Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?

AusJ · Post by **AusJ** » Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:12 pm

Hi all,

New to the forum but long-term CPAP user (10+ years). I am also autistic and have been going through autistic burnout for over a year. This has exacerbated my sensory issues significantly and I am now finding that noise (and temperature) are having much more of an impact than they used to in disturbing my sleep. Fortunately my CPAP machine (Philips Dreamstation) doesn't tend to be an issue in this regard (probably because it's not a sharp noise and relatively continous).

My wife and I have upgraded our bedroom window so that external noise is no longer a problem, but noise created by her getting up in the night or earlier than me still is.

Unfortunately I really struggle with earplugs and have never found a pair that didn't get painful within 20 to 30 minutes. That leaves me with trying to find a low-profile sleep mask or earmuffs that reduces noise to some degree (doesn't have to block everything, just needs to reduce the impact of sharp noises - in fact, blocking everything would probably be a bad idea, as I really struggle with the pressure sensations from noise-cancelling headphones). The other challenge is that whatever solution needs to be compatible with my existing full face mask (Quattro FX, which unfortunately I'm going to have find an alternative for in a year or two due no longer being produced). I've done some initial searches, but am really struggling to find anything that isn't either full-blown industrial earmuffs (which aren't suitable since I often sleep on my side) or sleep masks that do nothing to block noise.

I am hoping somebody has a few recommendations. Thanks.

mlmollenkamp · Post by **mlmollenkamp** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:34 pm

I've used a noise machine for many years. It masks other noises, and makes sudden noises much less intrusive. I traveled for business for many years, every hotel sounds different and always woke me up. With a noise machine every hotel room sounds like my bedroom at home. I use the Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan Classic, and I have a very small LectroFan for travel. Both work well for me. If you want something that covers your ears and totally kills all noise look at the RENPHO Neck Pillow on Amazon. It's extremely effective but not terribly comfortable.

pisco21 · Post by **pisco21** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 7:00 am

Like mlmollenkamp, I also travel a lot, and have taken to bringing a small travel speaker with me. That allows me to listen to music when i'm in the hotel room, but it also allows me to run a noise generating app off of my phone. I run it all night long, loud enough to cover up the hotel room noises.

Recently, I've started to do the same thing at home. Our dogs sleep in our bedroom, and they're often noisy! Snoring, or dreaming or whatever... having that noise generator to cover up the sounds really helps me to sleep better!

Bose used to make a set of sleep earbuds; they sold off the design to a group of former Bose employees who started a company to sell them. I forget the name... but there were very good at keeping sounds down, as well as generating white noise to cover up sounds. Others make similar, you could look for them on Amazon.

I've tried just regular ear plugs for sleeping, but they don't work well enough to make a difference for me.

Conrad · Post by **Conrad** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 7:29 am

AusJ wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:12 pm
Hi all,

New to the forum but long-term CPAP user (10+ years). I am also autistic and have been going through autistic burnout for over a year. This has exacerbated my sensory issues significantly and I am now finding that noise (and temperature) are having much more of an impact than they used to in disturbing my sleep. Fortunately my CPAP machine (Philips Dreamstation) doesn't tend to be an issue in this regard (probably because it's not a sharp noise and relatively continous).

My wife and I have upgraded our bedroom window so that external noise is no longer a problem, but noise created by her getting up in the night or earlier than me still is.

Unfortunately I really struggle with earplugs and have never found a pair that didn't get painful within 20 to 30 minutes. That leaves me with trying to find a low-profile sleep mask or earmuffs that reduces noise to some degree (doesn't have to block everything, just needs to reduce the impact of sharp noises - in fact, blocking everything would probably be a bad idea, as I really struggle with the pressure sensations from noise-cancelling headphones). The other challenge is that whatever solution needs to be compatible with my existing full face mask (Quattro FX, which unfortunately I'm going to have find an alternative for in a year or two due no longer being produced). I've done some initial searches, but am really struggling to find anything that isn't either full-blown industrial earmuffs (which aren't suitable since I often sleep on my side) or sleep masks that do nothing to block noise.

I am hoping somebody has a few recommendations. Thanks.

I think that you're going to be out of luck here.

I've never heard of a noise reducing sleep mask, never. What would something like this even look like? A turban that you pull down over your eyes and ears?

I think that you're going to be out of luck finding a low profile set of 'earmuffs' as well. None of these devices are going to be low profile enough to be comfortable while you sleep on your side.

This leaves ear plugs, which you say you can't wear, right? I assume that this also eliminates noise cancelling earbuds as well? I have a couple of pairs of these things, Sony and Apple. Both work great but I don't think that I could sleep on my side while using them.

Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?

Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?

Re: Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?

Re: Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?

Re: Recommendations for low-profile earmuffs/noise reduction sleep masks?