Acoustic interference is an perpetual aspect of modern life. From lawnmowers and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. Without adequate care, this higher level of noise can result in damage to your sense of hearing. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to concentrate on how to maintain this essential sense.
How to preserve your hearing: 8 key methods
Luckily, a few effortless measures exist that allow you to defend your hearing from routine environmental sounds. The following are eight primary recommendations for protecting your hearing health.
1. Know noise levels and their impact
To begin preventing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is too loud to tolerate. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being subjected to them for extended durations can cause lasting hearing impairment. Here’s a quick overview:
- 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.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
Taking a proactive approach to noise awareness can help you steer clear of environments that are dangerous to your ears.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? Your smartphone offers an convenient way to measure it. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. The key to getting reliable data is to take the measurement from the distance you usually maintain from the origin of the sound.
Using this tool regularly can help you better grasp your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
Regularly playing music or podcasts too loudly is a leading contributor to progressive hearing damage. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry understated dangers. 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 level to protect your hearing. If you find yourself turning the volume up beyond this limit, it likely means some degree of hearing loss has already occurred.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
When situated in a noisy environment or residing in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to mask the surrounding noise. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is detrimental. The recommended solution is noise-canceling headphones, which permit listening to media at a greatly reduced and safer volume. Should noise-canceling headphones not be an option, simple earplugs serve as a viable alternative.
5. When in loud 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 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 think twice about use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. While at work, follow safety recommendations
Crucially, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Be cautious because some jobs may discount the risks; individuals claiming “it’s not that loud” could be suffering from substantial hearing loss and thus misjudging the true noise level. Take essential steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the designated protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Sometimes the best way to protect your ears is simply to move away from the noise source. Distance reduces the intensity of sound impacting your ears, helping to minimize damage. To illustrate, moving 20 feet back from a 110 dB sound source can lower the level to about 100 dB, which is safe for 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 positioning 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
Any existing hearing loss requires prompt action to keep it from advancing. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Specifically, close to 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates rising considerably among older demographics.
Failing to address the first indications of auditory loss will only hasten its advancement. It is common for people to wait an average of 7 years longer than they should before getting professional help. Your ability to conserve the hearing you still have is improved the earlier you see a hearing specialist to discuss options like hearing aids.
Take action today
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month serves as an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. Whether you’ve already experienced some hearing loss or want to avoid future damage, these simple steps can make a big difference.
Don’t delay—book a hearing test now and gain control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.