Acoustic interference is an unavoidable element of modern life. Our surroundings—from commute sounds and lawnmowers to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. Such loud conditions can negatively impact your hearing if awareness is lacking. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an excellent period to review how to safeguard this important sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to guard your hearing from the daily noise around you. Here are eight essential tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Become familiar with volume levels and their impact
To begin curbing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is dangerously high. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and long-term exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. 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.
- Exposure to 100 dB sounds, such as those from construction equipment or motorcycles, risks hearing damage in 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 avoid environments that are hazardous to your ears.
2. Measure sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels easy. You can download various complimentary sound meter applications to monitor the noise in your vicinity. To get accurate results, measure from the distance you usually are from the sound source.
If you use this measuring method consistently, you’ll gain a clearer insight into your environment and be prepared to make wise choices to shield your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
One of the most frequent causes of long-term hearing damage is enjoying music or podcasts at an amplified level. 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.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. To protect your ears, never turn your earbuds above 50% of their maximum volume. 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 live in a noisy neighborhood or frequently work in loud environments, it might be tempting to use headphones to drown out the background sound. But cranking up the volume to overpower outside noise is detrimental. Opt instead for noise-canceling headphones; these devices make it possible to listen to your music or podcasts at a much reduced, safer level. If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs can be an effective alternative.
5. When in loud settings, use earplugs
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are crucial for those routinely exposed to loud environments. They are a very effective yet simple hearing protection strategy, being compact, inexpensive, and portable.
Individuals who use earplugs often can get custom-fitted ones, which give superior protection and comfort compared to standard types. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. While at work, follow safety guidelines
Crucially, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must obey the established safety guidelines for auditory 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. Protect yourself by following guidelines and wearing suitable protective equipment.
7. Move further away from loud noise
Frequently, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to put distance between yourself and the noise. The benefit of distance is that it decreases the sound’s intensity before it reaches your ears, thus helping to minimize the risk of harm. 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.
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
Any existing hearing loss requires prompt action to keep it from escalating. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Nearly 1 in 10 adults between the ages of 55 and 64 has significant hearing loss, and those numbers increase dramatically in older age.
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 seeking a consultation. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and consider hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of saving your remaining hearing.
Act now for better hearing
National Protect Your Hearing Month is an ideal reminder to prioritize your hearing health. These fundamental steps are useful and can make a big change, whether your goal is to reduce existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
Don’t delay—book a hearing test now and assume control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.
