A dual attenuation ear (DNA) protecting headset/earmuff, having means for externally adjusting the location of an integral inner earplug into the ear canal of a wearer, useful in high noise environments. In a headgear such as an earmuff, there is typically no way to insert an additional attenuation device, such as an earplug, once the earmuff is placed on the ear. The apparatus includes a pair of toggle levers equipped with replaceable earplugs on the ends, which are integral to the headgear and accessible from outside of the earcup. Manual manipulation of the toggle selectively manipulates the end of the earplug into the wearer's ear, providing additional degrees of ambient sound attenuation. The earmuff device, with concurrent dual protection, can be placed or removed from the ear without requiring a two-step process of first inserting the earplug, and then covering it with the earcup or vise-versa.

A sound attenuation system can include a first end that can include a shaft and a flange, the flange can be coupled to the shaft, and a second end that can include a filter stem and a cap. The filter stem can have a hole. The cap can have a first position in which the cap occludes the hole and can have a second position in which the cap is clear of the hole.

A device combining a variable sound attenuator with a hearing device, (such as a hearing aid or tinnitus device) that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation of environmental sound in a variable, continuous fashion or in a discrete controlled fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from the ear. The attenuator includes a housing having a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the housing and a variable control, the variable control able to control the size of the passageway through the housing and the device including a second passageway for transmitting amplified sound from the hearing device into the ear of the wearer.

Devices, apparatus, systems and methods to regulate pressure in earplug are disclosed. Some embodiments provide auditory attenuation and others may further include communications capability. The devices and apparatus are well-suited for use by divers and pilots in particular.

A light weight headphone insertable into a human ear canal having a curved portion leading to the ear drum. A main body element having a passageway through the main body element. An elongated hollow stem having two ends, one end attached to the passageway in the main body, the other end terminating in a handle. A speaker located in the handle and sound transmitted from the speaker through the hollow stem and the main body to the ear canal. The hollow stem member having a portion with a wavy configuration. Rotation of the hollow stem member will fit the hollow stem member around the curved portion in the human ear canal and seat the main body deeply in the ear canal to acoustically block the ear canal from outside noise and transmit the sound from the speaker in close proximity to the ear drum.

A manually, selectively attenuating earplug button, for insertion into a cavity of an earplug of a hearing protection device, is provided which includes a longitudinal central axis; a first opening to receive sound from an ambient environment; a second opening to output at least a portion of said sound; and an audio channel located between said first and second openings, said audio channel having a sound attenuation valve for permitting a wearer to manually adjust the amount of sound admitted to the wear's ear from said ambient environment. Also provided is a hearing protection device, including an earplug made of a soft resilient material having a hardness on the Shore A Durometer hardness scale, and an earplug button which is manually controllable by the wearer and capable of providing a plurality of sound attenuation settings, said earplug button disposed at least partially within a cavity of said earplug.

A foam earplug for reception at least partially within the ear canal and including a body portion formed of resilient foam plastic material having a multiple open cell structure and having a size and shape for at least partial reception within the ear canal. A transdermal material having a particular beneficial action, and with an outer layer of the foam earplug infused with the transdermal material so that the benefits of the transdermal material is in transdermal contact with the ear canal. One example is a humectant material and, specifically, a moisturizer/lubricating material, for providing an increase to the lubrication and moisturizing in the ear canal. A second example is where the beneficial action is provided by systemic distribution such as a sleep aid, i.e., Melatonin, so that when the earplugs are worn during sleep, the earplugs will provide a sleep aid to the wearer.

A foam earplug for reception at least partially within the ear canal and including a body portion formed of resilient foam plastic material having a multiple open cell structure and having a size and shape for at least partial reception within the ear canal. A transdermal material having a particular beneficial action, and with an outer layer of the foam earplug infused with the transdermal material so that the benefits of the transdermal material is in transdermal contact with the ear canal. One example is a humectant material and, specifically, a moisturizer/lubricating material, for providing an increase to the lubrication and moisturizing in the ear canal. A second example is where the beneficial action is provided by systemic distribution such as a sleep aid, i.e., Melatonin, so that when the earplugs are worn during sleep, the earplugs will provide a sleep aid to the wearer.

There is provided a system for estimating a total acoustic attenuation of a hearing protection device including an interface at a distal end and a sound canal extending from the interface to a sound opening at a medial end of the hearing protection device. The system comprises: a measurement unit including a loudspeaker and a microphone and being attachable to the interface in such a manner that, when the hearing protection device is worn in an ear canal of a user, the loudspeaker and the microphone are in acoustic communication, via the sound canal of the hearing protection device; a control unit configured to provide the loudspeaker with test audio signals to generate test sounds in the occluded ear canal volume and to receive test response audio signals captured by the microphone from the test sounds; and an evaluation unit configured to estimate a leakage acoustic impedance.

A prosthesis for insertion in an ear to reduce pain resulting from TMJ disorders. The ear insert has a predefined shape conforming to the shape of the ear canal when the jaw is in an open position. The ear insert supports the TMJ and associated secondary musculature to reduce strain in the TMJ area, including the muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the temporo-mandibular joint itself. The insert is hollow in the inside to permit hearing and is made of a rigid material which retains the shape of the ear canal. A scalloped indenture extends across a surface of the ear insert positioned behind the tragus.