Isn't this what they're for? :think2:
I'm sure they aren't marketed to stick in your ear, lots of liability issues there, but that's what they get used for.
This came up about 30 years ago in HS health class. The teacher was also soccer coach, and a numismatist, I knew him from the coin shop, long before that, even though I was like 14. I was on a first name basis with him... as well as many of my HS teachers. Joe was the soccer coach, I used to drink at bars with my math teacher (Jeff).
Joe, got sucked into teaching "Health".... he basically said that he stuck Q-Fucking -Tips in his ears, and didn't have a better suggestion than "be careful about it".
I believe that is what most are really used for today.