Custom electronic switchable hearing protection system

A hearing protection system comprising:

• an earplug formed from a compliant material and comprising:
• a first portion configured to be disposed in a user's outer ear, the first portion including a recessed cavity having an inner profile;
• a second portion having a distal end configured for insertion into the user's ear canal, the second portion including a sound tube having:
• a first opening disposed within the recessed cavity of the first portion;
• and
• a second opening disposed at the distal end of the second portion;
• and
• an electronic hearing device received at least partially within the recessed cavity of the earplug, the electronic hearing device comprising:
• a microphone assembly for receiving external sound and generating an electrical sound signal based thereon;
• electronics that amplify the electrical sound signal and that include digital signal processing that provides fast compression programming to shut off sound amplification to protect the user when a loud noise is detected, and to resume sound amplification after the loud noise ends;
• a speaker assembly for generating sound based on the electrical sound signal;
• a first switching device configured to be operated by the user to activate or deactivate the electronics, the first switching device comprising a toggle switch having a toggle lever that is operable to move between a first switch position and a second switch position;
• a housing in which the microphone assembly, speaker assembly and electronics are disposed, the housing having:
• a front surface;
• a rear surface opposite the front surface;
• a side surface disposed between the front and rear surfaces;
• and
• a sound aperture disposed in the rear surface or side surface for emitting the sound from the speaker assembly, the sound aperture aligned with the first opening of the sound tube, thereby permitting the sound generated by the speaker assembly to propagate through the sound tube to the second opening;
• and
• a slider disposed adjacent the front surface of the housing that is operable to slide between a first slider position and a second slider position,
• wherein the toggle lever of the first switching device is moved to the first switch position as the slider is moved to the first slider position, and wherein the toggle lever of the first switching device is moved to the second switch position as the slider is moved to the second slider position.

An electronic hearing device for use in a hearing aid or a hearing protection system, the electronic hearing device comprising:

• a microphone assembly for receiving external sound and generating an electrical sound signal based thereon;
• electronics that amplify the electrical sound signal;
• a speaker assembly for generating sound based on the electrical sound signal;
• a first switching device configured to be operated by the user to activate or deactivate the electronics, the first switching device comprising a toggle switch having a toggle lever that is operable to move between a first switch position and a second switch position;
• a housing in which the microphone assembly, speaker assembly and electronics are disposed, the housing having:
• a front surface;
• a rear surface opposite the front surface;
• a side surface disposed between the front and rear surfaces;
• and
• a microphone aperture through which sound travels to the microphone assembly;
• a sound aperture disposed in the rear surface or side surface for emitting the sound from the speaker assembly;
• and
• a slider disposed adjacent the front surface of the housing that is operable to slide between a first slider position and a second slider position,
• wherein the toggle lever of the first switching device is moved to the first switch position as the slider is moved to the first slider position, and wherein the toggle lever of the first switching device is moved to the second switch position as the slider is moved to the second slider position, and
• wherein the slider substantially blocks sound from reaching the microphone aperture when the slider is in the first slider position, and the microphone aperture receives sound when the slider is in the second slider position.