Acoustic interference is an unavoidable aspect of modern life. Our surroundings—from commute sounds and lawnmowers to music via personal audio devices—is increasingly loud. Without adequate care, this higher level of noise can cause damage to your ears. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to emphasize how to preserve this essential sense.
8 tips to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to guard your hearing from the everyday noise around you. Here are eight key tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their impact
Being aware of how loud is too loud is the initial step in preventing hearing damage. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and prolonged exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. A fast summary is below:
- 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.
A forward-thinking mindset regarding noise levels allows you to prevent environments that are detrimental for your hearing.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? You can easily gauge it using your smartphone. You can download a range of 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.
Using this tool regularly can help you better interpret your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
A major way people harm their hearing over time is by using their devices at loud volume settings. The ease of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. For example, many headphones can surpass 100 dB, resulting in hearing loss in just 15 minutes.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. You should never set the volume on your earbuds higher than 50% of the maximum capacity if you want to preserve your ears. If you need to raise the volume higher to hear, that’s a clear indicator your hearing may already be damaged.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background 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. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is unwise for your hearing. Instead, consider using noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to enjoy your music or podcasts at a much lower, less hazardous volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an good substitute.
5. Always use earplugs in noisy environments
For anyone often in loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. They are a very effective yet simple hearing protection strategy, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Custom-fitted earplugs are available for those who need them regularly, providing better comfort and protection than generic options. You should certainly use them in all environments that are loud.
6. Adhere to safety guidelines at work
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 ignore the risks; individuals claiming “it’s not that loud” could be suffering from substantial hearing loss and thus misjudging the true noise level. Take necessary steps to protect yourself by observing 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. 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. 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 nonetheless enjoy the display at a safer level, below 100 dB, by being 2,000 feet away (the length of about five football fields).
8. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
If you’ve already experienced hearing loss, it’s critical to act before it worsens. Hearing loss doesn’t go away on its own; it progresses. Statistics show that approximately 1 out of 10 adults in the 55-to-64 age group have serious hearing loss, and this percentage jumps in later years.
When initial signs of hearing loss are ignored, it only causes the condition to progress faster. On average, people wait 7 years too long to seek help. By consulting a hearing specialist without delay and exploring treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Act now for better hearing
Take advantage of National Protect Your Hearing Month as a chance to make hearing health a top concern. 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.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test immediately and manage your auditory health.