Custom Hearing Protection in Dripping Springs
Custom earplugs fit by Dr. Paige Juarez, your Doctor of Audiology and a neighbor here in Dripping Springs. Whether you hunt, shoot at the range, or work around loud equipment, they protect your hearing while letting you hear what matters.
See what the visit looks like
Custom fit · molded from impressions of your ears What the visit looks like
What to expect at your hearing protection fitting
- Step 1
We talk about your noise
First, you talk through where the noise comes from: hunting, target shooting, loud work, or live music. Your answers help Dr. Juarez choose the plug that fits how you use it.
- Step 2
A close look and a quick hearing check
Dr. Juarez checks your ear canals with a small camera, and you can follow along on the screen. It is also a good time for a quick baseline hearing screening, so you know exactly what you are protecting.
- Step 3
Impressions of your ears
A soft impression material is placed gently in each ear canal and sets in a few minutes. Those impressions go to Starkey, where your SoundGear plugs are made to the exact shape of your ears.
- Step 4
Fit, check, and go
When your plugs arrive, Dr. Juarez checks the seal and comfort in both ears, shows you how to put them in and take them out, and walks you through simple cleaning. You leave ready for your next hunt or shift.
The short version
What makes custom hearing protection different
Foam plugs can work, but only when they are rolled tight and pushed in deep, and most people do not get that right in a cold blind at dawn. They also work loose, fall out, and end up crushed in a jacket pocket. Custom plugs are molded to your ear canals, so they slide in the same way every time and stay comfortable through a long sit or a full shift.
Dr. Juarez fits Starkey SoundGear, a line of custom hearing protection made from impressions of your own ears. Most patients choose one of two styles.
SoundGear filtered plugs. A small acoustic filter cuts harmful noise while still letting you hear conversation, a radio, or movement in the brush. Filter options cover steady workplace noise as well as the sharp impulse of gunfire, so the plug is matched to what you actually face.
SoundGear musician plugs. These lower volume evenly across all pitches, so music sounds natural, just quieter. They are a good fit for players, worship teams, and anyone who spends nights near a loud stage.
- Custom fit
- molded from impressions of your ears
- Your filter
- matched to the noise you face
Is this you?
When it is worth booking a visit
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You hunt deer, hogs, or turkey, and you often skip ear protection because you want to hear animals moving nearby.
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You hunt dove, duck, or quail, where a single morning can mean dozens of shotgun blasts right next to your ear.
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You shoot at the range, compete, or teach others to shoot, and foam plugs never seem to stay put or seal the same way twice.
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Your work is loud: construction, ranch and farm equipment, landscaping, manufacturing, auto shops, or anywhere you have to raise your voice to be heard.
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You play music, run sound, or serve on a worship team, and you want to protect your ears without making everything sound muffled.
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Your ears ring or feel muffled after a hunt, a range day, or a long shift, even if it fades by morning.
Not sure you see yourself here? Call (512) 503-0024 and talk it through. If a visit is not worth your time, we will say so.
Why it matters
Protect your hearing before the damage is done.
Most hunters know gunfire is loud. Fewer know how little it takes to do lasting harm. Nearly every firearm produces a peak above 140 decibels, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association notes that noise at that level can permanently damage hearing after a single exposure. Shooting from an enclosed blind or alongside a group makes it worse. The damage often shows up first in the ear closest to the muzzle, and the ringing that follows a hunt can become permanent too.
Work noise is quieter, but it adds up. Hours around equipment, power tools, or machinery wear down hearing gradually, year after year, until speech starts to sound mumbled and the TV keeps creeping louder. In both cases the loss is preventable, and the fix is protection you will actually wear, every time.
That is why we often recommend a baseline hearing screening at your protection visit. Many hunters and shooters who come in for plugs already have some hearing changes they had not noticed. Dr. Paige Juarez, a Doctor of Audiology with more than 16 years of clinical experience, can show you where things stand today, so you know what you are protecting and can spot any changes at future visits.
As an independent practice, we help with all things hearing. If the screening points to something worth a closer look, a full diagnostic evaluation is right here, along with honest guidance on what comes next. If your hearing looks good, your custom plugs help keep it that way.
Fair questions
Common questions about custom hearing protection
Straight answers, the same ones you would get in the chair.
Will I still be able to hear game, my partner, or my coworkers?
Yes, that is the point of a filtered plug. The filter lowers harmful noise while letting softer sounds like conversation and movement come through, so you stay aware without leaving your ears exposed.
How long until my custom plugs are ready?
After your impressions are taken, your plugs are custom made by Starkey, so they take a little time to arrive. If you are planning around a hunt or a work start date, let us know when you book and we will help you time it.
Are custom plugs really better than foam?
Foam plugs protect well when they are inserted correctly, which is harder than it looks. Custom plugs fit the same way every time, stay comfortable for hours, and hold up well with simple care, so they actually get worn.
Why do you recommend a hearing screening at a protection visit?
Hearing loss from noise often creeps in without obvious signs. A quick screening gives you a baseline, so you know what you are protecting and Dr. Juarez can catch any change early at future visits.
Next step
Protect your hearing before your next hunt.
Custom SoundGear plugs made for your ears and fit by Dr. Juarez, plus a baseline hearing check so you know where you stand. On Hwy 290 near Headwaters in Dripping Springs.
- Where
- 1055 Kibo Ridge Ste 201
Dripping Springs, TX 78620 - Hours
- Mon–Thu 9:00–4:00
Fri 9:00–3:00 - Phone
- (512) 503-0024