We are constantly exposed to noise in our everyday existence. Our environment—from traffic and yard work to music via personal audio devices—is increasingly loud. The growing volume of sound poses a significant threat to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. With National Protect Your Hearing Month taking place in October, now is the most suitable time to dedicate attention to preserving your hearing.
How to preserve your hearing: 8 key methods
It’s a relief that basic actions can be implemented to defend your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. Here are eight essential tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Grasp noise levels and their impact
Being conscious of how loud is too loud is the initial step in preventing hearing damage. 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:
- Lawn mowers and heavy traffic fall into the 85–90 dB range, which is safe for up to 2 hours of exposure.
- Exposure to 100 dB sounds, such as those from construction equipment or motorcycles, risks hearing damage in only 15 minutes.
- Instant damage is possible after merely a few seconds of exposure to noises over 110 dB, like explosions, gunshots, or fireworks.
By being vigilant about how loud your surroundings are, you can successfully stay away from places that are harmful to your auditory health.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? Your smartphone offers an simple way to measure it. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
Regular use of this monitoring tool can improve your understanding of your surroundings, facilitating smarter choices about hearing protection.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
Regularly playing music or podcasts too loudly is a primary contributor to progressive hearing damage. The ease of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. For example, many headphones can exceed 100 dB, leading to hearing loss in just 15 minutes.
Current data suggests that more than a billion young individuals face the threat of hearing impairment due to excessive earbud use. To be safe, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full level to protect your hearing. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a signal your hearing may already be damaged.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
When working in a noisy environment or residing in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to cancel the surrounding noise. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is harmful. The recommended solution is noise-canceling headphones, which permit listening to media at a much reduced and safer volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an effective substitute.
5. Always utilize earplugs in noisy environments
Earplugs are absolutely necessary for individuals often 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 require earplugs often can obtain custom-fitted ones, which give superior protection and comfort compared to standard types. Never think twice about use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. While at work, follow safety recommendations
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always follow safety protocols regarding hearing 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. You should protect your hearing by using the correct protective gear and abiding by the safety rules.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to put distance between yourself and the noise. The benefit of distance is that it lessens the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus helping to minimize the risk of harm. 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.
Consider fireworks as a relevant illustration. 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. 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. 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. This kind of impairment will not resolve itself; it only gets worse. 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 indicators of hearing loss only accelerates its progression. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before seeking a consultation. By consulting a hearing specialist without delay and exploring treatments such as hearing aids, you maximize the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Act now for better hearing
Take advantage of National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a main concern. These simple actions can have a significant impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to avert future harm or you’ve already experienced some hearing loss.
To avoid future regret, set up a hearing test immediately and take responsibility for your auditory health.