We are surrounded by noise in our everyday existence. From lawnmowers and traffic to personal audio devices, the world is louder than ever. The expanding volume of sound poses a serious threat to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, making it the perfect time to emphasize how to protect this crucial sense.
How to shield your hearing: 8 key methods
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to protect your ears from the daily noise around you. Here are eight key tips to safeguard your hearing.
1. Become familiar with volume levels and their impact
Being aware of how loud is too loud is the first step in avoiding hearing damage. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and prolonged exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. Here’s a quick overview:
- 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.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
By being proactive about how loud your surroundings are, you can effectively stay away from places that pose a threat to your auditory health.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Are you interested in finding out the true loudness of your environment? Your smartphone offers an convenient way to measure it. You can download a range of complimentary sound meter applications to evaluate the noise in your vicinity. For the most precise results, ensure you measure the sound from your typical distance to the source.
Regular use of this app 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 damage their hearing over time. The ease of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. For example, many headphones can exceed 100 dB, leading to 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 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
When situated in a noisy environment or residing in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to cancel the surrounding noise. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is dangerous for your hearing. A better alternative is to use noise-canceling headphones, as they let you listen to music or podcasts at a significantly lower and safer volume. If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs can be an effective alternative.
5. Always use earplugs in noisy environments
For anyone regularly attending loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a straightforward 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. You should certainly use them in all environments that are loud.
6. Adhere to safety guidelines at work
If your job requires being around loud equipment or machinery, always comply with safety protocols regarding hearing protection. Some workplaces may minimize the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have significant 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
The simplest means of hearing protection can often be just moving back from the source of the loud sound. By increasing distance, the sound intensity reaching your ears is lessened, which helps reduce 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.
The example of fireworks is instructive. A firework exploding at 150 dB may seem far away, but if you’re near the launch site, the noise can still exceed 120 dB, causing instant damage. By sitting 2,000 feet away (about 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 advancing. This kind of impairment will not resolve itself; it only gets worse. Statistics show that nearly 1 out of 10 adults in the 55-to-64 age group have considerable hearing loss, and this percentage increases in later years.
Ignoring the early indicators of hearing loss only accelerates its progression. On average, people wait 7 years too long to seek help. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and explore hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of preserving your remaining hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month serves as an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. These basic steps are useful and can make a big change, whether your goal is to reduce existing hearing loss or stop it from happening.
To avoid future regret, arrange a hearing test today and manage your auditory health.
