Flare Calmer Night – Sleeping Ear Plugs Alternative – Reduce Annoying Noises Without Blocking Sound – Extra Soft Reusable Silicone – Black

I opted for the "night" version of these buds because they're supposedly softer than the regular ones. I'm glad I did — they are comfortable and work great, no fatigue or pain in my ear. I'm a petite adult woman and did not need to get the smaller size. TL;DR: I have auditory hypersensitivity, and the moment I inserted these Calmer buds, I noticed an immediate difference in ambient sound levels. I tested them out in various places around my house (loud cracking door, certain appliances, cat meowing loudly in the kitchen, etc.) and was amazed at the difference. It FEELS like you're wearing earplugs, but you can still hear everything. It’s just that the "grating edge" is now gone. Quality is excellent. Instructions are simple. I suggest not using the mesh bag they come in (it sheds fibers) and finding a different container. These really make a difference for those of us with auditory hypersensitivity. FULL REVIEW: I have neural intensity. In the American educational system, this is called "giftedness," which is honestly a misnomer because the defining factor of giftedness is an intensity of neural connections in the brain — and with that, you can already begin to understand how sensory input and the nervous system might be affected. ("Giftedness" is not the same thing as autism/ASD, although the two can overlap in some people. FWIW, I don't have ASD.) A huge segment of gifted people also have sensory processing sensitivities, and are called "twice-exceptional," commonly abbreviated as "2e." I'm 37 now, and back in the 1990s when I was in elementary school, educators didn't understand giftedness as neural intensity but, rather, as a high IQ coupled with impressive academic and/or creative performance. Unfortunately, back then there were no resources for the emotional intensity or sensory processing issues that accompany giftedness. I suffered from noise-induced anxiety throughout my childhood. Even now, certain sounds still create a PTSD response in me. Examples include dishes clanking against each other, garage doors opening, babies/children screaming, fire alarms, sirens — all of those things used to (honestly still do) startle or even terrify me, activating my nervous system and sending me into "fight or flight" mode. Additionally, my parents used to joke/lament that, as a kid, I had supersonic hearing because I could easily hear conversations three rooms away. My noise-induced anxiety shows up even now that I’m an adult: I completely lose my train of thought if someone makes a loud noise, if a phone rings during my work presentation, if a dog starts barking, etc. All these things, I learned, are signs of auditory hypersensitivity. (I have more examples, but that will suffice for this review.) During COVID lockdown this past year, I took it upon myself to learn more about what it means to have a "gifted" brain as an adult — because, of course, we don't just grow out of it. On a hunch, I got tested for sensory processing issues with a local audiologist. To my immense relief and validation, I learned that I do indeed have auditory hypersensitivity, which puts me into that "2e" category I mentioned earlier. Researchers believe auditory sensory overload is due to the amygdala not being an effective "air-traffic controller" like it is in neurotypical folks. The amygdala is also the part of the brain that keeps us safe by alerting us to potential danger — it triggers the fight/flight response, so it makes sense why certain noises can disrupt the nervous system. These Calmer buds showed up as a targeted ad on my Facebook feed. I'm honestly glad they did; it was one of the few times a FB ad has been truly useful for me. I decided to give them a try. I bought them with my own money and received absolutely no compensation, discount, or *anything whatsoever* for this review. HOW/WHY THESE WORK First, a caveat: I’m not an expert or a professional in the field of audiology, neurobiology, or speech language pathology. However, I want to share some information I’ve found in my layman’s research (using actual books, not just Google) in case it helps others. The Calmer buds appear to be a type of “passive filter,” which is a great tool recommended by audiologists for managing auditory hypersensitivity, hyperacusis, and central auditory processing disorder. Passive filters keep your hearing within normal limits but improve the following: (1) Your stressed/overloaded amygdala’s ability to serve as a better, more effective air-traffic controller. (2) Your ability to understand auditory information in loud or chaotic environments. Passive filters give you more control over your auditory environment and let you lower the amount of “auditory chaos” around you. EFFECTS AFTER TWO DAYS OF WEARING After two days of wearing these Calmer buds for several hours each time, I already feel less jumpy and frazzled overall. It just feels a bit more peaceful to be in my body. It's easier for me to write and focus on my work when I'm wearing these — in fact, I'm wearing them right now as I write this review. It's not that they make sounds quiet or muddy but, rather, that the "grating edge" is just... gone. "Muffled" is the word that comes closest, but that's not even totally accurate. It's hard to describe the difference because I’ve never used anything like these before. Sounds around my house that would ordinarily make me jump — like that old painted-over door that makes a piercing *CRACK!* sound when opened, or the dishwasher being unloaded, or my cat yelling an hour before dinnertime (lol) — are no longer quite so grating on my nervous system. Wearing these Calmer buds is like taking some kind of magical CBD for your hearing. I look forward to wearing these at the grocery store, around my toddler nieces and nephews (sooooo much screaming), and in other situations that are often auditorily overwhelming to me. SPECS & SET While wearing them, the buds are not visually obtrusive. You can't even see them from the front! From the side, they look a bit like a hearing aid or a tiny futuristic earbud. I do like the white color because it feels clean and fresh, and it makes the buds easier to see inside the black mesh pouch when I'm not wearing them. I haven't noticed any staining (earwax) but will report back if so. The set comes in blessedly plastic-free packaging (THANK YOU), inside a sealed, outer envelope made of paper-carton. You get: - The buds (in their own tiny, separate envelope) - Paper instructions - Black mesh cinch bag And that brings me to the one downside I've noticed: the mesh bag. It sheds polyester fibers that stick to the buds, because the sewn seam inside the bag has a raw edge and is not finished with any kind of overlocking stitch. I'm going to use a different container for my Calmer buds because I have no interest in sticking tiny fibers into my ear canals. Other than that, I haven't experienced any downsides to this set. WHAT'S UP WITH THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS? As for the folks who don't notice a difference when wearing these Calmer buds, I believe they are telling the truth. They may just have structural differences in their ear canal that make the effect of these buds less pronounced. Or maybe they don't have auditory hypersensitivity, neural intensity, and/or a frazzled amygdala. Or maybe they’re wearing the buds wrong*. Or some combination thereof. * (As shown in the photos uploaded by a different reviewer on Oct. 3, 2021; she’s wearing them backwards, with the antenna/pull-tab thingy on the wrong side, *and* she has barely inserted them at all.) I think these Calmer buds are designed for a specific purpose and a specific user, and unfortunately not everyone will fit that profile (or wear them correctly). But for me, the "supersonic hearing" kid? I noticed a massive difference the second I inserted them. SUMMARY I definitely recommend these Calmer buds to anyone in similar situation to me, who is "2e gifted" and has auditory hypersensitivity. It's like these buds were designed specifically for us! I wish I could have had this simple device as a kid — my nervous system would be an entirely different picture. I am certain that they are going to help me on my journey as I mend my frazzled nervous system. Amazing, amazing device. A+.

Edit: I changed my rating to 1 star because one of these ear buds got pushed in my ear canal while I was sleeping. I woke up in pain and couldn't get it out, so I had to go to the ER. I informed the manufacturer, but they were nonchalant and insist their product is safe. Avoid or use at your own risk. These definitely helped with my misophonia. At night I hyper focus on small repetitive noises like ticking clocks, dog licking his bum, or my husband's slight snoring and it drives me crazy and keeps me from getting restful sleep. I put my Calmer Night buds o in my ears in the evening and I could tell the subtle difference. You can still hear, but it takes the edge from triggering sounds. The true test was at night and it definitely helped me sleep better. The Calmer Night earbuds fit inside my ears snug and secure, they're so comfy I forgot I was wearing them at one point. I would recommended giving these a try if you have misophonia.

What these aren't - So first, I'm not sure why people would think that these are earplugs. They clearly have a hole through them. What it helps is when the type of noise is more irritating than the noise level itself. If the noise level is loud (think airplane flight or construction right outside), people need active noise cancelling (ANC) earbuds (e.g. JBL Tune 230NC TWS) or over-ear headphones (e.g. Sony XM5). The standard ear plugs that sound isolate are a poor substitute, because those feel like you're underwater and can sometimes hear your own heartbeat through them - fine for sleeping or lounging, I guess, but not when going about the day. Actual review - These are excellent for reducing the impact of obnoxious-to-me noises like road noises, lawn mower, high pitched whines, etc. They're distant enough to be annoying (40 dB or so) but not from the noise perspective itself, though I do sometimes put in ANC earbuds. The noises become less grating, though can still be heard, which means that I can still play music from speakers. These still let your ears "breathe". Wearing actual earbuds all day are bad for your ears. For people these don't work for (and understand their purpose), I wonder if it's from people who like white and pink noise. I can't stand those high frequencies and prefer green or brown noise. Fit - If they're uncomfortable, they might either be the wrong size or be getting inserted incorrectly. The pull tab side goes towards the back of your ear, almost laying flat against it, and it gets inserted further in than the picture shows, so it's a pretty snug fit, as the bend matches up with where your ear bends. So, if you're looking at it, you're looking at the pull tab side, then inserting even with the ear canal and angling it in (tip shouldn't be scraping against the ear). Tinnitus - On tinnitus (no hearing loss), it minorly helps, but the tinnitus is definitely still there.

The pros: I am autistic and work in a mall, which can get very overstimulating very quickly. These are amazing in a food court especially as they help reduce background noise like buzzing lights. They also fit underneath the headset I wear at work and they're barely noticeable, which is awesome. The cons: I have now lost two pairs because they slip easily out of the carrying bag, no matter how tightly I cinch it. I bought a zipper case for them this time. Also, this time I ordered them in black and they came in white... so -1 star for that. Overall, though? 8.5/10.

I read so many reviews before settling on these as a hoped for relief from sensory overload. I do not have any particular diagnosis, just a household of children under 5 and a chatty spouse in a loud, echoey house. At first I thought I was putting them on wrong because they did absolutely nothing. No sound was changed when I did "before" and "after" tests the first day. But then...I wore them all day for a few days in a row and did notice that I felt...calmer? less annoyed?? at the end of the day. On the third or fourth evening of wearing them all day I adjusted one while watching tv, and when I removed it I was SHOCKED by all the sounds I was hearing with one of them out. The hiss of the gas fireplace. The static from something electrical. The heat blowing. The tinniness of the clock on the wall. I couldn't believe it -- they work! They are canceling out some under-the-radar sounds that, over the day, add up to me feeling overwhelmed. I am interested in trying the loops brand to compare how they work differently.

I'm hypersensitive to noise and will wake up many times a night due to sudden sounds. I got a pair of black Calmer Nights as a gift, and unfortunately lost one of the earbuds after only two nights. Two months later, I still remembered how lovely it had been sleeping those nights undisturbed by sharp/sudden noises, and I purchased a set in white hoping this color will be harder to loose (plus I have a spare black bud now if needed). I wore them last night and am happy to say I didn't once wake up in the night due to noise, just like my first two-day trial. Typically a neighbor's dog will wake me, or I'll hear a door shut, or a tree branch scrape the house, I'll hear a person sneeze, etc etc. But when I have the Calmer Nights in, it really does take the sharpness off of the noise- which is what disturbs me the most. I don't really notice the noises being dampened during awake hours, but I do notice I am not nearly as distracted or agitated by certain sounds. Fit/Feel: My ears seem to reject the buds and feel waxy not long after putting them in. I recommend cleaning out your ears a bit before and after wearing. They are soft but I still notice their presence. In order for them to stay in my ears all night, I put the buds in my ears and push them using the tip of my fingernail, pushing on the edge that's across from the stem. It feels like it goes in kinda far, but the stem still sticks out enough for me to feel it going in further with some pressure when I lie on my side/ear. My ears will ache if they are in too far. The stem may need to be trimmed to be more comfortable, but it's not enough discomfort to keep me awake. Make sure the stem is curved towards your nose, and then you'll know you have it facing the right way. My suggestion to the manufacturer is that they make a pair glow-in-the-dark, or UV reactive, so they can be found easier if they get lost. It's very disappointing to lose one, but I do not regret buying second set.

I am so impressed with these. They don't replace the need for earplugs in certain situations, but they're usable in so many more contexts. Loud sounds are still loud, but the sharp aspect that usually makes me cringe and cover my ears is attenuated. Speech, my own and others', is completely unaffected. I can have a conversation on the sidewalk next to traffic in these without straining to focus and getting super anxious. They're like a filter that makes all sounds less annoying. They don't do it perfectly, but it's so much better than the only options being earplugs or nothing. They attenuate noise less than ANC headphones... but they can also be worn under over-the-ear headphones if you like. I got the night version because they're a little softer and I have small ears and, obviously, sensory sensitivities. Also one of my ear canals is a bit of a weird shape. It's indeed harder to insert the waveguide on that side, but I can get it in place with just a bit of fiddling. I don't think I need the mini size but I might try them at some point. These are very comfortable to wear for long periods, but I don't forget they're there. They don't start to hurt, but I can feel them. These are super tiny and can be hard to find if you drop them. Be warned. Also, the bag they come with kind of sucks. They'll fit in a Loop case on their own, or pretty much any coin purse or similar.

I'm leaving this review for both the regular size and the mini, since fool that I am I bought both of them. You might be going through reviews wondering, "Wait, is this a scam or does it work?" I would classify it as both--a scam that works. Let me explain. On the good side of it, I really do think these help. They line the inside of your ear and oh-so-subtly change the way sounds hit you without making you unable to hear conversations, TV, traffic, or anything else you'd need as part of life. You don't consciously notice a difference, yet you become a different person. If you want to actually "block out" noises, these ain't it, but if you want to remain hearing and functional while blunting the impact of SPD and/or autism, this may be the ticket for you. If you don't have SPD or autism or a related issue regarding overstimulation, they probably won't do anything at all for you. If you do, it could be life-changing. The bad. So...after getting my first pair (the regular size) I started having increasingly severe pain in my ear canal and jaw. I've had this problem even just with foam earplugs, my jawbone apparently presses into my ear canal, and anything creating too much pressure in there becomes torture. I ordered the minis hoping for some relief. However, the minis are SO much smaller than the regular size, it's ridiculous, they're literally like half the size, and there is just no size in between. (I saw multiple comments on Reddit from people who are between sizes.) I tried to use the minis anyway, they were sort of usable (if possibly less effective) crammed deeper in my ear. But being so undersized they sometimes fell out. This went on until ultimately I lost one of the minis and couldn't find it. (And no, the "secure" option would not fix this problem for me, it would be much more irritating in a sensory way to have things constantly brushing against strings attached to my ear canals.) Since my left ear canal seems to somehow be smaller/more painful, I got by for a few days with the mini in my left ear and the regular in my right. Until both ears, though especially my right, were in such pain I just had to take them out and couldn't put anything at all in them for a while, they were so inflamed and irritated and swollen from the constant pressure on them. I contemplated trying to buy more minis. But having bought two pairs of these things, I was already $50 in the hole for these tiny pieces of silicone that likely cost pennies to produce. Could I really go deeper in and be over $70 down for these overpriced things, that are actually still too small and I'd likely lose in a matter of days? For the amount they charge, considering how easy it is to lose the damn things, they should at least give you a *lot* of them. Like 20 or 50 or something. So you don't feel like breaking down and sobbing when you realize you've lost one of these overpriced pieces of garbage and you can't find it and you can't function without it and you can't afford to keep buying them at this rate. It's downright predatory and exploitative. It's not like people with autism and SPD are loaded with cash. This is something that only helps you if you have a disability. In addition to sending much more in a pack, they should offer packs with multiple sizes--the mini, the regular, and an in-between size. And all of them are simply too stiff, I believe the unnecessarily firm silicone is what caused my pain. Even the minis were painful to keep in for longer periods of time, which if you're using this to cope with autism/SPD, you basically have to. I got the "sleep" ones for both day and night, but they were still much too firm. They need to use a way softer shore, one of those that feels like marshmallows or something. I was afraid to trim the little bits that stick out, fearing they helped dull sounds somehow, but I think they are literally just meant to help you retrieve them, like the stem on a menstrual cup. They contributed to irritating my ears, so if they bother you and you feel confident retrieving them without that, snip snip. Anyway, contemplating what to do about this and if there were any alternatives, but determined to not give these predatory scammers more of my money--even if their product does work, there's no reason at all to include only one pair at this price point--I came up with something even better. For this you need a bit of silicone tubing, such as a snipped-off bit of a reusable silicone straw, I used the silicone loops on a tether meant to hold onto a pair of AirPods because it was what I had lying around. Next, you get those silicone earplugs that they sell in every drug store cheap, the soft squishy ones that are good for preventing swimmers' ear. Pinch off a bit of the silicone earplug (one plug will get you through more than a pair) and shape it around the bit of snipped-off tube, to kind of create your own Flare Calmer. Stuff that in your ear, mush it around till it fits. The straw should keep the space open, and the silicone earplug material should be very soft and mold to your ear canal. It's a better fit, softer and so much more comfortable, and CHEAPER and easier to replace if lost. What these things do is not that deep. They line the walls of your ear canal to dampen sound waves from ricocheting around in there, while allowing you to hear by allowing sound wave that go straight in. I was worried it had to be some extremely specific shape or something or it wouldn't work, but nah. My DIY'd ones work great, better even. I wish I had known that before I spent $50 on a product I only used for a few days and can't use without pain, but well, now you don't have to.