These type of muffs can be problematic when they limit communication or impair situational awareness. Many applications are better off with a pair of amplifying earmuffs. As an example, Walker's Razor Slim are good for sustained and impulse noises, and don't impede communication or situational awareness. With everyone using them, you can talk to people farther away. They do impair speech direction localization and conversation discrimination because the phase of sounds aren't preserved exactly as they were.