Electronic Hearing Protection

Hearing protection earmuffs consist of a head-band made either of thermoplastic or metal designed to fit the top of the head, with a pad or cup at each end. These are made of rigid material and are attached to the band with a pivoting link. The cups have an opening intended to accommodate your ear. Around this opening is a soft elastic ring, made of foam, or fluid, or a combination of the two. It is this ring that comes into contact with your head, keeping you comfortable and at the same time sealing your ear.

Basically, there are two types of these gadgets. One passively shields you from loud noise by simply blocking off all sounds. The pads or cups, which are often made of hard plastic and may be filled with insulation materials, are quite effective in sealing your ears.

Another type shields your ears from loud sounds but allows you to hear softer ones. These rely on electronic circuitry inside the cups that amplifies low-decibel sounds. When the circuitry senses a loud report, it either shuts itself down or lowers its volume, thus shielding you from all noise.

A further refinement of this type is one that allows you continuously hear soft sounds even as it blocks loud noise. With this kind of hearing protection earmuffs you can fire your automatic weapon and hear muffled bangs and the sound of your shells hitting the floor.