We are constantly exposed to noise in our everyday existence. Whether it’s gardening equipment, vehicles, or our own headphones, the auditory world has intensified. Without proper care, this higher level of noise can cause damage to your sense of hearing. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the perfect opportunity to prioritize the conservation 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 safeguard your hearing.
1. Grasp noise levels and their impact
The most important action for staving off auditory damage is to recognize 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. Consult this brief summary:
- Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
- At 100 dB (e.g., motorcycles, construction machinery), hearing damage can begin after only 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. Check sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? You can easily gauge it using your smartphone. Several free 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.
Using this application regularly can help you better interpret your environment and make informed decisions about protecting 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 damage their hearing over time. 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.
Because they listen with earbuds at high volumes, more than a billion young people worldwide are currently facing a risk of hearing loss. To be safe, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full potential to protect your hearing. Having to increase the volume past this point to hear indicates that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background 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. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is dangerous for your hearing. The preferred solution is noise-canceling headphones, which permit listening to media at a much reduced and safer volume. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs serve as a viable alternative.
5. Always use earplugs in loud settings
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 strategy, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Individuals who require 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. Adhere to safety guidelines at work
Crucially, 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 underestimate 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. Move further away from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. 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, resulting in immediate damage. However, by seating yourself 2,000 feet away (approximately five football fields), you can experience 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 crucial that you take action so it doesn’t get worse. This kind of impairment will not disappear; it only advances. Specifically, close to 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 ignored, it only causes the condition to progress faster. On average, people wait 7 years too long to get treatment. Your ability to conserve the hearing you still have is improved the earlier you see a hearing specialist to review options like hearing aids.
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. 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 immediately and take responsibility for your auditory health.