Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Blocked maybe 25% of sound. Not enough to keep me asleep.

I bought these as a temporary solution to blocking out nightly coughing from a family member. I'm a very light sleeper, and had to keep my door open to allow the air conditioning to get in. After several nights of no sleep, I bought these hoping they would block out the coughing (from downstairs) and I would be able to fall asleep.Well I was very disappointed in how they worked (or rather, how they DIDN'T work). They do not 'expand in the ear' as the package claims. I followed the instructions to the letter, but even then they only blocked maybe 25% of the sound. I could still hear everything, it was simply muffled. I expect earplugs to BLOCK sound, not just muffle it. I wonder if I got a bad batch, as other people are suggesting? Either way, I won't be buying these again. Putting a pillow against my ear blocked more sound than these worthless things.