Acoustic interference is an unavoidable element of modern life. From power tools and road noise to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. This increase in noise can have a negative effect on your hearing if you’re not careful. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an excellent period to review how to safeguard this important sense.
How to preserve your hearing: 8 key methods
Fortunately, there are straightforward steps you can take to guard your hearing from the everyday noise around you. The following are eight core pointers for protecting your hearing health.
1. Grasp noise levels and their impact
The most important action for averting auditory damage is to recognize when a sound level becomes hazardous. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being subjected to them for extended durations can cause lasting hearing impairment. Consult this brief summary:
- 85–90 dB: Lawn mowers, heavy traffic – Safe for up to 2 hours of exposure.
- At 100 dB (e.g., motorcycles, construction machinery), hearing damage can begin after 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 proactive about how loud your surroundings are, you can effectively stay away from places that pose a threat 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. There are many free applications that act as sound meters, enabling you to assess surrounding noise levels. 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, leading to 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. Despite their handiness, headphones and earbuds often mask certain risks. 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. Crucially, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full potential to protect your hearing. The need to increase the volume past this point to hear suggests that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud 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 noisy settings, use earplugs
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are critical for those often exposed to loud environments. They are a highly effective yet simple hearing protection solution, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
If you use them often, custom-fitted earplugs can be obtained, offering improved protection and a better fit than off-the-shelf versions. You should always use them in all environments that are loud.
6. Adhere to safety recomendations at work
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must obey the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Some workplaces may minimize 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. You should protect your hearing by using the correct protective gear and sticking to the safety rules.
7. Move further away 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 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 is instructive. 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 still 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 take steps as soon as possible if you have some degree of hearing loss to prevent further deterioration. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has noticeable hearing loss, and those numbers increase dramatically in older age.
Failing to address the first indications of auditory loss will only quicken its advancement. Typically, individuals delay seeking professional assistance by a full 7 years. 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
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month serves as an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. 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, set up a hearing test immediately and manage your auditory health.