A few months ago, I started wearing ear plugs at night because of noisy
neighbors.

Can the plugs cause harm, either to the ear canal or the ear drum?

The ear plugs that I use are called Super 31 and are made of soft foam.

Dear rambler-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question.

Prolonged use of earplugs can, in some instances, lead to problems in
the ear canal. Like any foreign object inserted into the ear the mere
presence of the plug can cause irritation and soreness. If the
irritation leads to inflammation or a breaking of the skin it can
result in infection (Otitis externa). In addition, depending on the
type of material the earplug is made of, it can harbor harmful
bacteria that can result in infection of the ear canal and, if bad
enough, the inner ear. Warm, moist, foam-type plugs (polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) or polyurethane) are particularly good breeding grounds
for such bacteria.

The ear is designed to ?breathe? and to drain naturally. The insertion
or prolonged use of earplugs without proper hygiene and removal of
excessive earwax can lead to an impaction. This can prove quite
painful if not merely bothersome. We cannot, by policy, provide
medcial advise as our disclaimer indicates, but as a general rule my
research has indicated that a well-fitting earplug accompanied with
good hygiene is relatively safe. It might be some added protection to
use disposable plugs to insure that you are getting a bacteria free
plug on each use. This should help minimize potential exposure to
harmful organisms that can cause medical problems.

I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

HEALTH24.COM
http://www.health24.com/medical/Head2Toe/777-778-781,11817.asp

OTITIS EXTERNA: INFECTION OF THE EAR CANAL
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/991235533.html

INTELIHEALTH
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10471.html


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

Ear plugs

Earplugs

Prolonged

Use

Danger

Safety

Very helpful answer. Thank you.

This was an excellent question. I wear ear plugs every night and have
never given it much thought. You know that I will be thinking about it
tonight. Google rocks!