Acoustic interference is an perpetual feature of modern life. From lawnmowers and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. Without adequate care, this higher level of noise can cause damage to your sense of hearing. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to concentrate on how to maintain this essential sense.
8 key suggestions to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to protect your ears from the everyday noise around you. Here are eight essential tips to preserve your hearing.
1. Understand noise levels and their impact
To begin curbing hearing loss, you must know when noise intensity is dangerously high. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and extended exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. A fast summary is below:
- 85–90 dB: Lawn mowers, heavy traffic – Safe for up to 2 hours of exposure.
- 100 dB: Motorcycles, construction machinery – Hearing damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.
- Instant damage is possible after merely a few seconds of exposure to noises over 110 dB, like explosions, gunshots, or fireworks.
A forward-thinking mindset regarding noise levels enables you to keep away from environments that are unsafe for your hearing.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? Your smartphone offers an simple way to measure these levels. Several no-cost sound meter apps are accessible, allowing you to check noise levels around you. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
If you use this technique consistently, you’ll gain a clearer insight into your environment and be equipped to make sound choices to guard your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
Listening to music or podcasts at high volumes is one of the most common ways people impair their hearing over time. The ease of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. For example, many headphones can surpass 100 dB, leading to hearing loss in just 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 level to protect your hearing. If you find yourself turning the volume up just to be able to hear, it likely means some degree of hearing loss has already occurred.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
If you live in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be enticing to use headphones to drown out the background sound. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is harmful. Instead, consider using noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to enjoy your music or podcasts at a much lower, safer volume. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs serve as a viable alternative.
5. When in noisy environments, use earplugs
Earplugs are absolutely necessary 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. 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 disregard the danger, those who insist “it’s not that loud” might already have noticeable hearing damage and be unaware of the actual volume. It is vital to protect your hearing by wearing the correct protective gear and abiding by the safety rules.
7. Move further away from loud noise
The simplest means of hearing protection can often be just moving back from the source of the loud sound. Distance diminishes the intensity of sound reaching your ears, thereby minimize damage. 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.
The example of fireworks demonstrates this well. 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. 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 vital to act before it worsens. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will progress. Specifically, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates climbing steeply among older demographics.
When initial signs of hearing loss are disregarded, it only causes the condition to progress faster. On average, people wait 7 years too long to consult a specialist. 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.
Take action today
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month is an opportune time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. These fundamental steps are effective and can make a big change, whether your goal is to mitigate existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
Schedule a hearing test today and take charge of your hearing health before it’s too late.