Sleepbuds II are designed to mask unwanted nighttime noise and disturbances. Because of this, they can affect your ability to hear other sounds, such as alarms, warning systems, people, or pets.\rTo balance the levels of noise masking and awareness desired, you can set an appropriate volume level for your needs within the Bose Sleep app. The volume should be high enough to mask disturbing noises, but not so high that you can’t confidently be awoken by the sounds you want to hear. If you are still concerned about your ability to hear sounds while wearing Sleepbuds II, you may want to take alternative measures, such as relying on a partner, wearing only one earbud, or scheduling the masking sound timer.