Noise is a ever-present factor in our daily lives. Our surroundings—from commute sounds and yard work to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. The expanding volume of sound poses a significant risk to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to focus on how to protect this vital sense.
How to safeguard your hearing: 8 key methods
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to protect your ears from the everyday noise around you. We present eight crucial pieces of advice to keep your hearing safe.
1. Understand noise levels and their impact
To begin curbing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is too loud to tolerate. Varying noises generate different decibel (dB) measurements; spending too much time around loud ones can result in permanent hearing damage. A fast look is below:
- 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.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
Taking a preventative approach to noise recognition can help you avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Are you interested in discovering the true loudness of your environment? You can easily determine it using your smartphone. There are many free applications that act as sound meters, allowing you to assess surrounding noise levels. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
If you use this measuring method consistently, you’ll better understand your environment and be prepared to make wise choices to guard your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
A major way people negatively affect their hearing over time is by using their devices at elevated volume settings. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry unrecognized dangers. For example, many headphones can exceed 100 dB, leading to hearing loss in just 15 minutes.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. To be safe, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full level to protect your hearing. The need 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
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. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs serve as a viable alternative.
5. Always utilize earplugs in loud environments
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 straightforward but effective tool for hearing protection.
Individuals who use earplugs often can obtain custom-fitted ones, which give superior protection and comfort compared to standard types. You should certainly use them in any settings that are loud.
6. Follow safety recommendations at work
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always follow safety protocols regarding hearing protection. Some workplaces may undervalue the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have considerable hearing loss and don’t realize the current noise levels. Take necessary steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the right protective equipment.
7. Move further away from loud noise
Sometimes the best way to protect your ears is simply to increase the space from the noise source. 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. As an illustration, a noise source at 110 dB will be reduced to roughly 100 dB if you stand 20 feet away—a level that allows for up to 15 minutes of safe exposure.
The example of fireworks is instructive. A firework exploding at 150 dB may seem far away, but if you’re near the launch site, the noise can still exceed 120 dB, causing instant damage. By sitting 2,000 feet away (roughly five football fields), you can enjoy the show at a safer level below 100 dB.
8. Address existing hearing loss promptly
Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is crucial that you take action so it doesn’t get worse. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Particularly, close to 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from substantial hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
When initial signs of hearing loss are disregarded, it only causes the condition to progress faster. 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.
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. Whether you’ve already experienced some hearing loss or want to prevent future damage, these straightforward steps can make a big difference.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test immediately and manage your auditory health.