Acoustic interference is an unavoidable feature of modern life. Whether it’s gardening equipment, vehicles, or our own headphones, the aural world has intensified. Such loud conditions can negatively impact your hearing if awareness is lacking. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the best opportunity to prioritize the maintenance of this key sense.
8 actionable steps 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. Here are eight key tips to preserve your hearing.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their impact
To begin preventing hearing loss, you must know when noise intensity is dangerously high. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and prolonged exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. 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.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
Taking a preventative approach to noise awareness can help you avoid environments that are dangerous to your ears.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? You can easily determine it using your smartphone. Several no-cost sound meter apps are accessible, allowing you to test noise levels around you. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
Using this application regularly can help you better grasp 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 volumes that are too high. The ease of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. Many headphones, for instance, are capable of reaching volumes over 100 dB, which means hearing loss can occur in as little as 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. Crucially, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full potential to protect your hearing. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a clear indicator your hearing may already be damaged.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
When situated in a noisy environment or residing in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to mask the surrounding noise. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is dangerous 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. If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs can be an effective alternative.
5. When in loud settings, use earplugs
Earplugs are essential for individuals regularly in loud settings, such as concerts, sports events, or while using heavy machinery. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a simple but effective tool for hearing protection.
Individuals who use earplugs often can get custom-fitted ones, which give superior protection and comfort compared to standard types. In any loud setting, don’t forget to use them.
6. Adhere to safety guidelines at work
If your job involves being around loud equipment or machinery, always adhere to safety protocols regarding hearing protection. Be cautious 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. Take necessary steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the right protective equipment.
7. Move further away from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. Distance lowers the intensity of sound reaching your ears, helping to minimize damage. To illustrate, moving 20 feet back from a 110 dB sound source can lower the level to about 100 dB, which is safe for 15 minutes of exposure.
The example of fireworks is instructive. A firework exploding at 150 dB may seem far away, but if you’re near the launch site, the noise can still go beyond 120 dB, causing instant damage. By sitting 2,000 feet away (roughly five football fields), you can enjoy the show at a safer level below 100 dB.
8. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is imperative that you take action so it doesn’t progress. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will progress. Specifically, close to 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from substantial hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
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. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and explore hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of saving your remaining hearing.
Act now for better hearing
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month is an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. Whether you’ve already experienced some hearing loss or want to avoid future damage, these simple steps can make a big difference.
To avoid future regret, set up a hearing test today and manage your auditory health.
