Noise is a ubiquitous presence in our daily lives. From lawnmowers and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is more cacophonous than ever. Without proper care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your ears. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the best opportunity to prioritize the conservation of this fundamental sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
It’s a relief that basic actions can be implemented to defend your ears from the ambient noise you encounter daily. Here are eight key tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their affect
Being aware of how loud is too loud is the primary step in avoiding hearing damage. Diverse noises generate different decibel (dB) measurements; spending too much time around loud ones can result in unrecoverable hearing damage. Consult this brief table:
- 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.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
A forward-thinking mindset regarding noise levels allows you to keep away from environments that are detrimental for your hearing.
2. Measure 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 test noise levels around you. The key to getting exact data is to take the measurement from the distance you normally maintain from the origin of the sound.
Using this feature regularly can help you better grasp your environment and make informed 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 volumes that are too high. Despite their practicality, headphones and earbuds often conceal certain risks. It’s important that numerous headphones can reach 100 dB, a level that can induce hearing loss in only 15 minutes of use.
Current data suggests that more than a billion young individuals face the threat of hearing impairment due to excessive earbud use. Crucially, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full potential to protect your hearing. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a sign your hearing may already be damaged.
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 damaging. A better alternative is to use noise-canceling headphones, as they let you listen to music or podcasts at a significantly lower and safer volume. If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs can be an effective alternative.
5. When in noisy settings, use earplugs
For anyone regularly attending loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. Since they are small, affordable, and easy to transport, earplugs offer an uncomplicated but powerful method of hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. In any loud setting, don’t hesitate to use them.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always comply with 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. You should protect your hearing by wearing the necessary protective gear and sticking to the safety rules.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. By increasing distance, the sound intensity reaching your ears is lessened, which works to 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. 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. 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
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. Particularly, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
Failing to address the first warning signs of auditory loss will only quicken its advancement. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before seeking a consultation. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and explore hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of saving your remaining hearing.
Take action today
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an excellent reminder to focus on your hearing health. These simple actions can have a major impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to avert future harm or you’ve already experienced some hearing loss.
Don’t delay—book a hearing test now and assume control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.