This is called otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear, which occurs when excess moisture mats down hair follicles within the ear canal. Symptoms for swimmer’s ear include itching, pressure and redness of the ear canal. No one wants this!
Furthermore, individual ears clean themselves naturally through excess wax production. Excess wax repels foreign particles and debris and keeps ears relatively clean but shoving an earplug deep within the ear canal continuously pushes wax deeper into the ear canal instead of letting it naturally fall out of the ear over time. This creates blockages that can lead to discomfort and poor hearing. Physicians note those who use earplugs more often than not have more complex earwax issues than those who do not use them ever at all which is why it’s smart to have safe ear cleaning strategies—never cotton swabs—to clear any excess dust days later after prior use.
Some people find it creates more anxiety since they can’t hear something important while simultaneously sleeping. There could be an emergency on the block or even in the house—a crying child that woke up in distress could also be a mother screaming for help. Earplugs don’t discriminate—they muffle all sounds regardless of good intentions or negative intentions. While most blocks mundane sounds, this plays into some paranoid minds’ concerns for not knowing what’s going on while sleeping. They may be warranted—especially if one is islanded at night and nobody could easily save anyone intruding on them at night or even in a family household where everyone is upstairs but that toddler gets locked in the bathroom downstairs.
Finally, there’s the concern of future use; will earplugs complicate my ear health? There hasn’t been any definitive answer suggesting that putting ear plugs into your ears daily will complicate future health. However, it stands to reason that those people who shove cloth-like foam plugs too deeply into their ears—even if they’re used every day—could irritate their ears or eardrums or create imbalances within their inner or outer ear structures.
Advantages of Sleeping with Earplugs
Despite all these risks, however, there are numerous advantages to wearing earplugs and they’re mostly associated with healthy sleeping patterns. When someone cannot sleep due to external sounds, they will wake up foggy-minded and moody as the day progresses. Sleep is crucial for mental and physical well-being and when an external disturbance ruins sleep, people are less trained than just what REM reconstruction delivers. Studies show those who have better access to undisturbed silence while trying to sleep at night have better nights of sleep—which means people process better during more profound sleep cycles—and less and grisly-transactional energies during the course of the day.
Earplugs are nonintrusive; they’re not like medications that cause side effects like dependency-induced grogginess; earplugs allow people to naturally combat problem without playing against their body’s natural chemistry and introducing further inhibitory compounds into their system while merely trying to do what’s best for them.
For people for whom insomnia caused by external sound stimulation is a valid concern, clarifying adjustments to nipping it in the bud does not create further challenges from potential dependencies—higher costs soundproofing one’s bedroom or financially induced white machines to combat potential pitfalls instead of immediate gains.
Earplugs also provide creative applications; they are not just for use in someone’s daily life. Travelers can enjoy earplugs as well—they won’t get kicked out of hotels for being obnoxious if they’re trying to fall asleep when chronic luggage-storers are snoring in hostel common rooms; like limited sounds, it’s easy to throw a pair in a suitcase and use it when discretion is necessary.
Finally, earplugs can save marriages! If one partner snores all night long and the other partner can’t live comfortably due to constant agita, at least there can be a pair of orange foam earplugs utilized to solve the situation without resentful relationships moving forward unless someone acknowledges how beautiful the other partner’s snoring is! Earplugs—when used properly—can save situations!
How to Properly Use Earplugs
If you’re worried about the dangers of earplugs mentioned above and want to toss your earplugs in the trash, wait. Many problems occur due to improper use so this should not be the case. First, wash your hands before putting earplugs in (or taking them out)—this decreases the chance of bringing bacteria into the ear canal. If foam earplugs are being used, they should be rolled between fingers, as small and as tight as possible for insertion so that they do not need to be shoved into the ear canal too deep to fit.
Buy the proper earplugs for your situation. Foam earplugs are a great cheap option, and while some disability tools are covered by the Affordable Care Act, earplugs should not be a problem purchased online or in stores at a cheap price, after several usages they should be thrown out. Longer lasting options include silicone or wax earplugs that can be rinsed with soap and water after a few uses (and let dry after cleaning). Make sure all earplugs are dry before reinserting as moisture leftover in the ear can create bacteria.
Insert earplugs gently. To insert an earplug, one must pull the earlobe up and outward, opening the canal before shoving down into the canal—this makes insertion intentional and careful. Earplugs should feel secure and cushioned once in ear but should never hurt. If they hurt, you inserted them too far. If they’re stubborn, don’t force them in; this will only irritate the ear canal. Be careful removing earplugs when waking up—they might pull some earwax with them, or cause discomfort.
Examine earwax growth often but not obsessively. It’s good to wipe down the outside of your ears with a warm washcloth now and again. But do not use Q-Tips—the inside of your ears does not need to be touched. However, if earwax is becoming compounded due to consistent use of earplugs, you may need to consult a doctor who can safely remove excess earwax but not damaged ears. Additionally, avoid using earplugs every night, a few nights a week should give your ears a rest.
Alternative Options for Earplugs
But what if earplugs are not for you? Perhaps you find earplugs cumbersome or the possibility of ear infections or wax buildup too detrimental to your sleep. Luckily, there are options in sound blocking that help people sleep.
One of the best options that work includes a white noise machine. These literally create white noise or other sounds, such as rain or crashing waves, to create a consistent sound that overtakes annoying distractions. The benefit of white noise machines is that they don’t go in your ears and they don’t completely block sounds—you can still hear your alarm in the morning or when a baby cries.
Another option that is a bit pricier is soundproofing your environment. When attempting to achieve a good night’s sleep, one should acknowledge that outside noises can be distracting and obnoxious. Adding heavy curtains or rugs helps absorb some sounds. Foam panels on windows also help absorb sounds from the outside. In addition, sealing gaps around window frames and door jambs minimizes an actual entry point for outside sound. While this may take more time and money than earplugs, it exists as a permanent solution for anyone who lives in a constantly noisy environment.
A third option is sleep ear muffs. This isn’t as popular, but still effective. Sleep ear muffs are similar to headphones in that they cover the outer ears and block sound; however, they’re soft and molded for sleeping purposes. They rest atop the ear and do not enter the ear canal, avoiding complications with infections or excessive earwax buildup over time. They’re great for people who are restless sleepers since they will stay on the ears better than earplugs may stay in place.
Finally, there are lifestyle changes one can implement to avoid earplugs. For example, going to sleep at an earlier hour may allow someone to fall asleep prior to their neighbor coming home from work or prior to traffic starting up at 5 am. Furthermore, employing relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or meditation may help center one’s mind such that sounds become less recognized and irritating over time. Take the time to consider what may work best for you.
What the Doctors Say About Earplugs
Overall, doctors and sleep specialists believe earplugs are safe for almost everyone—but in moderation—and as long as they’re used properly. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, earplugs can be used by anyone looking to quiet their environment for improved sleep, but caution should be exercised to ensure they’re clean and inserted appropriately so as not to cause avoidable infection or irritation.
Ear, nose, and throat physicians hold similar sentiments but warn of reuse if they’re dirty or to someone with compromised ear health. If inserting or removing earplugs causes pain, itchiness, or any other problems with hearing—when active or in the ear canal—you should avoid earplugs and go see a doctor. Some will suggest custom fitted earplugs for frequent users. These are molded to your ear, relieving pressure, and increasing comfort. While more expensive, they’re worth the investment for daily users.
Other ear, nose and throat doctors worry about them relying on earplugs. It shouldn’t be a medical issue to rely on earplugs to fall asleep, but it can get tricky for frequent travelers. As a compromise, use earplugs sparingly and apply feedback from your body and sleeping behavior to non-earplug sleep patterns to establish a potential tolerance.
Who Should Not Use Earplugs?
Not everyone can or should use earplugs. For anyone who’s had ear infections or challenges with ear hygiene or sensitivity, it’s best to avoid them. Specifically, chronic ear conditions like eczema or psoriasis may be aggravated by earplugs as material irritates any formed skin surface. Similarly, people with chronic wax buildup find that earplugs only further their problems.
Additionally, if you live with young children—parents or guardians—earplugs are not ideal. Should you miss a child’s whimper—or worse, someone else’s cry for help—you’re in trouble. Similarly, those who live alone or those who require awareness of alarms or phones ringing at night should avoid earplugs and instead seek out white noise machines or soundproofing.
Finally, if you’re someone who is forgetful about cleaning earplugs or has a difficult time with hygiene, you might want to consider another option. Unclean earplugs do more harm than good and nobody wants an ear infection ruining his/her/their week.
How to Make Earplugs Most Effective
The positive note is that all earplugs are not created equal. To avoid risk and make earplugs the most effective, choose wisely. Foam options are the most common. They do block sound (10-12 decibels) and are not meant for long-term reusable purposes. Silicone or wax styles are more long-term, durable and softer for sensitive ears. The most comfortable and best fit, yet most expensive option is the custom-molded option from a professional audiologist.
Also, be mindful of the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) which is always located on the packaging. The range is anywhere from 30-33 decibels and while it seems effective, you don’t always need the highest score. For snoring and automobile sounds, 20-25 should be enough. Too much sound prevention and you may feel cut off or miss important sounds.
Comfort is key. If earplugs are uncomfortable and feel too big or painful, you’ll never wear them. The best ones are made of soft, flexible materials that conform to your ear shape. There are brands that have thinner earplugs for sensitive canals and those with small ear canals. You may need to sample to see which creates the most comfort.
Earplug Myths Dispelled
There are a few earplug myths to dispel. The first concern is earplugs get stuck in ears. This scenario is incredibly unlikely. You will lose your earplug only if you try to, meaning you insert it so far into the canal without care that it goes too deep. People also think earplugs create tinnitus (ringing in the ears). This is not true, as long as they are used properly, and it’s not what’s found in studies. Instead, earplugs can reduce sounds that would create a person having tinnitus in the first place.
Some people think earplugs mean you cannot hear at all. This is false; earplugs, unless there is something wrong, should reduce sounds to the point of sleep but should still always allow someone to hear a fire alarm. Finally, some think earplugs are for young people only; this is not true — earplugs can be used by adults at any age, granted hygiene precautions are followed.
Conclusion
So is it bad to sleep with earplugs? It depends on your use. Sleeping with earplugs is a fantastic alternative to getting a good night’s rest in a high-decibel atmosphere when no other solution would allow for proper human functioning. They are inexpensive, easy to transport, tote and very useful in muffling sounds that may otherwise prevent you from going through necessary sleep cycles. For many, sleeping with earplugs offers sound sleep, when other alternative medications or expensive alternatives are not required. However, there are concerns related to infection, sound muffling, wax issues, etc. Yet many of these concerns can be resolved through safe usage—which includes appropriate cleaning, gentle insertion, and using the appropriate kinds.
Don’t want to use earplugs? White noise machines and soundproof solutions are just as effective. It’s whatever works for you and your daily routine. But if you usually have ear problems or happen to be sleeping with someone else who requires special attention, talk to a doctor before making this a regular practice. Generally, the use of earplugs is safe and effective—if one has common sense.
Now you’ll know when it’s time to insert the earplugs. Do you have a sound problem in your sleep environment? Can earplugs help you achieve the uninterrupted sleep you deserve? Try them out—just keep these tips in mind for a healthier, more peaceful evening!