Inclusivity Reports

Loop Earplugs are a sensory friendly motivated brand, made to help protect hearing and sanity. With numerous options for sound blocking, including Engage, Experience, and Quiet. Each earplug is made with a different purpose in mind – The namesake. Engage is an earplug designed to reduce background noise while keeping what matters at an appropriate volume. The Experience earplug reduces all noise, while still keeping everything audible. Quiet is the highest level of sound blocking available from Loop. You may be asking, “how can I choose?!” Well, Loop’s website is designed to help you pick! As well as in depth descriptions and reviews on each product, there is a test that will determine which sound aid will help you the best.

Still can’t choose? My recommendation is Loop Switch! This is an earbud designed with all three previously mentioned levels of sound blocking. A slider on the side of the device that allows you to… switch… between sound blocking! Three circles along the slider, one open, one half filled in, and one closed-to symbolize the Engage, Experience, and Quiet modes, respectively. My favorite modes to use are Engage and Quiet. 

Engage is named well, it does make me feel much more present in my environment, without the distractions of the busy café I’m writing from. The workers washing the dishes is no longer a harsh hose of water, but a dull roar of an ocean. There is foot traffic and busy talk, but feels like a background TV show compared to my current focus. 

Experience is my least favorite. While it does work at muffling overall noise and still letting you remain aware of your environment, I find that I can hear my breathing exceptionally well on this mode, and it ends up making me anxious after a while. This may be a mode better suited for people who work in noisy environments but still need to hear everything, like transportation or factory work. 

Quiet is my second favorite, like being teleported into your own world. External noise may leak through, but it feels as if the sound is from a dream, or as if you are in a dream. This is the mode I use when I am most overwhelmed, or need to focus without any distractions at all. 

Loop earplugs are an exceptional device to protect hearing from harsh, loud sounds, and to protect peace of mind from repetitive, high-pitched sounds. They are comfortable and easy to wash, and they come in a cute little circular carrying case. The earbuds are labeled right and left ear to ensure they are being used correctly.