But meanwhile, I’m grateful to have Calmer to help me deal with these sounds day to day, and we’re so happy that they’re helping others in our community too. I kept them in for a few hours to work and didn’t feel they did much for me in quieter surroundings. This design makes them look like cool jewellery, but it also means they’re easy to twist in and out of your ear canal. Misophonia – and the resulting noise sensitivity anxiety – can affect socializing, working life, and even carrying out normal daily activities.

Misophonia is not the same as hyperacusis, which is when everyday sounds seem much louder than they should and does not provoke strong reactions. You’ll want a good level of noise reduction to decrease the intensity of sounds to a more comfortable level. Misophonia earplugs can help to reduce the volume and intensity of trigger sounds, helping you to stay calm and composed.

People with misophonia are at a constant disadvantage in life, as sound and noises exist everywhere. Although setting 4 meets a hearing protection standard, there’s not much detail available about the technical build of the Knops or the pipe design inside. It is estimated that around one in five people have misophonia, to a varying extent, with less than one percent of people displaying the most acute symptoms. Some earplug brands are frequently recommended in lists, forums and groups for neurodiverse people, as well as those with misophonia and hyperacusis. For years our team have been re-thinking the design of audio speakers and earphones and developing technology to reduce the detrimental distortion that traditional approaches can’t address.

Plus, the Loop Engage is specially designed to reduce the impact of the occlusion effect – the annoying ‘head underwater’ feeling you sometimes get with earplugs.

People on the autism spectrum, or those with ADHD, might find quiet sounds shockingly loud or have trouble processing sounds in different environments. You may find yourself always eating alone or avoiding close physical contact, which can have a huge impact on your mental health. It’s possible that people who are wearing earplugs all the time can increase avoidance behaviours or make sensitivities worse. Then some might feel irritated by sounds now and again or find it difficult to focus when they’re in crowded or noisy spaces. I think the worst part about them, unfortunately, is that they HIGHLY magnify whatever noises you’re making (much like plugging your ears).

Other people like moldable earplugs, which are recommended if you need to keep your ears dry while swimming or showering. The pipe acts as an acoustic filter, which is the basis for wind musical instruments, and the thinking behind earplugs that claim to attenuate different sounds and frequencies. I found the Calmer Pro buds significantly less comfortable, though, suitable only for about 2-3 hours max in my experience. However, their ease of use make them a great companion for a night of live music if you're sensitive to loud sounds but don't want to miss out. If you have ADHD it can be particularly useful, as you can block out irritating sounds but feel stimulated by your own music as and when you want.It also means that we may have a better understanding of the reasons behind Misophonia, and more public awareness in the not too distant future.