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Is it better to wear earmuffs/ear plugs while studying?

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Jason Cafarelli
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Alan Zoller, Retired Aerospace Engineer, test prep tutor for 20 years.
5 Answers in Studying

Shari Silverman
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Tom DeSimone, Bookie

Written Mar 31, 2015

Is the noise around you distracting? If so, then yes, earplugs could be a viable solution. If it's pretty quiet
anyway, I don't think there is a benefit to earplugs.
Personally, I like to put in noise-canceling earbuds and play instrumental music on the lowest setting. So
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low that you can hardly hear it, but loud enough to make it so the silence is not in itself distracting. If you
decide to try this, I'd recommend using music that is already very familiar to you. This way your brain

already knows what's happening with the background sound and you can give your full concentration to
studying.
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Nic Wray, Communications Manager for the British Tinnitus Association

Written Sep 2

I probably wouldnt use either - cutting out sensory stimulus is likely to lead to your brain focusing
inwards - it may make your hearing more sensitive afterwards, or you may start hearing tinnitus - a
sound for which there is no corresponding external sound.
Earplugs and ear muffs are great if you are in a noisy enviroment such as a gig or club, or using noisy
machinery, but they shouldnt be used in quiet situations.
If you are distracted by (other peoples) noise when studying, I would use a sound generator quietly
playing white/pink noise, or nature sounds, or possibly using noise cancelling headphones either to play
music or again, white noise.
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Thomas Tracy, Spent 15 years in retail sales, 5 yrs in an executive position. Now in college
Written Apr 6

I have recently decided to wear earplugs while reading/studying. Personally, I have found an increase in
information retention on first round read throughs. As a person who is easily distracted, using earplugs
has been a marvelous addition to my stay rituals. Today was the first time I used earplugs for an exam. I
will never take another test without them. Concentration up, distraction down.
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Akash Gura, Human Being

Written Apr 1, 2015

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It depends on what you are shielding yourself from.

Even if most noises disturb me a lot - I suffer from tinnitus since 1995 - I wear earplugs only when
travelling or when I expect to be in a very noisy environment.
I have actually tried to wear earplugs for sleeping, but the noises of my body (heart beat, bodily fluids,
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breathing, etc) kept my attention level so high that I could not find sleep and eventually ruled them out,
even when studying, as these noises tend to cause unbearable distraction - I happened to discover that I
involuntarily make lots of noises with my lower jaw locking with the upper during concentration

phases...
The most comfortable solution for me was to switch on a radio nearby, and set its frequency to receive
only white noise (the hissing "shh" sound when no channel is found): it effectively mutes all background
noise and, like falling rain, helps to fall asleep very quickly. This method is so effective that I am still
using it on babies until they fall sleep to the sound of this...
So it is up to you to try the best formula that works for you.
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Tom Bergman, Owner of Ear Plug Superstore, the largest hearing protection store in the world
Written Apr 21

I would recommend ear plugs over ear muffs for several reasons:
Ear plugs are more effective than ear muffs in blocking noise, unless you get great honking big muffs
like these: Walker's Extra Protection Folding Range Ear Muffs (NRR 34) and even then, a good fitting
foam ear plug rated at NRR 33 will usually outperform even the biggest ear muffs.
Ear plugs are cooler...in both ways: ear muffs can make your head sweat and ruin your do. Ear muffs
make you look dorky (is that still a thing? ...sorry, I am old.)
Ear plugs are more comfy. You just need to get the right ones that fit you. We offer several trial packs to
help with that. Ear Plug Assortment Packs
Also, be sure to take a minute to learn how to properly use foam ear plugs. It can make all the difference
in how well they work: Video: How to Properly Fit a Foam Ear Plug
Finally, of some interest to studying-age people, I assume, ear plugs are cheaper!
Be well...and do the right thing.
Tom
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Robert Cherny, Ten books on Amazon for Kindle, four of these on Kindle Unlimited
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Written Jan 7

Check out the ear protection options at a firearms shop. There are many to choose from and if you find a
helpful salesperson, you can get the best choice that matches your needs.
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Heinrich Mller, I do read quite a bit

Written Mar 31, 2015

If it floats your studying boat, wear plugs.

I personally dislike the peculiar silence enforced by them, so I don't wear them. But then again you might
find me studying on a lawn outside if the weather is permitting.
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Abby Montgomery
Written Apr 1, 2015

Hi, honestly in my opinion earplugs because they go in your ear canal and block out sound better than
earmuffs which cover your ears. But it all depends on what you like and how comfortable you are when
studying.
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