Acoustic interference is an unavoidable aspect of modern life. From power tools and road noise to personal audio devices, the world is more cacophonous than ever. Such loud conditions can negatively impact your hearing if awareness is lacking. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the perfect opportunity to focus on the conservation of this key sense.
8 tips to protect your hearing
It’s a relief that uncomplicated actions can be implemented to shield your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. Here are eight essential tips to preserve your hearing.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their affect
To begin curbing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is dangerously high. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for extended durations can cause irreversible hearing impairment. Consult this brief summary:
- Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
- 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.
Taking a proactive approach to noise awareness can help you avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Are you interested in finding out the true loudness of your environment? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels easy. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
Using this tool regularly can help you better grasp your environment and make informed decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
Listening to music or podcasts at excessive volumes is one of the most common ways people impair their hearing over time. Despite their handiness, headphones and earbuds often mask certain risks. For example, many headphones can surpass 100 dB, resulting in hearing loss in just 15 minutes.
Current data suggests that more than a billion young individuals face the threat of hearing impairment due to excessive earbud use. To protect your ears, never turn your earbuds above 50% of their maximum volume. 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. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
If you live in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be tempting to use headphones to block out the background sound. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is unwise for your hearing. Instead, consider using noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to enjoy your music or podcasts at a much lower, less hazardous volume. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs serve as a viable alternative.
5. When in loud settings, use earplugs
For anyone often in loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. They are a highly effective yet simple hearing protection solution, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Custom-fitted earplugs are offered for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. You should always use them in any settings that are loud.
6. While at work, follow safety recommendations
When your work involves being near loud machinery or equipment, you must strictly follow all safety procedures for hearing protection. Be wary because some jobs may ignore the risks; individuals claiming “it’s not that loud” could be suffering from substantial hearing loss and thus misjudging the true noise level. Protect yourself by following guidelines and wearing suitable protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
The most effective means of hearing protection can often be just moving back from the source of the loud sound. By increasing distance, the sound intensity reaching your ears is lessened, which works to reduce damage. As an illustration, a noise source at 110 dB will be reduced to roughly 100 dB if you stand 20 feet away—a level that allows for up to 15 minutes of safe exposure.
Consider fireworks as a perfect 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. You can still enjoy the display at a safer level, below 100 dB, by being 2,000 feet away (the length of about five football fields).
8. Address existing hearing loss promptly
Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is crucial that you take action so it doesn’t progress. This kind of impairment will not disappear; it only advances. Particularly, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from substantial hearing loss, with the rates climbing steeply among older demographics.
Ignoring the early indicators of hearing loss only speeds up its progression. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before seeking a consultation. Your ability to protect the hearing you still have is greatly enhanced the earlier you see a hearing specialist to discuss options like hearing aids.
Take action today
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an ideal reminder to prioritize your hearing health. These basic steps are useful and can make a big change, whether your goal is to reduce existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
book a hearing test now and gain control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.