Acoustic interference is an unavoidable element of modern life. Our surroundings—from traffic and lawnmowers to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. Without adequate care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your sense of hearing. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the best opportunity to prioritize the conservation of this key sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to guard your hearing from the everyday noise around you. The following are eight major pointers for protecting your hearing health.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their impact
To begin curbing 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 too long can cause lasting hearing impairment. A fast look 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.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
A anticipatory mindset regarding noise levels enables you to prevent environments that are detrimental for your hearing.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Are you interested in discovering the true loudness of your environment? A smartphone makes checking sound levels effortless. You can download various 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 interpret your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
One of the most frequent causes of long-term hearing damage is enjoying music or podcasts at an amplified level. Despite their handiness, headphones and earbuds often conceal certain risks. For example, many headphones can surpass 100 dB, resulting in hearing loss in just 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 safeguard 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
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. It is actually harmful to increase the volume too high just to override outside noise. 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 are a viable alternative.
5. Always utilize earplugs in noisy environments
Earplugs are absolutely necessary for individuals regularly in loud settings, such as concerts, sports events, or while using heavy machinery. They are a highly effective yet simple hearing protection solution, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Individuals who use earplugs often can obtain custom-fitted ones, which give superior protection and comfort compared to standard types. You should always use them in any settings that are loud.
6. While at work, follow safety recommendations
Crucially, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Be wary because some jobs may discount the risks; individuals claiming “it’s not that loud” could be suffering from substantial hearing loss and thus misjudging the true noise level. Protect yourself by following guidelines and wearing appropriate protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Sometimes the best way to protect your ears is simply to increase the space from the noise source. Distance diminishes 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. Even if a 150 dB firework explosion appears distant, being close to the launch site means the noise could still be over 120 dB, leading to immediate damage. However, by positioning yourself 2,000 feet away (approximately five football fields), you can view the show at a safer level, under 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 get worse. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has significant hearing loss, and those numbers rise sharply in older age.
Failing to address the first warning signs of auditory loss will only hasten its advancement. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before getting professional help. 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 serves as an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. These simple actions can have a major impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to prevent future harm or you’ve already experienced some hearing loss.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test today and take responsibility for your auditory health.