Acoustic interference is an perpetual element of modern life. Our environment—from traffic and lawnmowers to music via personal audio devices—is increasingly loud. This increase in noise can have a harmful effect on your hearing if you’re not careful. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to concentrate on how to protect this crucial sense.
How to shield your hearing: 8 key methods
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to guard your hearing from the everyday noise around you. Here are eight top tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their impact
The most important action for averting auditory damage is to determine when a sound level becomes hazardous. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and long-term exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. Consult this brief summary:
- Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
- 100 dB: Motorcycles, construction machinery – Hearing damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.
- Instant damage is possible after merely a few seconds of exposure to noises over 110 dB, like explosions, gunshots, or fireworks.
Taking a proactive approach to noise recognition can help you steer clear of environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels easy. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to evaluate the noise in your vicinity. The key to getting reliable data is to take the measurement from the distance you normally maintain from the origin of the sound.
Using this tool regularly can help you better interpret your environment and make informed decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Don’t crank up the volume 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. 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. You should never set the volume on your earbuds higher than 50% of the maximum capacity if you want to preserve your ears. The need to increase the volume past this point to hear suggests that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
If you reside in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be enticing to use headphones to block 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. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an effective substitute.
5. Always utilize earplugs in loud environments
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are crucial for those often exposed to loud environments. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a straightforward but effective tool for hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are offered for those who need them regularly, providing better comfort and protection than generic options. In any loud setting, don’t hesitate to use them.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Be cautious 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 adhering to guidelines and wearing suitable 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. By increasing distance, the sound intensity hitting 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. 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
It’s key to seek help as soon as possible if you have some degree of hearing loss to prevent further deterioration. This kind of impairment will not resolve itself; it only advances. Specifically, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from substantial hearing loss, with the rates climbing steeply among older demographics.
Ignoring the early signs of hearing loss only accelerates its progression. 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
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a top concern. These easy-to-follow actions can have a significant impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to prevent future harm or you’ve already suffered some hearing loss.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test immediately and manage your auditory health.