earplugs
Ear plugs (also hearing protection plugs , ear plugs ) are, depending on the material, more or less flexible objects for insertion into the ear canal to reduce the sound pressure level . They are a lightweight type of hearing protection .
They prevent excessive stress or damage (impact trauma , noise-related hearing loss ) to the inner ear from acoustic impulse or continuous sound events ( noise ) such as B. from noise at work or in the leisure area ( concerts , discos ), engine noise or the use of firearms . They are also used when playing noisy instruments (e.g. whistle , recorder head , ratchet , drums ).
Due to the natural curve of the external ear canal , the earplug is often not inserted deep enough. The ear canal can be stretched during insertion by pulling the auricle upwards with the other hand . Held in position for about ten seconds after insertion, the earplug expands again.
Regularly wearing ear plugs for long periods of time is controversial as it can encourage the multiplication of pathogens in the ear . If worn very often, it can also lead to over-sensitivity with regard to perception (reduced interference threshold, hyperacusis ). In addition, depending on the hardness of the material, irritation of the ear canal can occur.
As hearing protectors, earplugs are subject to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (PPE Regulation). They are assigned to Category III and therefore require an EU type examination and monitoring to check conformity with the type. A test principle of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) describes the testing of hearing protection products that are to be marketed in the EU .
Different types of earplugs
One distinguishes
- Single-use stoppers to be formed before use (e.g. made of wax-soaked cotton or foam).
- pre-formed plugs for single use.
- Ready-made plugs for multiple use (e.g. individually adapted plastic plugs, some with adjustable noise insulation or with a handle).
The plugs can be made of foam , soft plastic , wax , silicone , wool or wadding .
Simple wax or foam earplugs are often highly effective . However, they usually have a highly non-linear frequency response , which restricts speech intelligibility due to disproportionate attenuation of the high frequencies. Therefore, more expensive special models are offered for musicians, which are characterized by better linearity .
market
The market leader in Germany is the Hessian company Ohropax , and worldwide the Aearo Company (to 3M ) with the trade names EAR and Peltor . Other major manufacturers of simple earplugs are Bilsom , Moldex and Alpine .
Earplugs tin can
Earplugs wax balls
Earplug machine
Two different foam rubber ear plugs
Earplugs ( KIND ), 1980s in the Bundeswehr
Earplugs (Bilsom), 27 db noise cancellation
history
Earplugs have existed in human history since ancient times . The Greek poet Homer already described in the work Iliad how Odysseus tied the sailors of his ship to the masts while crossing the strait between Sicily and Italy to protect them from the sounds of the sirens and closed their ears with ear plugs.
In 1907 Max Negwer developed wax ear plugs and founded the Ohropax company . In 1916, the earplugs made by Ohropax even became part of the packs of the German soldiers who suffered from the noise of the artillery during the First World War .
See also
Web links
- www.patent-de.com - German translation of the earplug patent
Individual evidence
- ^ Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA): Principles for the testing and certification of hearing protectors according to the PPE regulation. Retrieved May 5, 2020 .
