What are the most irksome sounds you can imagine? Nails scraping down a chalkboard? Blaring car alarms? It’s possible that our ears, honed through millennia of evolution, are primed to find such sounds particularly grating, serving as an alert to potential danger.
While this was advantageous for our ancient ancestors on the lookout for lurking predators, for modern humans, it’s simply vexing. According to audio specialists Flare, the eardrum’s shape acts like a bell, amplifying distortion by 20db.
This bothersome distortion could impact our mental and physical well-being. Enter Flare Calmer earplugs, designed to alter the eardrum’s shape and filter out the irritating frequencies between 2,000-8,000 Hz. The goal? To reduce ear fatigue, noise-induced headaches, and overall stress levels.
Do they deliver? Well, gauging the extent to which earplugs can alleviate stress amidst a global pandemic, street protests, and the constant threat of interruptions during Zoom meetings is challenging. However, after nearly constant use for several weeks, the benefits are apparent.
For starters, the most bothersome day-to-day frequencies are noticeably diminished, making them ultimately less irritating. This also applies when wearing them under headphones; while they subtly alter sounds, they impart a warmer tone to music and dial down intensity.
An unexpected side effect reported by some users, though unverified by Flare, is a reduction in the constant ringing experienced by those with tinnitus.
