Noise is a ever-present presence in our daily lives. From lawnmowers and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is more cacophonous than ever. Such loud conditions can compromise your hearing if you fail to be cautious. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an opportune period to review how to keep safe this critical sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to guard your hearing from the daily noise around you. Here are eight key tips to preserve your hearing.
1. Know volume levels and their impact
Being conscious of how loud is too loud is the primary step in avoiding hearing damage. 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.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
By being vigilant about how loud your surroundings are, you can successfully stay away from settings that pose a threat to your auditory health.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? A smartphone makes checking sound levels effortless. Several no-cost sound meter apps are available, allowing you to check noise levels around you. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
Regular use of this app can enhance your understanding of your surroundings, leading to smarter choices about hearing protection.
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 an amplified level. The convenience of headphones and earbuds often comes with unseen risks. It’s important that many headphones can reach 100 dB, a level that can induce hearing loss in only 15 minutes of use.
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 safeguard your ears. 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
For those who live in loud areas or work in noisy settings, the urge to use headphones to overpower the ambient sound can be strong. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is detrimental. Opt instead for noise-canceling headphones; these devices make it possible to listen to your music or podcasts at a much reduced, safer level. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an good substitute.
5. When in loud environments, use earplugs
For anyone often in loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. They are a very effective yet simple hearing protection solution, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
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 all environments that are loud.
6. Adhere to safety recommendations at work
When your work involves being near loud machinery or equipment, you must strictly follow all safety procedures for hearing protection. Some workplaces may minimize the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have significant hearing loss and don’t realize the current noise levels. Protect yourself by following guidelines and wearing suitable protective equipment.
7. Move further away from loud noise
The simplest means of hearing protection can often be just moving back from the source of the loud sound. Distance lowers the intensity of sound impacting your ears, helping to minimize damage. 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.
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. 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. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has significant hearing loss, and those numbers increase dramatically in older age.
Failing to address the first indications of auditory loss will only quicken its advancement. On average, people wait 7 years too long to seek help. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and consider hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of saving your remaining hearing.
Act now for better hearing
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an perfect reminder to prioritize your hearing health. These simple actions can have a significant impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to prevent future harm or you’ve already suffered some hearing loss.
Don’t delay—book a hearing test now and gain control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.