Earplugs Too Deep in the Ear: What to Know
It rarely happens that earplugs end up too deep in the ear. We explain in which situations this can occur and how to prevent it.
Take the next step for your hearing
Good earplugs keep you protected against hearing damage and tinnitus. Of course, they need to be used the right way. It is important that the hearing protectors are placed correctly in the ear. But is it actually possible to push earplugs too deep into the ear?
Earplugs too deep in the ear
It does not happen often that an earplug ends up too deep in the ear, but it is possible. Cotton wool balls in particular can sometimes be pushed too far into the ear canal.
Most other types of earplugs will not easily go in too deep unless you push very hard. With standard earplugs (the one-size-fits-all kind), however, it can happen that a piece breaks off and then ends up too deep in the ear canal. How quickly this happens depends somewhat on the quality of the earplug.
If a piece of earplug ever does get stuck in the ear canal, it is always advisable to consult a doctor and not to start poking around in the ear canal yourself. You can find more about this here.
Custom-made earplugs
With custom-made earplugs, it is virtually impossible to push them too deep into the ear. These earplugs are shaped to fit the user’s ear canal exactly, which means they can only go in so far. Under normal use it is therefore not possible to push them in too far, unless a great deal of pressure is applied.
Another way a custom-made earplug could still end up too deep in the ear is when a piece of it has broken off. That is why it is not advisable to use a broken or torn earplug.
Fortunately, the risk of earplugs ending up too deep in the ear is fairly small, especially when you use custom-made earplugs. Using earplugs is in any case not bad for your ears, provided they are used correctly. You can read more about this in this article from our knowledge base.
