Acoustic interference is an perpetual feature of modern life. Our environment—from commute sounds and yard work to music via personal audio devices—is increasingly loud. This increase in noise can have a detrimental effect on your hearing if you’re not careful. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to emphasize how to preserve this crucial sense.
8 tips to protect your hearing
Luckily, some simple measures exist that allow you to defend your hearing from routine environmental sounds. Here are eight top tips to secure your hearing.
1. Understand noise levels and their impact
The most important action for averting auditory damage is to recognize when a sound level becomes excessive. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being subjected to them for extended durations can cause irreversible hearing impairment. Here’s a quick reference:
- 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.
- Noises exceeding 110 dB (e.g., explosions, fireworks) can lead to immediate damage in just seconds.
Taking a proactive approach to noise awareness can help you avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? Your smartphone offers an convenient way to measure it. Several free sound meter apps are available, allowing you to test noise levels around you. For the most accurate results, ensure you measure the sound from your usual distance to the source.
Regular use of this monitoring tool can improve your understanding of your surroundings, leading to 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 impair their hearing over time. The convenience of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. It’s important that numerous headphones can reach 100 dB, a level that can induce hearing loss in only 15 minutes of use.
Current data suggests that more than a billion young individuals face the threat of hearing impairment due to excessive earbud use. 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 find yourself turning the volume up beyond this limit, it likely means some degree of hearing loss has already occurred.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud 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. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is damaging. The recommended solution is noise-canceling headphones, which permit listening to media at a much reduced and safer volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an efficient substitute.
5. When in loud environments, use earplugs
Earplugs are essential for individuals regularly in loud settings, such as concerts, sports events, or while using heavy machinery. Since they are small, affordable, and easy to transport, earplugs offer an easy but powerful means of hearing protection.
If you use them often, custom-fitted earplugs can be obtained, offering improved protection and a better fit than off-the-shelf versions. In any loud setting, don’t hesitate to use them.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always adhere to safety protocols regarding hearing 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 perceive the current noise levels. Take essential steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the right protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Frequently, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. By increasing distance, the sound intensity reaching your ears is lessened, which helps reduce 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.
The example of fireworks demonstrates this well. Even if a 150 dB firework explosion appears distant, being close to the launch site means the noise could still be over 120 dB, resulting in immediate damage. However, by seating yourself 2,000 feet away (approximately five football fields), you can experience the show at a safer level, under 100 dB.
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. 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.
When initial signs of hearing loss are disregarded, it only causes the condition to progress faster. On average, people wait 7 years too long to consult a specialist. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and consider hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of saving your remaining hearing.
Take action today
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a main concern. These basic steps are effective and can make a big change, whether your goal is to reduce existing hearing loss or stop future impairment.
book a hearing test now and assume control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.