Noise is a ever-present factor in our daily lives. Whether it’s lawnmowers, heavy traffic, or our own headphones, the aural world has intensified. Without adequate care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your ears. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to focus on how to preserve this crucial sense.
8 key suggestions to protect your hearing
It’s a relief that uncomplicated actions can be implemented to shield your ears from the ambient noise you encounter daily. Here are eight top tips to preserve your hearing.
1. Become familiar with volume levels and their impact
Being aware of how loud is too loud is the primary step in preventing hearing damage. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and extended exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. Consult this brief table:
- Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
- 100 dB: Motorcycles, construction machinery – Hearing damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
Taking a preventative approach to noise recognition can help you avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? Your smartphone offers an easy way to measure these levels. 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 interpret your environment and make informed decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
One of the most frequent causes of gradual hearing damage is enjoying music or podcasts at an amplified level. 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.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. You should never set the volume on your earbuds higher than 50% of the maximum capacity if you want to preserve your ears. Having to increase the volume past this point to hear suggests that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
If you reside in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be tempting to use headphones to drown out the background sound. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is dangerous for your hearing. Opt instead for noise-canceling headphones; these devices make it possible to listen to your music or podcasts at a considerably reduced, safer level. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an efficient substitute.
5. When in noisy 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 very effective yet simple hearing protection solution, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available 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
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. While some employers may underestimate the danger, those who insist “it’s not that loud” might already have serious hearing damage and be unaware of the actual volume. It is vital to protect your hearing by wearing the correct protective gear and sticking to the safety rules.
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. The benefit of distance is that it decreases the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus helping to minimize the risk of harm. 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.
The example of fireworks is instructive. 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 nonetheless enjoy the display at a safer level, below 100 dB, by being 2,000 feet away (the length of about five football fields).
8. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
If you’ve already noticed hearing loss, it’s critical to act before it worsens. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Statistics show that nearly 1 out of 10 adults in the 55-to-64 age group have serious hearing loss, and this percentage increases in later years.
When initial signs of hearing loss are ignored, it only causes the condition to progress faster. Usually, individuals delay seeking treatment by a full 7 years. By consulting a hearing specialist sooner and exploring treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as a chance to make hearing health a top concern. These fundamental steps are effective and can make a big change, whether your goal is to reduce existing hearing loss or stop future impairment.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test today and manage your auditory health.