Ear Protection Devices

19YOM, C/O FOREIGN BODY IN EAR, PT HAS EAR PLUG STUCK IN EAR. DX:ACUTE FOREIGN BODY OF LEFT EAR CANAL

49YOF TIP OF SILICONE EAR PLUG STUCK IN EARDX FB EAR

60YOM HAD EAR PIECE GET STUCK IN EAR. DX: FOREIGN BODY OF RIGHT EAR.

21YOM, EAR BUD STUCK IN RIGHT EAR DX: FOREIGN BODY RIGHT EAR-REMOVED

27YOM WALKED IN TO ED. PATIENT HAS AN EAR PLUG IN HIS LEFT EAR THAT IS PUSHED IN TOO FAR FOR HIM TO RETRIUEVE. PATIENT MENTIONS THERE IS A LITTLE PAIN IN EAR. PATIENT PUT EAR PLUG IN FOR A CONCERT HE WAS ATTENDING TONIGHT. DX:FOREIGN BODY OF LEFT EAR.

54YOM C/O EAR PLUG COVERING GOT STUCK IN RT EAR CANAL DX: FOREIGN BODY IN EAR

47YOF PRESENTS TO THE ED AFTER THE PATIENT GOT A SILICONE EAR PLUG STUCK IN HIS RIGHT EAR. DX: EAR FOREIGN BODY, EAR PAIN

38 YOM PUT AN ORANGE SILICONE EAR PLUG IN HIS EAR FOR A CONCERT 3 WEEKS AGO AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT OUT, WENT TO URGENT CARE AND WAS REFERRED TO ED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. DX: FOREIGN BODY LEFT EXTERNAL EAR CANAL

13YOM PATIENT PRESENTS WITH EAR PLUGS STUCK IN HIS EARS BILATERALLY. HE STATES THAT HE PLACES EAR PLUGS EVERYNIGHT TO SLEEP BUT PUSHED THEM IN TOO FAR AND COULD NOT GET THEM OUT. DX: FOREIGN BODY IN EAR

31YOF, COMING IN WITH LEFT EAR PAIN FOR PAST 4 DAYS, WHICH SHE ATTRIBUTES TO USING A SILICONE EAR PLUG AND HAS FOREIGN BODY SENSATION, DX: FOREIGN BODY OF LEFT EAR; CERUMEN DEBRIS ON TYMPANIC MEMBRANE OF LEFT EAR

44YOM HAS EAR PLUG STUCK IN LEFT EAR. STATES HE CUT OFF THE STRING AND NOW CANNOT RETRIEVE IT. DX: FOREIGN BODY OF LEFT EAR; ACUTE OTITIS EXTERNA OF LEFT EAR

3YOM TOLD GRANDMOTHER HE PUT SOMETHING IN HIS NOSE, RUBBER EAR PLUG. DX: FOREIGN BODY IN NOSE

While attempting to put the Pro Ears Ultra 33 ear muffs on my head in a normal fashion, the plastic headband snapped. The result was two sharp-edged plastic ends. Had I not ducked quickly, the band snapping back could have cut me as it was under some tension. A perusal of reviews on Amazon for this product revealed that this sort of thing has happened to others.

I purchased the ZOZZGO Noise Reduction Ear Muffs Eye Mask for Sleeping Set (ASIN B0DXLCMHC7) from Amazon on June 1, 2025. Upon opening the package, the product emitted a very strong chemical odor. The odor was consistent with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), raising concerns about exposure to substances such as benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. These chemicals are known carcinogens and respiratory irritants. The product is designed to be worn for hours at a time directly over the eyes, nose, and surrounding skin. This creates two serious exposure pathways: Inhalation: Users may unknowingly breathe VOCs for prolonged periods during sleep. Skin contact: Harmful chemicals may leach into the skin where the mask and earmuffs press tightly against the face. Because the toxins are subtle and not immediately recognizable to a lay consumer, users may expose themselves without realizing the risk. Out of concern for my health, I destroyed the product immediately after purchase rather than risk storing or using it. When I attempted to leave a verified purchase review on Amazon to warn others, Amazon blocked my review, displaying a message that reviews for this product were restricted due to unusual review activity. This prevents buyers from being alerted to the potential hazard. I am reporting this because the product appears unsafe and may pose serious health risks to consumers through both inhalation and skin contact.

(07/23/2025) The consumer had the earplugs in his ears. When he removed the product from his right ear, the end piece came loose and got stuck in his ear canal. The consumer went to the emergency room, but the technician could not find the end piece. However, the consumer's ear was in pain. He went to an ENT who found the end piece and removed it.

Serious harmful hearing loss at an indoor shooting range while using Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff

Loop earplugs are customizable because the plug end - which comes in different sizes - can be detached and replaced, to find the end that has the best fit. While making different size plugs is a great idea, making them detachable is not. If you insert the plugs far enough that that they will stay in firmly and not fall out while sleeping, the flanged plug ends catch on the sides of the inner ear and make it hard to pull the plug out. Recently a plug end came off in my ear one night while I was sleeping. I was lucky my boyfriend was home and I could wake him to use tweezers and a flashlight to pull it out, otherwise I would have needed an urgent care. The detached plug end was buried so deeply and stuck so tight it took about 20 minutes to remove it. After this incident I looked at the Amazon reviews and quite a few people report the same exact issue. Making sizes in earplugs is a great idea, but it’s *not* a great idea to make the part that sticks firmly in your ear detachable - especially if the part will remain deep in your ear canal if it comes off!

We purchased 3 sets of the DUBS Acoustic Filters. They go into the Ears. On one of the sets a piece of the ear filter got stuck in the ear. It took us a while to get it out. We had to use tweezers to do so. When we removed the other filter the same piece just fell off in our hands.

RE: Mack's AquaBlock Earplugs. On March 3, 2011, I used these earplugs for swimming, as advertised on the box of the product. These plugs are made especially for water use to "help prevent swimmer's ear." When I inserted the plugs into my ears as instructed on the box, the plug for my left ear slipped down the ear canal and was impossible to get out with my fingers. I had to go to the emergency room at the local hospital in Bellingham, WA. There was a lot of pressure and increasing pain during this incident. Though I went to the hospital immediately after this happened, I waited approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with the plug in my ear before the doctor could see me to get it out. He took a long needle, bent it into a kind of hook and had to literally fish it out of my ear. The doctor was shocked to learn that the earplug was designed for water sports and for adults, as the plug is too thin to insert safely into an adult ear. This incident created a huge trauma for me as well as an emergency room visit cost I have not yet been billed for.

I have a “3m tekk protection” ear muffs for sound protection while leaf blowing. It has a “ansi s3.19 1994” on it. As I was putting them on the plastic strap across the top that holds them together snapped. When it did the broken ends it struck me on the head. Fortunately it did not cut me. This product could be dangerous in other cases when it strikes someone. If I had hair to push back, as a woman might have, they may have pulled them apart in front of their face possibly damaging an eye. The product has only been used 6 times at the most.