Noise is a ubiquitous part in our daily lives. Our environment—from traffic and lawnmowers to music via personal audio devices—is increasingly loud. This escalation in noise can have a harmful effect on your hearing if you’re not careful. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the perfect opportunity to prioritize the conservation of this key sense.
How to preserve your hearing: 8 key methods
It’s a relief that uncomplicated actions can be implemented to shield your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. We present eight vital pieces of advice to ensure auditory protection.
1. Know volume levels and their impact
The most important action for staving off auditory damage is to determine when a sound level becomes excessive. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for extended durations can cause irreversible hearing impairment. Here’s a quick reference:
- Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
- Exposure to 100 dB sounds, such as those from construction equipment or motorcycles, risks hearing damage in 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 measure it using your smartphone. There are many free applications that function as sound meters, allowing you to assess surrounding noise levels. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
Using this feature regularly can help you better interpret your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
Regularly playing music or podcasts too loudly is a leading contributor to progressive hearing damage. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry understated dangers. Many headphones, for instance, are capable of reaching volumes over 100 dB, which means hearing loss can occur in as little as 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. The need 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
When working 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 unwise 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 good substitute.
5. Always utilize earplugs in loud environments
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are crucial for those routinely exposed to loud environments. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a straightforward but effective tool for hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. Follow safety recomendations at work
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always follow safety protocols regarding hearing protection. While some employers may disregard the danger, those who insist “it’s not that loud” might already have noticeable hearing damage and be unaware of the actual volume. Protect yourself by adhering to 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 hitting your ears is lessened, which helps reduce 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 exceed 120 dB, causing instant damage. 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. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
It’s key to seek help as soon as possible if you have any hearing loss to prevent further decline. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Statistics show that approximately 1 out of 10 adults in the 55-to-64 age group have considerable hearing loss, and this percentage jumps in later years.
Failing to address the first indications of auditory loss will only hasten its advancement. Typically, individuals delay seeking professional assistance 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 preserving your remaining hearing.
Act now for better hearing
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month is an opportune time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. 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 assume control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.