Noise is a ubiquitous presence in our daily lives. Our environment—from commute sounds and lawnmowers to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. Without proper care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your ears. With National Protect Your Hearing Month taking place in October, now is the prime time to dedicate attention to keeping safe your hearing.
8 tips to protect your hearing
Luckily, some simple measures exist that allow you to insulate your hearing from common environmental sounds. The following are eight major pointers for maintaining your hearing health.
1. Know volume levels and their impact
The most important action for averting auditory damage is to determine when a sound level becomes hazardous. Diverse noises generate different decibel (dB) measurements; spending too much time around loud ones can result in permanent hearing damage. A fast look is below:
- Lawn mowers and heavy traffic fall into the 85–90 dB range, which is safe for up to 2 hours of listening.
- At 100 dB (e.g., motorcycles, construction machinery), hearing damage can begin after only 15 minutes.
- Instant damage is possible after merely a few seconds of exposure to noises over 110 dB, like explosions, gunshots, or fireworks.
By being proactive about how loud your surroundings are, you can successfully stay away from places that are harmful to your auditory health.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels effortless. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. For the most accurate results, ensure you measure the sound from your usual distance to the source.
Regular use of this monitoring tool can enhance your understanding of your surroundings, facilitating smarter choices about hearing protection.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
One of the most frequent causes of long-term hearing damage is enjoying music or podcasts at volumes that are too high. Despite their handiness, headphones and earbuds often conceal certain risks. For example, many headphones can exceed 100 dB, resulting in hearing loss in just 15 minutes.
Because they listen with earbuds at high volumes, more than a billion young people worldwide are currently facing a risk of hearing loss. You should never set the volume on your earbuds higher than 50% of the maximum capacity if you want to safeguard your ears. If you find yourself turning the volume up just to be able to hear, it likely means some degree of hearing loss has already occurred.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
If you reside in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be enticing to use headphones to drown out the background sound. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is unwise for your hearing. Opt instead for noise-canceling headphones; these devices make it possible to listen to your music or podcasts at a much reduced, safer level. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs are a viable alternative.
5. When in noisy environments, use earplugs
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are critical for those often exposed to loud environments. Since they are small, affordable, and easy to transport, earplugs offer an easy but powerful means of hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are offered for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. In any loud setting, don’t forget to use them.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always follow safety protocols regarding hearing protection. Some workplaces may minimize the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have considerable hearing loss and don’t perceive the current noise levels. Take essential steps to protect yourself by observing all guidelines and wearing the designated protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
The most effective means of hearing protection can often be just creating distance from the source of the loud sound. Distance lowers the intensity of sound impacting your ears, thereby minimize damage. For example, standing 20 feet away from a noise source producing 110 dB reduces it to around 100 dB—safe for up to 15 minutes of exposure.
Consider fireworks as a relevant illustration. While a firework explosion registers at 150 dB, if you are close to where it launches, the sound can still surpass 120 dB, which can cause instant harm. By sitting 2,000 feet away (about five football fields), you can enjoy the show at a safer level below 100 dB.
8. Address existing hearing loss promptly
Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is imperative that you take action so it doesn’t get worse. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has noticeable hearing loss, and those numbers rise sharply in older age.
Failing to address the first indications of auditory loss will only quicken its advancement. On average, people wait 7 years too long to seek help. By consulting a hearing specialist without delay and investigating treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for maintaining your existing hearing.
Take action today
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a main concern. Whether you’ve already experienced some hearing loss or want to prevent future damage, these simple steps can make a big difference.
Schedule a hearing test today and take charge of your hearing health before it’s too late.
