Will frequent earplug use hurt my hearing?

Q. I work in a noisy environment and often reach for earplugs. Is that safe, or can it cause problems?

A. It’s generally safe to wear earplugs — even frequently — to protect your hearing from loud noise in any environment. Exposure to blaring sound can lead to permanent hearing loss. It’s caused by damage to the sensory cells in the ear or to nerves that send sound messages to the brain.

So you’re smart to be proactive about preserving your hearing. Just consider a few caveats:

If you normally have a lot of earwax, frequent earplug use may make it harder for the wax to naturally work its way out of the ear canal. That can dampen hearing, though not permanently.

If the earplugs are not inserted properly, they may not provide enough sound reduction for the noise level. That can give you a false sense of safety while still allowing harmful sound exposure.

If you have sound sensitivity, overusing earplugs for ordinary noise (like kitchen clean-up) can make those sounds harder to tolerate.

Try to keep earplugs clean (or use disposable earplugs) and make sure you insert them properly. Mention frequent use to your doctor, so he or she can check your ears for earwax buildup. And report any pain, pressure, drainage, or ongoing discomfort as soon as possible.

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