Noise is a ubiquitous part in our daily lives. Whether it’s lawnmowers, vehicles, or our own headphones, the aural world has intensified. Without proper care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your ears. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an ideal period to review how to keep safe this important sense.
8 actionable steps 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. We present eight vital guidelines to ensure auditory protection.
1. Understand volume levels and their impact
To begin preventing hearing loss, you must know 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 lasting 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 proactive approach to noise recognition can help you avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels easy. You can download a range of complimentary sound meter applications to evaluate 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
Regularly playing music or podcasts too loudly is a leading contributor to cumulative 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. To protect your ears, never turn your earbuds above 50% of their maximum volume. 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
For those who reside in loud areas or work in noisy settings, the urge to use headphones to overpower the ambient sound can be strong. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is harmful. A better alternative is to use noise-canceling headphones, as they let you listen to music or podcasts at a far lower and safer volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an effective substitute.
5. Always utilize earplugs in loud environments
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are critical for those routinely 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. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
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. While some employers may disregard the danger, those who insist “it’s not that loud” might already have serious hearing damage and be unaware of the actual volume. Protect yourself by adhering to guidelines and wearing appropriate protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Frequently, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. Distance reduces the intensity of sound reaching your ears, thereby 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. 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. 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
Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is imperative that you take action so it doesn’t get worse. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has noticeable hearing loss, and those numbers rise sharply in older age.
Ignoring the early symptoms of hearing loss only accelerates its progression. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before getting professional help. By consulting a hearing specialist without delay and investigating treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month serves as an opportune time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. These basic steps are effective and can make a big change, whether your goal is to mitigate existing hearing loss or stop future impairment.
Schedule a hearing test today and take control of your hearing health before it’s too late.