Q&A

Subject: Hearing protection for flying

From: EM

Dear Mrs. Ingersoll, My husband and I have recently begun private pilot training. We would like to be able to take our Siberian Husky along on trips. What is the best way for us to protect her hearing? Our vet suggested simply stuffing cotton in her ears. Will this be enough? Do you have any suggestions for protection for us humans? Sincerely, EM

Dear Mrs. M,
I am more prepared to offer advice to humans! The high noise levels incurred in servicing and flying small planes can cause cumulative damage to hearing. You see airport personnel wearing ear muffs to protect their hearing and they are probably the most effective protection for that environment. Foam ear plugs are amazingly comparable. These devices, such as those sold under the name E.A.R. plugs, look like cylindrical sponges. You squish them into as small a stick as possible and insert them into the ear canal, holding your finger on the outside for about 10 seconds. The plugs gradually expand to really fit the ear canal. Since they expand gradually, you do not get the feeling of vacuum in your ear. When they get waxy, they may be washed, though most folks just throw them away and use a new pair since they are quite inexpensive. People without earplugs tend to talk louder in the noisy environments and their voices come in quite easily to the listener wearing ear protection.

I have a concern about using cotton in your dog's ears because the cotton fibers may get stuck in the wax of his ears and cause problems of its own. I wonder if you could fashion pillow foam into a block similar to the E.A.R. plugs and thereby provide a measure of protection for your pet? E.A.R. plugs are made from a heavy filled foam that is much better than ordinary foam at sound reduction. Do you suppose your dog would tolerate ear muffs? The clamping strap across the top could be bent to fit her head. I'd love to hear what you come up with and will pass your solution along to other web surfers.

Solveig