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Rehearsals
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Listening at home⏱️ Estimated reading time: 13 min
On this page: Overview
Key Takeaways
They lower how much sound reaches the ear, by a rated 24 dB with a passive earplug such as our Life+. They don’t change how anyone processes sound, and Bollsen earplugs are not medical devices.
It usually comes down to touch. Some people can’t bear anything in the ear canal and prefer ear defenders, while others dislike a headband pressing on the head and prefer a flush in-ear plug. Plenty of people own both.
Yes, just quieter. Voices drop by about 21 dB in the speech range, and loud sounds such as alarms, announcements or someone calling your name stay audible because they are loud.
The NHS advises against wearing earplugs or muffs all the time, because it could make you more sensitive to noise. Put them in for the loud bits and take them out once things are quieter.
Yes. The National Autistic Society explains that autistic people meet the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability whether or not they identify as disabled. That means you can ask your employer for reasonable adjustments, such as hours that avoid the rush-hour commute.
See a GP if everyday sounds feel painfully loud, changed suddenly, or come with pain or discharge. A GP is also the place to start if you think you might be autistic.
You’re not too sensitive. The world is loud. If you’re autistic and everyday sound feels overwhelming, start from that idea when choosing earplugs for autistic adults and teens. Writing in The Conversation, researcher Kitty-Rose Foley notes that decreased sound tolerance is estimated to affect up to 70% of autistic people.
At Bollsen, we make reusable silicone earplugs. They’re German-tested, independently certified 24 dB and trusted by 1,000,000+ people. Our main guide to earplugs for noise sensitivity covers the wider picture of everyday sound feeling too loud. This page is for adults and teens aged 16 and over.
On the National Autistic Society forum, one adult said their plugs cut the noise “by about a quarter”, and another noticed only a “very small reduction”. Quieter, not silent, is what any earplug can honestly promise.
Why can everyday sound feel so loud?
For many autistic adults, everyday sound feels louder because sensory differences change how intense noise seems. The National Autistic Society describes sounds that “may seem much louder”, and sudden noises, such as alarms and sirens, that feel more distressing than they do to other people.
The NHS page on signs of autism in adults says autistic adults may be “very sensitive, or not sensitive at all” to light, sounds, smells, tastes or textures. So two autistic people can want completely different things from hearing protection. One finds the hiss of a coffee machine unbearable. Another barely notices it but can’t stand a crowded room.
We won’t go into causes here. Our explainer on why everyday sound can feel louder than it should covers how the ear and brain handle volume.
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Life+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsLife+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsMusic SoundPRO★ 4.8 · 514 reviewsWatersafe+★ 4.8 · 684 reviewsLife+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsWhat can earplugs change, and what can’t they?
A passive earplug such as our Life+ lowers incoming sound by a rated SNR 24 dB (H 24 / M 21 / L 19), so a 90 dB station platform reaches the ear at roughly 66 dB and a 95 dB room at about 71 dB. You still hear the world, just quieter.
The reduction rises with pitch. In lab testing to EN 352-2, Life+ lowers low and mid sounds by about 22 dB and high, sharp sounds by more, up to around 35 dB at 8 kHz, where squealing brakes and hand dryers sit. The certificate and full figures are on our independent lab test results page.
Voices get quieter too, by about 21 dB in the speech range, so you may need to lean in for a chat. Alarms, announcements and someone calling your name stay audible because they are loud. No passive earplug picks out speech and keeps it at full volume.
What earplugs can’t do is change how anyone processes sound. Bollsen earplugs are not medical devices, and The Conversation says plainly that there is “a small amount of evidence” for hearing protection among neurodivergent people. In the research it describes, 17 autistic adults mostly used music or noise-cancelling headphones on public transport. Plugs are one option among several.
Wearing them most days is a different habit from wearing them now and then. Our guide to what changes when you wear earplugs every day covers what to expect once they become part of your routine.
In-ear or ear defenders: which suits how you feel about touch?
The choice between in-ear earplugs and ear defenders usually comes down to touch. Some autistic adults can’t tolerate anything inside the ear canal. Others find a headband pressing on the head, or cushions warming the ears, far harder to bear than a soft plug.
One autistic blogger described wearing earplugs at home every day and switching to muff-style protection when they wanted something close to silence. That split, by sensation rather than spec sheet, is how a lot of people actually choose.
| Life+ in-ear (passive) | Ear defenders | Noise-cancelling headphones | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What touches you | Soft silicone in the ear canal, flush with the ear | Cushions around the outer ear | Cushions on or around the ear |
| Pressure on the head | None | Headband clamps to hold the seal | Headband, usually lighter |
| How noticeable | Flush fit, no stem | Very visible | Visible, often read as listening to music |
| Battery | None | None | Needs charging |
| How voices sound | Quieter, about 21 dB down | Quieter | Depends on the model and mode |
| Rating | SNR 24 dB, tested to EN 352-2 | Own rating, tested to EN 352-1 | Varies, strongest on steady low hum |
| Cost over time | £29.95 for up to 100 uses (about 30p per use) | Reusable, one-off cost | Highest upfront cost |
Ear defenders are tested to a different standard, EN 352-1, on a separate certificate, so their rating can’t be compared line by line with an earplug’s SNR. Read the two numbers as separate scales and judge by comfort first.
If in-ear suits you, our Life+ passive SNR 24 dB reusable silicone earplugs (£29.95) are made from hypoallergenic natural silicone with a patented two-lamella shape. They sit flush in the ear with no protruding stem, just a small tab to pull them out, so nothing presses under a hood or a hat. They last up to 100 uses and live in an aluminium case on a keyring.
Fit worries put many people off trying in-ear at all. With Life+ with AI ear measurement from two photos (£44.95), you send two pictures of your ears and we send the size that matches your ear canals.
Some adults wear plugs and ear defenders together on very loud days. The trade-off is that your own footsteps, chewing and breathing can sound louder with a plug in, which our article on hearing your own chewing with earplugs explains. For a fuller side-by-side, our comparison of earplugs vs noise-cancelling headphones vs ear defenders lines the three up by frequency, heat and price.
How do autistic adults use earplugs on the commute, in shops and at work?
Most autistic adults who use earplugs keep them for specific loud stretches of the day, such as a packed train, the busiest aisles of a supermarket or an open-plan office at its noisiest. Then they take them out again once the noise drops.
On the commute
Platforms and carriages are often the loudest part of an ordinary weekday. Many people put plugs in on the platform, take them out at the ticket barrier and keep them out when crossing roads. Our guide to earplugs for commuting covers train, Tube and bus journeys.
Shops and the cinema
Many UK cinemas and some shops run autism-friendly or quieter sessions. Times and formats vary, so check with the venue before you go. Pairing a quieter session with plugs for the loudest moments is the plan behind earplugs for shopping, the cinema and busy high streets.
At work
The National Autistic Society explains that autistic people meet the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability whether or not they identify as disabled, so you can ask for reasonable adjustments, from a quieter desk to hours that miss the rush-hour crowd. For protection on the job itself, our hub on earplugs for work covers offices, workshops and long shifts.
Will anyone notice?
Then there’s the worry about being seen. Life+ sits flush, so in most settings it’s a discreet choice and nobody asks. Ear defenders are obvious, and some people find that freeing rather than awkward, because it says “I’m protecting my ears” without a conversation.
Gigs and whole days
Gigs are louder again, often 90–105 dB, so earplugs become hearing protection first and comfort second. Our guide to earplugs for noise sensitivity at concerts covers where to stand and when to step out. When the whole day is too much, not just one room, our plan for earplugs for sensory overload builds breaks and exits around the loud stretches.
Is it OK to wear earplugs all day?
Wearing earplugs all day isn’t a good idea. The NHS hyperacusis guidance says not to wear earplugs or muffs all the time as “this could make you more sensitive to noise”, and the National Autistic Society notes that using ear defenders or headphones a lot “may increase sensitivity over time”.
A rule many people use is in for the loud bits, out for the quiet bits. Put them in for a reason, such as boarding a train, and take them out on a cue, such as sitting down at home. Quiet time without any protection is part of the plan, not a lapse.
Plugs worn often need washing in warm water with mild soap, and they should be fully dry before going back in the case. Our guide to sleep earplug care covers cleaning silicone earplugs and when to replace a pair.
Night is its own question. If a noisy street or a neighbour’s TV keeps you awake, our article on noise sensitivity and sleep covers wearing earplugs in bed.
What about teens and younger children?
Teens aged 16 and over can follow this guide as written, choosing by touch and wearing protection for the loud bits. Younger children need advice written for parents, because fit, supervision and school settings work differently at that age.
For a child, start with our articles on earplugs for autistic children, on earplugs for children with sensory processing differences and on classroom noise and ADHD. Our guide to earplugs for kids covers sizes and safety by age, and our Kidz+ earplugs are made for children aged 3–12.
When should you see a GP, and where else can you turn?
See a GP if everyday sounds feel painfully loud, changed suddenly, or come with pain or discharge. Those need a proper check, and a GP can refer you to an audiologist if that’s the right next step.
A GP is also the place to start if you think you might be autistic, as the NHS signs-of-autism page explains. For practical advice and other adults’ experience of plugs and ear defenders, the National Autistic Society’s guidance pages and community forum are a good next stop.
Sometimes it’s one particular sound, such as chewing, sniffing or a clicking pen, rather than overall volume. Our article on when specific trigger sounds are the problem explains how that differs from a loud day. Bollsen earplugs are not medical devices. They lower the sound reaching your ears and sit alongside professional advice, never in place of it.
How can you try in-ear earplugs without wasting money?
The lowest-risk way to try in-ear earplugs is a single reusable pair backed by a 40-day money-back guarantee, worn for one or two loud stretches a week. You only learn how a plug feels after an hour in a real place, not in the first minute.
A NAS forum member remarked that “if you put autism in the title then the price increases!” They have a point. Ordinary hearing protection does the same job, and Life+ costs £29.95 for one pair or £44.95 for two, roughly 30p per use over up to 100 uses.
If you get through pairs quickly or share with the household, the Life+ 10x Pack costs £109, about 11p per use. Free UK delivery starts at £35, so a single £29.95 pack doesn’t qualify but two packs do.
Pick the loud place that drains you most and decide when the plugs go in and come out. Try it twice before you judge. For a checklist of fit, material and reduction level, start with what to look for in everyday earplugs. The world won’t get quieter on its own, but your share of it can.
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His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.