Amanda Foster, CIH
Certified Industrial Hygienist

Amanda Foster, CIH

Amanda Foster is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) who has spent her career assessing occupational noise exposure and hearing protection compliance under OSHA and NIOSH standards. She writes TheHearingDesk's hearing protection and noise-exposure coverage, including our earplug testing methodology.

Articles by Amanda Foster, CIH

AiroCore ZeroFeel Filter Stack Review: Honest Test Results
Reviews
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Amanda Foster, CIH

AiroCore ZeroFeel Filter Stack Review: Honest Test Results

AiroCore is a newer entrant in the high-fidelity earplug space, built around a five-layer filter stack. We tested it against the same criteria as every other product on this site.

Best Earplugs for Concerts & Loud Music 2026
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

Best Earplugs for Concerts & Loud Music 2026

High-fidelity earplugs cut volume without muffling the music. We compared seven of the most established options, need-by-need.

Best Earplugs for Motorcycle Riding
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

Best Earplugs for Motorcycle Riding

Wind and engine noise at highway speed regularly exceeds 100 dB. Here's what actually protects hearing on long rides.

Best Earplugs for Shooting Range Use
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

Best Earplugs for Shooting Range Use

Impulse noise from firearms can exceed 140 dB in a single shot. These earplugs are rated for it.

Best Earplugs for Sleeping 2026 (Lab-Tested)
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

Best Earplugs for Sleeping 2026 (Lab-Tested)

We tested noise reduction rating, comfort for side-sleepers, and reusability across the leading sleep earplugs on the market.

Foam vs. Silicone vs. Filtered Earplugs: What's the Difference?
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

Foam vs. Silicone vs. Filtered Earplugs: What's the Difference?

Three earplug materials, three very different jobs. Here's how to pick the right type before you compare individual products.

How Loud Is a Concert? Decibel Levels Explained
Sleep & Noise
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Amanda Foster, CIH

How Loud Is a Concert? Decibel Levels Explained

A typical rock concert peaks well above the threshold for hearing damage in under 15 minutes. Here's the actual decibel data.

NRR Explained: How to Read Earplug Noise Reduction Ratings
Hearing Protection
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Amanda Foster, CIH

NRR Explained: How to Read Earplug Noise Reduction Ratings

A 33 dB NRR earplug does not block 33 dB of real-world noise. Here's the math OSHA actually uses, and why it matters for your purchase.

Independent testing. No manufacturer pays for placement on this site.

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