Acoustic interference is an unavoidable element of modern life. Whether it’s gardening equipment, heavy traffic, or our own headphones, the auditory world has intensified. This rise in noise can have a harmful effect on your hearing if you’re not careful. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an opportune period to review how to keep safe this important sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
Luckily, some simple measures exist that allow you to defend your hearing from common environmental sounds. We present eight crucial pieces of advice to keep your hearing safe.
1. Know volume levels and their impact
Being conscious of how loud is too loud is the first step in preventing hearing damage. Varying noises generate different decibel (dB) measurements; spending too much time around loud ones can result in permanent hearing damage. 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 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.
Taking a proactive approach to noise recognition can help you steer clear of environments that are dangerous to your ears.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? Your smartphone offers an convenient way to measure these levels. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. For the most precise results, ensure you measure the sound from your usual distance to the source.
Regular use of this monitoring tool can enhance your understanding of your surroundings, facilitating smarter choices about hearing protection.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
Listening to music or podcasts at high volumes is one of the most common ways people damage their hearing over time. Despite their practicality, headphones and earbuds often conceal certain risks. It’s important that numerous 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. To protect your ears, never turn your earbuds above 50% of their maximum volume. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a sign your hearing may already be damaged.
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 tempting to use headphones to block out the background sound. It is actually harmful to increase the volume excessively just to override external 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. 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 crucial for those often exposed to loud environments. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a simple but effective tool for hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must obey 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. Take essential steps to protect yourself by observing all guidelines and wearing the right 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 benefit of distance is that it lessens the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus helping 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. 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. 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 extremely important 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.
Ignoring the early signs of hearing loss only speeds up its progression. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before seeking a consultation. Your ability to conserve the hearing you still have is improved the earlier you see a hearing specialist to review options like hearing aids.
Take action today
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an ideal reminder to prioritize your hearing health. These basic steps are useful and can make a big change, whether your goal is to mitigate existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
Schedule a hearing test today and take control of your hearing health before it’s too late.