Noise is a ubiquitous factor in our daily lives. From power tools and road noise to personal audio devices, the world is more cacophonous than ever. The growing volume of sound poses a serious threat to your auditory health unless you take measures. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to concentrate on how to maintain this vital sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
It’s a relief that uncomplicated actions can be implemented to defend your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. We present eight crucial pieces of advice to keep your hearing safe.
1. Become familiar with volume levels and their impact
To begin curbing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is dangerously high. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for extended durations can cause lasting hearing impairment. Here’s a quick guide:
- Lawn mowers and heavy traffic fall into the 85–90 dB range, which is safe for up to 2 hours of listening.
- At 100 dB (e.g., motorcycles, construction machinery), hearing damage can begin after only 15 minutes.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
By being vigilant about how loud your surroundings are, you can effectively stay away from settings that are harmful to your auditory health.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? You can easily gauge it using your smartphone. Several no-cost sound meter apps are accessible, allowing you to check noise levels around you. For the most precise results, ensure you measure the sound from your typical distance to the source.
Regular use of this monitoring tool 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 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. 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 clear indicator your hearing may already be damaged.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
When working in a noisy environment or living in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to mask the surrounding noise. It is actually harmful to increase the volume too high just to override outside noise. Opt instead for noise-canceling headphones; these devices make it possible to listen to your music or podcasts at a considerably reduced, safer level. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs are a viable alternative.
5. When in noisy settings, use earplugs
For anyone often in 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 means of hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available for those who need them regularly, providing better comfort and protection than generic options. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. Follow safety guidelines at work
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory 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. Protect yourself by following guidelines and wearing suitable protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Sometimes the best way to protect your ears is simply to increase the space from the noise source. The advantage of distance is that it lessens the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus serving 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.
The example of fireworks demonstrates this well. 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. In contrast, by seating yourself 2,000 feet away (approximately five football fields), you can view the show at a safer level, under 100 dB.
8. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
If you’ve already experienced hearing loss, it’s vital to act before it worsens. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will progress. Particularly, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from substantial hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
Failing to address the first indications 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. By consulting a hearing specialist without delay and exploring treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an ideal reminder to focus on your hearing health. These easy-to-follow actions can have a significant impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to avert future harm or you’ve already suffered some hearing loss.
Schedule a hearing test today and take charge of your hearing health before it’s too late.