Snoring partner, street noise, neighbours on a different schedule: most people buying earplugs for sleep for the first time have three questions. Will I hear the alarm? Does it press when I lie on my side? And will I get used to it at all? Here are the answers, as concrete as possible.
Will I still hear the alarm?
Yes. Earplugs with SNR 22 dB (Sleep+) or SNR 27 dB (Soft+) lower the level, they do not switch it off. An alarm next to the bed sits at 70 to 80 dB; after attenuation around 45 to 55 dB still arrive, louder than a quiet bedroom. The difference to snoring: the alarm is a new, changing signal, snoring a steady sound the brain blanks out more easily with plugs. If you are still unsure, put your phone on vibrate under the pillow for the first nights. More on the maths in the guide What is SNR?.
Side sleepers: does it press?
That depends on how far the plug sticks out of the ear. The Sleep+ have two flanges and a short stem that lies flat in the outer ear; that is what they are built for. The Soft+ are softer and attenuate more, but stick out a little further. Rule of thumb: if you sleep almost only on your side and have a soft pillow, both usually work. If you have a firm pillow or rest your head on your arm, take the Sleep+. Which of the two suits you is covered in detail in the comparison Sleep+ or Soft+?.
The first nights
Expect three to five nights to get used to them. At first you notice your own breathing and heartbeat; that fades. Insert them properly: pull the outer ear up and back with the other hand, insert the plug with a slight twist until the flanges seal. Too deep is as wrong as too loose. If it presses after ten minutes, take it out and reinsert it; the fit is the problem, not the ear. And: wear them a few evenings while reading first, then the first night. Anyone who wants to last the whole night the first time is more likely to give up.
Hygiene with daily wear
Rinse every morning, let dry, into the case. With daily use the flanges age faster, so check regularly for cracks and hard spots. The full guide is in the article Cleaning and caring for earplugs.
When earplugs are not the answer
With ear pain, a cold with pressure on the ears or after ear treatment, talk to a doctor first. And if your partner's snoring comes with pauses in breathing at night, that belongs with a doctor, not in earplugs.
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