Custom Hearing Protection & Ear Plugs

From £120 per pair for the simplest custom plugs (typically swim plugs). Specialist plugs with acoustic filters — concert/musician plugs, drummer plugs, industrial filters, shooting filters — cost more depending on the filter style. Your audiologist will quote a firm price during your consultation.

Both appointments. Your first visit is a 30-minute appointment with a HCPC-registered audiologist: you talk through what you are protecting against, your audiologist recommends the right plug type and attenuation level, and then takes the impressions. When your plugs come back from the UK lab we see you again for a fitting appointment, try them in and check the seal and comfort are right. Both visits are covered by the price — and if the fit still isn't right, we will remould or alter them free of charge within two weeks of collection.

Around 2–3 weeks from your impression appointment to the finished plugs being ready. You come in for a short impression appointment first, the impressions go to a UK manufacturing lab, then you come back for a fitting appointment when the plugs return.

Yes, significantly. They seal properly (foam plugs only seal if rolled and inserted correctly every time). The filter inside attenuates sound evenly, so music and speech still sound natural rather than muffled. And they are comfortable enough to wear for hours.

It depends on the environment. Live music typically calls for a 15–25 dB filter; drumming and percussion 20–25 dB; industrial use 20–30 dB depending on noise level; shooting 30+ dB. Your audiologist will recommend the right filter strength for your specific use case.

With normal care, several years — often 4–6 years or more. The acrylic or silicone is durable, and the filters are usually replaceable.

No. A small foam dam goes into the canal first to protect the eardrum. Then we inject medical-grade silicone into the canal and the outer ear; it sets in 5–10 minutes. The sensation is a mild fullness — not painful.

VIP Hearing Solutions does not offer paediatric audiology — our service is for patients aged 16 and over. For younger children, ask your GP or an ENT paediatric service.

We can't take an accurate impression through wax — it would change the shape of the resulting plug. If otoscopy shows wax, we book you in for a quick microsuction first. Ear wax removal is £65 for new patients — both ears included — at all three clinics; if you have visited us before, your clinic will confirm the price when you book.

Yes — protecting your remaining hearing is even more important. If you have hearing loss we'd encourage a full hearing test first to understand the picture; we can then design custom plugs that protect your hearing without making your existing loss worse.

No. Book directly with us. The full custom-protection service is available at our London, Eastcote and Brentwood clinics.

Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm at all three clinics. Same-day where possible; otherwise within the same week.

Not directly — but they can prevent your tinnitus getting worse by stopping further noise damage. If your tinnitus was triggered or aggravated by noise exposure, custom protection in noisy environments is one of the most evidence-based interventions you can make.

Yes — sometimes useful for musicians (e.g. drummers wanting more attenuation on the snare side) or single-side shooters. Your audiologist will discuss the trade-offs.

Yes — minor refits and adjustments are part of the service. If your plugs don't seal properly or aren't comfortable when you collect them, we'll adjust or remake at no additional charge. And if you get them home and the fit still isn't right, we will remould or alter them free of charge within two weeks of collection — just call the clinic that fitted them.

Yes — for industrial, hospitality and HSE-relevant fittings, we provide written attenuation documentation (SNR / HML values) appropriate for occupational compliance. Mention this when you book.