Anyone Have A Hard To Fit Ear Canal?

UtopiaTexasG19 · July 13, 2012, 03:12 PM

I try to double up and use good ear muffs and plugs when I shoot but I have one ear canal that must be odd shaped and the expandable plugs never stay in that side. Even the two audiologists I've gone to over the years cannot take a pressure reading on that side because none of their colored stoppers fit properly. Anyone else have this problem and find a ear plug that fits? Thanks...

ScottRiqui · July 13, 2012, 03:28 PM

My ear canals aren't the same size. For music, I went with earbuds that came with various-sized tips and used the ones that fit the best in each ear. For shooting, I finally broke down and had a silicone set custom-fitted - wish I'd done it years before.

jason_iowa · July 13, 2012, 03:30 PM

You can get custom ones. Mine go in and up and then in so plugs and earbud headphones don't work for me. Plugs and muffs maybe overkill depending on what you're shooting. They do have more play dough type ones that may work. I prefer muffs anyway because it blocks more of the sound that comes through your skull which is a lot apparently.

Doyle · July 13, 2012, 07:25 PM

Yep, my left ear is a bear. It is also the same one that I blew out while snorkeling when I was a teenager so it was always hard to clear while I dove as an adult. Even simple foam earplugs don't want to go in easily.

ZEBRARANGER · July 13, 2012, 08:20 PM

Peltor Skull Screws, they have a NRR 30 rating. Adjustable fit and they'll conform to an irregular size canal. PM me and I'll send you a couple of pair. They're also available online. This is what they look like.

pturner67 · July 14, 2012, 10:53 AM

Call these guys up and find out who is local to your area

http://www.earinc.com/p1-nonelectronic-instamold.php

mete · July 16, 2012, 07:50 PM

years ago I had plugs molded to fit .They just pour silicone rubber into your ear .When it hardens you've got your plugs.

Don P · July 17, 2012, 06:38 AM

Have your audiologist make a set for you. Then it has to fit.

g.willikers · July 17, 2012, 06:07 PM

The screw in types work real well.
But there's a trick to using the expandable ones.
Roll them between your palms until they are long and skinny, narrower than the ear canal.
Quickly place them in the ear and when they expand they are tight.

Doyle · July 17, 2012, 06:21 PM

g.willikers, even that trick doesn't work too well on my left ear. I have to roll it with my left hand then reach around the back of my head with my right hand, grab my ear and pull it back. That usually opens it enough for the plug to go in.

ScottRiqui · July 17, 2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

g.willikers, even that trick doesn't work too well on my left ear. I have to roll it with my left hand then reach around the back of my head with my right hand, grab my ear and pull it back. That usually opens it enough for the plug to go in.

Yeah, that's pretty much how you're supposed to insert those roll-up ear plugs. I've found that if I pull my left ear away from my head and also pull it forward at the same time, it really helps straighten out my ear canal and make it easier to insert the plug.

UtopiaTexasG19 · July 17, 2012, 06:40 PM

I have tried different squishy types and get even the long ones all the way in but in my left ear they work themselves out in a very short time. Thanks for all the ideas. I am currently looking into implementing some of them to come up with what might work for me even if I eventually have to go to a audiologist and have some personally made to fit my situation. I have lost hearing over the years even with protection and have had 5 operations on my eyes to enable me to see so I am very finicky about both ear and eye protection. Some of us have spent quite a lot on our hobbies so spending a few dollars to protect our sight and hearing should be a priority also.

g.willikers · July 18, 2012, 10:46 AM

You guys ain't chewing tobaccy, are you?
Chewing will make the plugs back out.
Speaking of tobacco, cigarette filters seem to work pretty good, too, and they don't fall out very easily.
Only it's harder to find folks to bum cigarettes off of these days.

July 13, 2012, 03:12 PM	#1
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	Anyone Have A Hard To Fit Ear Canal? I try to double up and use good ear muffs and plugs when I shoot but I have one ear canal that must be odd shaped and the expandable plugs never stay in that side. Even the two audiologists I've gone to over the years cannot take a pressure reading on that side because none of their colored stoppers fit properly. Anyone else have this problem and find a ear plug that fits? Thanks...

July 16, 2012, 07:50 PM	#7
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	years ago I had plugs molded to fit .They just pour silicone rubber into your ear .When it hardens you've got your plugs. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

July 17, 2012, 06:38 AM	#8
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Have your audiologist make a set for you. Then it has to fit. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

July 17, 2012, 06:07 PM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	The screw in types work real well. But there's a trick to using the expandable ones. Roll them between your palms until they are long and skinny, narrower than the ear canal. Quickly place them in the ear and when they expand they are tight. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 18, 2012, 10:46 AM	#13
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	You guys ain't chewing tobaccy, are you? Chewing will make the plugs back out. Speaking of tobacco, cigarette filters seem to work pretty good, too, and they don't fall out very easily. Only it's harder to find folks to bum cigarettes off of these days. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 13, 2012, 03:28 PM	#2
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	My ear canals aren't the same size. For music, I went with earbuds that came with various-sized tips and used the ones that fit the best in each ear. For shooting, I finally broke down and had a silicone set custom-fitted - wish I'd done it years before.

July 13, 2012, 03:30 PM	#3
jason_iowa Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 686	You can get custom ones. Mine go in and up and then in so plugs and earbud headphones don't work for me. Plugs and muffs maybe overkill depending on what you're shooting. They do have more play dough type ones that may work. I prefer muffs anyway because it blocks more of the sound that comes through your skull which is a lot apparently.

July 13, 2012, 07:25 PM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Yep, my left ear is a bear. It is also the same one that I blew out while snorkeling when I was a teenager so it was always hard to clear while I dove as an adult. Even simple foam earplugs don't want to go in easily.

July 13, 2012, 08:20 PM	#5
ZEBRARANGER Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 620	Peltor Skull Screws, they have a NRR 30 rating. Adjustable fit and they'll conform to an irregular size canal. PM me and I'll send you a couple of pair. They're also available online. This is what they look like.

July 14, 2012, 10:53 AM	#6
pturner67 Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2006 Posts: 737	Call these guys up and find out who is local to your area http://www.earinc.com/p1-nonelectronic-instamold.php

July 17, 2012, 06:21 PM	#10
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	g.willikers, even that trick doesn't work too well on my left ear. I have to roll it with my left hand then reach around the back of my head with my right hand, grab my ear and pull it back. That usually opens it enough for the plug to go in.

July 17, 2012, 06:40 PM	#12
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	I have tried different squishy types and get even the long ones all the way in but in my left ear they work themselves out in a very short time. Thanks for all the ideas. I am currently looking into implementing some of them to come up with what might work for me even if I eventually have to go to a audiologist and have some personally made to fit my situation. I have lost hearing over the years even with protection and have had 5 operations on my eyes to enable me to see so I am very finicky about both ear and eye protection. Some of us have spent quite a lot on our hobbies so spending a few dollars to protect our sight and hearing should be a priority also.