New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Ignored in the hustle of everyday life, our hearing is often a silent casualty to honking traffic, loud coworkers, barking strays and partying neighbors who treat midnight like prime time-not to forget excessive exposure at music concerts or louder-than-necessary bars, many of which seem to have a personal vendetta against your ears.

Silence is a luxury, and if it were a streaming service, most of us would happily pony up for the premium plan. Ergo, earplugs, and not the garden variety you may have used in the past, but purpose-built solutions like those on offer from Loop and Sennheiser, no matter whether you're looking to block out ambient noise (or snores) at night or for cutting out harmful frequencies while mai...