Custom Moulded Earplugs for Sleeping

If you have tried earplugs for sleeping and given up, the odds are it was not the noise reduction that beat you. It was that they hurt on your side, or they were gone by morning.

Both are fit problems, and both are what a custom-moulded plug is built to solve.

What makes a sleep plug different

A sleep earplug is designed around a different priority to a work plug. On a worksite you want maximum reliable attenuation. In bed you want something you can lie on for seven hours without noticing it.

So a custom sleep set is moulded to sit flush with the outer ear rather than protruding. Nothing sticks out for the pillow to press against, which is the single biggest reason people can side-sleep in them comfortably.

The filter is chosen for consistent blocking of the noises that wake you — snoring, traffic, neighbours, daytime household noise — while leaving an alarm audible.

The snoring problem specifically

Snoring is mostly low-frequency sound, and low frequencies are the hardest thing for any earplug to stop. They carry more energy and they exploit any gap between the plug and your canal wall.

This is why foam disappoints so many people sleeping beside a snorer: foam is decent at high frequencies and weak at low ones, and its seal is approximate at best. A moulded shell seals completely, which is what makes the difference on the frequencies that matter here.

Shift work and daytime sleep

Night shift, FIFO rosters, emergency services, hospital staff. Sleeping through daylight means sleeping through a world that is fully awake, and it usually means sleeping in shorter blocks where every interruption costs you disproportionately.

A set that holds its seal for the whole sleep, rather than the first two hours, is the practical requirement.

How they are made

An impression appointment with a partnered audiologist or registered nurse takes about 15 minutes — a soft silicone that sets in the ear and lifts out as an exact cast. That is scanned, and your earplugs are built to match.

Manufacturing runs 10 to 15 working days. Sets are individually labelled left and right, and we hold your impressions digitally for two years for reorders. Custom sets carry a 30 day fit warranty and a 5 year extended warranty.

Will I sleep through my alarm?

Unlikely. They reduce noise, they do not eliminate it, and an alarm beside your head cuts through. Use a vibrating alarm as backup for the first week if you are anxious about it.

Every night, is that alright?

Generally yes, with regular cleaning. Wax build-up is the thing to stay on top of — our care guide covers it. Check with your GP first if you get frequent ear infections.

Can I use the same moulds for work?

Not the same plugs, but the same impressions. Once we have your ears on file we can produce work earplugs, musicians earplugs or swim plugs from them.

How long do they last?

Years. Plan on fresh impressions about every four years as ear shape changes.

Next step

Shop sleep earplugs, read our guide to choosing, or call 1300 425 496.