Acoustic interference is an perpetual feature of modern life. From power tools and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. Such loud conditions can negatively impact your hearing if awareness is lacking. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to concentrate on how to preserve this crucial sense.
How to preserve your hearing: 8 key methods
It’s a relief that uncomplicated actions can be implemented to shield your ears from the constant noise you encounter daily. The following are eight primary pointers for maintaining your hearing health.
1. Understand volume levels and their impact
The initial action for staving off auditory damage is to determine when a sound level becomes hazardous. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for too long can cause lasting hearing impairment. Consult this brief table:
- 85–90 dB: Lawn mowers, heavy traffic – Safe for up to 2 hours of exposure.
- 100 dB: Motorcycles, construction machinery – Hearing damage can occur in as little as 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 vigilant about how loud your surroundings are, you can successfully stay away from places that pose a threat to your auditory health.
2. Determine sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? A smartphone makes checking sound levels effortless. Several free sound meter apps are available, allowing you to check noise levels around you. The key to getting exact data is to take the measurement from the distance you normally maintain from the origin of the sound.
Regular use of this app can enhance your understanding of your surroundings, facilitating smarter choices about hearing protection.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
A significant way people negatively affect their hearing over time is by using their devices at elevated volume settings. Despite their practicality, headphones and earbuds often conceal certain risks. It’s noteworthy that many 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 preserve your ears. The need to increase the volume past this point to hear indicates that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
If you live in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be enticing to use headphones to block out the background sound. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is harmful. 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 efficient substitute.
5. When in noisy environments, 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.
If you use them often, custom-fitted earplugs can be purchased, offering enhanced protection and a better fit than off-the-shelf versions. In any loud setting, don’t be reluctant to use them.
6. Follow safety recommendations at work
When your work involves being near loud machinery or equipment, you must diligently follow all safety procedures for hearing protection. While some employers may underestimate the danger, those who insist “it’s not that loud” might already have serious hearing damage and be unaware of the actual volume. Protect yourself by adhering to guidelines and wearing appropriate protective equipment.
7. Move further away from loud noise
The simplest means of hearing protection can often be just creating distance from the source of the loud sound. Distance reduces the intensity of sound impacting your ears, helping to minimize damage. 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.
Consider fireworks as a relevant illustration. 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. By sitting 2,000 feet away (roughly five football fields), you can enjoy the show at a safer level below 100 dB.
8. Existing hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly
If you’ve already noticed hearing loss, it’s critical to act before it worsens. This kind of impairment will not disappear; it only advances. Specifically, almost 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates climbing steeply among older demographics.
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. By consulting a hearing specialist sooner and investigating treatments such as hearing aids, you significantly improve the potential for maintaining your existing hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a top concern. These basic steps are effective and can make a big change, whether your goal is to mitigate existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test immediately and manage your auditory health.