How Am I Supposed to Get Any Sleep?
Written: Mar 14 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Blocks out TV and snoring when I am trying to sleep
Cons: Also blocks out the kids
The Bottom Line: Ear plugs are a lot cheaper than adding on another bedroom to our house!
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| mmcphee's Full Review: MAX Foam Ear Plugs (NRR 33) |
My husband and I have drastically different sleeping habits. He wants to have the TV on until he falls asleep. Me, I want I nice dark room with the only noise coming from my white noise machine, which my husband hates. In search of a compromise I purchased MAX Foam Ear Plugs.
In and Out
MAX Foam Ear Plugs are orange cordless ear plugs, but there is a corded style available. These are shaped ear plugs meaning they are narrow at the insertion end, the diameter slowly increases and flairs out at the other end. To use roll the ear plug gently between your fingers, pull back on your ear and gently insert the plug into your ear canal. Hold the ear plug in place until the plug expands to the shape of your ear canal, you will probably hear the foam crackle slightly as it expands. Once the soudns of the Rice Krispies stop the ear plug should be snug in your ear and you should notice a drop in sound. When you are done pull them out gently.
My Experience
MAX Foam Ear Plugs have a Noise Reeducation Rating (NRR) of 33, which is the maximum theoretical attenuation when used properly. What does all that? I could explain it, but why bother? In more relative terms, I cannot hear the television when played at a reasonable but quiet volume, I have to struggle to hear my husband talking to me in bed, it almost completely blocks out his snoring and I cannot hear the kids down the hall; that presents a problem. My husband is an extremely sound sleeper and doesn't hear them either. Fortunately the child most likely to wake up in the middle of the night is also mostly likely to walk down the hall and poke me until I wake up. Since, however, my wearing ear plugs is a compromise when I wake up at night I pull the ear plugs out, put on my white noise machine and go back to sleep.
My 10 pack of ear plugs comes with a small container to hold one pair, which is especially good for travel. These are labeled as disposable, but that does not mean you only get one use out of them. I find they last about two weeks before I need to replace them. When I can start to hear the TV with them in I know it is time to throw these out and pull out a new pair. With repeat use the foam starts to lose some of its expansion properties so sounds starts to leak through.
The ear plugs are reasonably comfortable. I certainly notice them since they exert a bit of pressure on my ear canal, but I do get used to that a few minuets after I have put the ear plugs in. One thing that bothers me about any ear plugs in a quiet environment is my mild tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is far more pronounced when all of the ambient noise is blocked out. But ear plugs aren't only for sleeping. They are a good idea around any noisy machinery such as a lawn mower.
Final Thoughts
I selected MAX Foam Ear Plugs because they had the highest NRR in a disposable ear plug at CVS the day I was there. I wanted to make sure they worked and I didn't mind sleeping in them before I considered purchasing longer lasting ones. The 5 pairs cost me about $3 and I have used two pair in a month. Before considering separate rooms give MAX Foam Ear Plugs a try!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mmcphee
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Member: Mary Ellen
Location: Nutmeg State
Reviews written: 1144
Trusted by: 222 members
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Swine Flu has left the building!
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