• Earplugs may not be much safer than the sounds they block.red earplugs image by Christopher Niemann from Fotolia.com
  
  Long-term exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing impairment or even serious hearing loss. Because of this, some individuals and workers in particular industries, including music and manufacturing, rely on earplugs to block loud sounds and protect their eardrums. However, earplugs themselves are not perfect, and long-term use can damage a person's ear health.
  
  

Improper Use

• One of the most common dangers of earplugs stems from improper use. Because the plugs block out all noise, including sounds such as voices, some people only partially insert the earplugs, thereby negating their protection and still allowing sounds to affect the ears.
  
  

Blockage

• The condition in which your inner or outer ear becomes inflamed is known as ear canal infection or otitis externa. According to the Health 24 website, this infection has several possible causes from swimming to weather and even prolonged usage of earplugs. Earplugs can irritate the ears as well as push wax into the canal, creating a blockage that leads to infection. Wax blockage can also result in the buildup of fungus, causing a dark-colored discharge, or hearing loss.
  
  

Pain and Irritation

• Wearing earplugs for too long or incorrectly can cause pain to the ear canal by trapping air in the canal. In addition to this, earplugs can cause irritation to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) because of its close proximity to the ear canal. H.E.A.R., a nonprofit organization dedicated to ear health in musicians and music fans, recommends specialized or fitted earplugs (such as musician's earplugs) to reduce the risks that standard earplugs pose.
  
  

Lowered Awareness

• Earplugs block out all noise, not just unwanted noise. If you wear earplugs in potentially dangerous situations such as those that may arise in a factory, it is important to be able to communicate when something could be dangerous. Earplug users may not be able to hear a shouted warning, the blowing of a horn, or the sound of machinery moving nearer.
  
  

Wax Plugs

• Some retailers sell wax plugs, made of silicone, that conform to your ear's shape. However, the Consumer Search website and affected users report that these plugs can break apart. While some pieces will easily fall out of the ear, others may move deeper and become stuck, requiring you to visit an ear specialist or undergo surgery to remove them.