Acoustic interference is an unavoidable feature of modern life. From power tools and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. The expanding volume of sound poses a significant risk to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the best opportunity to focus on the maintenance of this key sense.
8 key suggestions to protect your hearing
It’s a relief that basic actions can be implemented to shield your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. The following are eight core pointers for maintaining your hearing health.
1. Understand noise levels and their impact
The most important action for staving off auditory damage is to recognize when a sound level becomes hazardous. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for too long can cause irreversible hearing impairment. Consult this brief table:
- Lawn mowers and heavy traffic fall into the 85–90 dB range, which is safe for up to 2 hours of exposure.
- 100 dB: Motorcycles, construction machinery – Hearing damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
A forward-thinking mindset regarding noise levels allows you to prevent environments that are detrimental for your hearing.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? Your smartphone offers an easy way to measure it. There are many free applications that function as sound meters, enabling you to examine surrounding noise levels. For the most accurate results, ensure you measure the sound from your usual distance to the source.
Using this tool regularly can help you better grasp your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
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 an amplified level. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry unrecognized dangers. It’s noteworthy that many headphones can reach 100 dB, a level that can induce hearing loss in only 15 minutes of use.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. To protect your ears, never turn your earbuds above 50% of their maximum volume. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a signal your hearing may already be damaged.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
For those who live in loud areas or work in noisy settings, the urge to use headphones to overpower the ambient sound can be strong. 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. Always use earplugs in loud settings
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are crucial 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.
If you use them often, custom-fitted earplugs can be obtained, offering enhanced protection and a better fit than off-the-shelf versions. You should certainly use them in any settings that are loud.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
Crucially, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must obey the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Be cautious because some jobs may discount the risks; individuals claiming “it’s not that loud” could be suffering from major hearing loss and thus misjudging the true noise level. Take necessary steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the designated protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. The advantage of distance is that it lessens the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus serving to minimize the risk of harm. 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. A firework exploding at 150 dB may seem far away, but if you’re near the launch site, the noise can still exceed 120 dB, causing instant damage. 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
It’s key to seek help as soon as possible if you have any hearing loss to prevent further decline. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Particularly, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
When initial signs of hearing loss are disregarded, it only causes the condition to progress faster. Typically, individuals delay seeking professional assistance by a full 7 years. Your ability to conserve the hearing you still have is greatly enhanced the earlier you see a hearing specialist to discuss options like hearing aids.
Start protecting your hearing now
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an excellent reminder to prioritize your hearing health. These easy-to-follow actions can have a significant impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to avert future harm or you’ve already suffered some hearing loss.
Schedule a hearing test today and take control of your hearing health before it’s too late.