Please don't eat the ear plugs! Brightly colored plugs that keep water out of ears.
Written: Sep 03 '06 (Updated Sep 03 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, easy to insert and remove, comfortable, seals well, they float, bright colors and cases
Cons: Little kids may want to eat these because the look like candy
The Bottom Line: A great choice for kids of all ages who need to keep water out of their ears. Comfortable, cheap, and effective!
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| PattyTherre's Full Review: Floatable Putty Buddies Colorful Soft Silicone Ear... |
My ears are such a mess. I have had multiple ear infections and have congenital hearing loss. In an effort to attempt to help me to hear better, my Ear doctor put tubes in my eardrums (Many kids have this done, not many adults.). I completely lost the ability to discern words and felt like I was under water. I had the tubes yanked three days after they were put in but one thing remained. A hole in my eardrum.
Now I have to be very careful when I swim and shower. If water gets behind the eardrum, it could fester and infect my ear, the last thing I need especially considering the ear with the hole is my "good" ear.
I must wear a waterproof ear plug in that ear around any water at all times. I tried a few and they jumped out of my ear. The doctor said my ear canal was smaller than an average adult's and suggested Floatable Putty Buddies Colorful Soft Silicone Ear Plugs.
Oh brother, I thought, kids' ear plugs.
And they are! But they fit and work just fine even if they are a tad neon.
About the Ear Plugs
This is from www.earplugstore.com:
They Float! These colorful, soft silicone plugs are larger than "ordinary" child-sized silicone plugs to completely fill the outer ear, providing a great seal over the ear canal. Originally designed by an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist for his young patients with ear tubes, Putty Buddies are ideally used with the Ear Band-it neoprene headband which keeps the plugs secure in even the most vigorous activity. The soft silicone lets you hear through the plug too.
The Earplugs
These soft moldable ear plugs come in a variety of bright colors: orange, yellow, green, blue, and red. Each pair comes in its own little clear plastic case that is also color coordinated. Cute. The plugs are soft silicone do feeel like pliable putty. To put them in, you can squeeze or roll them into little balls then insert into the ear canal. They "grow" and conform to your ears and completely seal them from water. The cool thing is you can still hear people talking and other sounds pretty well with these in your ear. I think that is especially important for kids wearing these swimming. I would hate for a kid to be in the water and not hear a warning call or whatever.
When you are ready to remove the plugs, they slide out easily and can be stored in their case for the next use. I get several uses from each pair of my ear plugs but I only wear one and usually just in the shower. I haven't been swimming underwater in quite a while.
My Experience
I tried the little yellow foam bullets my audiologist gave me but they grew so big they popped out. The Floatable Putty Buddies Colorful Soft Silicone Ear Plugs are pliable and very easy to insert into my ear. I just warm them up a little in my hand, roll them around a bit, and then insert. In a matter of moments, they form a seal that extends to my outer ear, unlike traditional swimmer's ear plugs. This is better for me. The more protection the better.
Sounds are somewhat muffled but I can still hear and understand people talking and can hear other sounds.
The ear plugs keep out all water from my ear and, when I am dried off, I just remove the plug, towel if off a little, and place it back in its case.
My 15 year old son wanted to try them - not because he needs them but because he liked the red pair - so I gave him a pair. He found them very easy to insert and very comfortable. He swam and dove and had no problem with them loosening up or falling out. Of course, he tried out the "float feature" and, indeed, these do float so, if they happen to fall out or get dropped in water, they are easily spotted and retrieved.
These fit my son fine but smaller kids should use the headband that is sold to go along with these ear plugs. The band assures the plugs will stay in little ears and they won't accidentally pull them out or loosen them. It's also a good idea for kids to wear the headband so they don't accidentally swallow one thinking they are candy since they are so brightly colored.
I would use the neoprene headband with these plugs for kids up to about seven or so. After that, I don't think it is needed. Of course, each kid is different and parents will have to make that call.
Since I am all grown up and know not to eat my ear plugs, I obviously don't use the headband. The plugs work very well for me and keep water from getting near my ear and into the canal where it could wreak havoc.
If you get swimmer's ear or need waterproof ear plugs for some medical reason, these are great but may be too small for the average adult ear. I find they fill my ear canal up completely. They're certainly worth a try as they are inexpensive, soft, comfortable, and they really work well.
Buying Info
I buy my earplugs at www.earplugstore.com. There, you can buy them in quantities of one, five, and fifty. I buy five pairs at a time and they last for a very long time. One pair is $1.25, five is $5.95, and 50 is $44.95.
These plugs an be bought at some swimming supply stores and many ear doctors can steer you to places to buy these offline.
Conclusion
I love my bright silicone ear plugs! They are comfortable and seal well. Water doesn't stand a chance when I have one of these in my ear. They are easy to insert and remove and even have a cool little case for storage.
I highly recommend these for kids who have tubes in their ears or who have swimmer's ear and or adults who have somewhat smaller ear canals than the norm. They're bright but they do the job well. They're also floatable which is a plus for the kiddies and they're cheap. Can't beat that!
5 stars and a mutter for having this stupid hole in my eardrum. But at least these plugs keep me from having to deal with stagnant water getting trapped behind my eardrum and making my life miserable.
Recommended:
Yes
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