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On this page: Overview
Key Takeaways
There’s no single winner in earplugs vs noise cancelling headphones for misophonia, because the two devices do different things to a sound. If certain sounds bother you, the better choice depends on where you are and what kind of sound it is. At Bollsen, a family-owned hearing protection company founded in 2016 and trusted by 1,000,000+ people, we make passive earplugs. People looking at earplugs for misophonia often ask whether headphones would be better, and sometimes the honest answer is yes.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s specialist service describes misophonia as an extreme emotional reaction to certain everyday sounds, with eating, nose and throat sounds and keyboard tapping among the usual examples. A UK study by Vitoratou and colleagues (PLOS ONE, 2023) found that 18.4% of adults reported misophonia symptoms that caused them significant burden.
No device changes how you react to a sound, and none of the options below is a medical device. If everyday sounds feel overwhelming, your GP is the right first stop. This page compares devices by how and where they work; our main guide to earplugs for misophonia covers fit, attenuation and everyday use of passive earplugs in more depth.
What does each device actually do to a trigger sound?
Passive earplugs lower the level of almost every sound that reaches the ear, while active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones produce an opposing signal that is at its best against steady low-frequency hum. Masking audio does neither; it adds a steady sound so a trigger stands out less. So a crunch, a click and a drone each land differently depending on what you wear.
Passive earplugs
Our Life+ passive SNR 24 dB reusable silicone earplug is rated SNR 24 dB (H 24 / M 21 / L 19) under EN 352-2, and its attenuation rises with frequency, so higher sounds are lowered the most. There are no electronics and no battery. The patented conical two-lamella shape seals the ear canal and sits flush, with no stem sticking out.
In practice that means quieter, not silent. A 60 dB conversation reaches the ear at roughly 36–40 dB and a 45 dB chewing sound at roughly 21–23 dB, so a voice stays audible because it is loud, not because a filter passes it. Chewing spans about 125–500 Hz with sharper 2–4 kHz transients, and typing sits around 2–4 kHz. Our guide to what frequency chewing, breathing and typing sounds sit at gives the full octave-by-octave figures.
Noise cancelling headphones
ANC headphones use small microphones to pick up incoming sound and play back an inverted copy of it, which works best on steady, predictable sound. Research on active noise reducing headsets puts most of the benefit at low frequencies, generally below about 1 kHz (Canadian Acoustics, 1993), and that’s exactly where engine drone, air-con and cabin noise sit.
A sudden, close sound such as a crunch or a pen click changes too quickly for the electronics to keep up. Over-ear cups still lower part of it passively. Even so, on a train with ANC on, the hum goes away while the person eating crisps beside you stays clearer than you might hope.
Earbuds with masking audio and white noise
Masking doesn’t lower a trigger sound at all. Instead it raises the noise floor, the steady background level, so a sniff or a click has less contrast against it. Earbuds playing brown noise and a white-noise machine both work this way. The masking level should stay moderate rather than being turned up to bury everything.
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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 reviewsWhy can you hear your own chewing more with earplugs or headphones in?
Sealing the ear canal with an earplug, a sealed earbud or an ANC earbud causes the occlusion effect, where your own bone-conducted sounds below 500 Hz can seem 10–20 dB louder. That’s why your own chewing can get louder at the same moment other people’s chewing gets quieter.
A deeper, correctly sized seal reduces the effect, so fit matters more than device type. For Life+, our AI ear measurement from two photos chooses the size that seals deeper without pressure. There’s more on this in our piece on why you hear your own chewing with earplugs in.
Which device fits which situation?
At a shared table or in a library, a flush-fit passive earplug is usually the better fit. On a train or plane and through a long desk day, noise cancelling headphones often come out ahead, and at home, masking audio is frequently the simplest answer. Here is how that plays out.
| Situation | Sudden close sounds (chewing, clicks) | Steady hum | Visibility | Cost | Battery | Usually fits best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared table | Earplug lowers a crunch across the band; ANC adds little to the cups’ passive seal | Rarely the issue | Flush plug near-invisible; over-ear headphones read as “not joining in” | £29.95 earplug vs £150–350 headphones | Earplug none; ANC needs charge | Passive earplug, optionally with low-level masking |
| Desk (open plan) | Both help partly; keyboard clicks at 2–4 kHz are lowered most by an earplug | ANC strongest on air-con and office hum | Headphones accepted at many desks | Headphones may already be owned | A full day needs a charged pair | ANC headphones with steady audio, earplug as backup |
| Library | Earplug lowers page turns, sniffs and pen clicks | Little hum to cancel | Flush plug discreet in silent study | One-off £29.95 | None needed | Passive earplug |
| Train / plane | Earplug lowers a close passenger more than ANC does | ANC takes out much of the engine and cabin drone | Both normal on journeys | Either | Long flights drain ANC | ANC headphones; earplug for close sounds |
| Home | Masking lowers contrast without sealing your ears | A fan or white noise covers household hum | No device on show | Low | Mains or none | Masking audio or a white-noise source |
At the table, over-ear headphones send a strong social signal, and a common complaint is that you hear yourself eat with them on. A flush-fit plug is far less noticeable. Some people combine an earplug with a quiet masking track, which is an option worth trying rather than a guaranteed outcome.
At a desk, what you can ask for matters as much as what you wear, which our guide to misophonia at work covers. Studying with misophonia looks at exam arrangements and study blocks, and misophonia on public transport deals with long journeys.
At home, a fan or a white-noise source usually does the job without anything in your ears. If the hardest part of the day is sharing a bedroom when sounds bother you at night, our sleep guide deals with breathing, snoring and night-time routines separately.
Where do noise cancelling headphones honestly win?
Noise cancelling headphones win when the main problem is a steady low-frequency drone that lasts for hours, such as aircraft cabin noise, train engines or an air-conditioned open-plan office. They also win when you want your own audio on top, because ANC removes the hum and leaves room for music at a moderate volume.
Search for misophonia headphones and nearly every result is an ANC model, which makes sense for travel and long desk days. The downsides are price, charging and comfort: some people find strong ANC creates a pressure feeling in the ears and prefer a gentler setting, and over-ear cups get warm over a long day.
When does masking audio make more sense than blocking sound?
Masking audio makes more sense when a room is so quiet that every small sound stands out, such as a home study or a still evening at home. A steady, moderate background sound lowers the contrast of a click or a sniff without sealing your ears at all.
That’s also where most “misophonia earbuds” fit. They’re usually ordinary or noise cancelling earbuds playing masking audio, and standard music earbuds are designed to deliver sound rather than block it. For the general question, our comparison of earplugs vs earbuds covers comfort and hygiene for everyday listening and rest.
How do earplugs and headphones compare on cost and battery?
A pair of Life+ earplugs costs £29.95, lasts up to 100 uses (roughly 30p per use) and never needs charging. Noise cancelling headphones typically cost £150 to £350, need regular charging and usually come with an app.
Life+ is made from hypoallergenic silicone (BPA-, PVC- and latex-free), washes with water and mild soap and comes in an aluminium keyring case. The two-pack is £44.95, which clears the £35 threshold for free UK delivery, and every order has our 40-day money-back guarantee.
If you already own ANC headphones, keep using them where hum dominates and add earplugs for the table and the library. The two often end up sharing the week.
Should you choose earplugs, headphones or masking audio?
Choose by the sound and the setting. Sudden, close sounds in quiet company favour a passive earplug. Hours of steady drone are where noise cancelling headphones earn their price, and a silent room in which every small sound stands out is usually better served by masking audio.
Choose passive earplugs if you want something discreet for meals, the library or a shared office, if you would rather not charge anything, or if the sounds are close and sudden. Our guide on how to choose earplugs for misophonia walks through fit, attenuation and material.
Choose noise cancelling headphones if you travel often, spend long days in open-plan offices or want music or a podcast in the mix. Choose masking audio if you are at home or somewhere quiet and prefer nothing sealed in your ears.
How long should you wear earplugs or headphones?
Wear any of them for a chosen situation, such as a meal, a 45 to 90-minute focus block or a journey, and then take them out. The NHS guidance on noise sensitivity (hyperacusis) advises against wearing earplugs or muffs all the time, because this could make you more sensitive to noise.
Stop using earplugs if they cause pain or itching, and keep headphone volume moderate. If everyday sounds feel too loud or are getting in the way of work, study or relationships, talk to your GP, who can refer you to audiology or psychology services. Misophonia UK also offers information and support.
Earplugs and noise cancelling headphones work better as tools for different sounds than as rivals. Start with the one setting that bothers you most and match the device to the sound there. If that setting is the table or the library, Life+ sits flush, makes things quieter, not silent, and comes with our 40-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
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.