No. There is no hearing protection on the market that has the ability to block out all sound completely. We still hear through bone conduction via the mastoid bone, and some sound waves are still able to penetrate through hearing protectors, though reduced. The purpose of custom hearing protection is not to block all sound, but to reduce the correct amount of sound based on the environment you’re using it for. At times, those working in noise can be over-protected, which can impact safety and communication, so we do not recommend simply choosing the highest amount of sound reduction possible unless that is truly what you need. We are happy to help recommend what sound reduction and/or product would work best for your environment. Please call us if you have any questions.
Although some generic fitting hearing protection may state a higher NRR (noise reduction rating) than custom-fit hearing protectors, it is very common to not receive the actual NRR of generic earplugs due to an improper fit. Since there are typically only three sizes to choose from, many people may not receive efficient sound reduction when using generic fitting hearing protection. Custom hearing protectors fit your ears correctly, and will extend deeper into the ear canal than a generic piece can; resulting in better sound reduction.