Acoustic interference is an unavoidable element of modern life. Our surroundings—from commute sounds and lawnmowers to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. The expanding volume of sound poses a significant threat to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an ideal period to review how to safeguard this critical sense.
How to shield your hearing: 8 key methods
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to guard your hearing from the daily noise around you. The following are eight major pointers for maintaining your hearing health.
1. Become familiar with volume levels and their affect
To begin preventing hearing loss, you must know when noise intensity is dangerously high. Different sounds produce varying decibel (dB) levels, and extended 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 listening.
- 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.
Taking a preventative approach to noise recognition can help you avoid environments that are dangerous to your ears.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Curious about how loud your environment really is? You can easily determine it using your smartphone. 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 application regularly can help you better understand your environment and make educated decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Keep the volume down on your devices
Listening to music or podcasts at excessive volumes is one of the most common ways people impair their hearing over time. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry unrecognized 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.
Current data suggests that more than a billion young individuals face the threat of hearing impairment due to loud earbud use. Crucially, keep your earbud volume below 50% of its full level to protect your hearing. Having to increase the volume past this point to hear indicates that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Avoid using music to drown out background noise
For those who reside in loud areas or work in noisy settings, the urge to use headphones to overpower the ambient sound can be strong. It is in fact harmful to increase the volume too high just to override outside noise. Instead, consider using noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to enjoy your music or podcasts at a much lower, safer volume. If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs can be an effective alternative.
5. When in loud settings, use earplugs
For anyone frequently exposed loud environments—whether at concerts, sporting events, or while operating heavy machinery—earplugs are a must. Since they are small, affordable, and easy to transport, earplugs offer an uncomplicated but powerful method of hearing protection.
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 recommendations
Crucially, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Some workplaces may downplay the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have considerable hearing loss and don’t realize the current noise levels. Take essential 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 increase the space from the noise source. Distance reduces the intensity of sound impacting your ears, thereby 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.
Fireworks offer a good example. A firework exploding at 150 dB may seem far away, but if you’re near the launch site, the noise can still go beyond 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. Address existing hearing loss promptly
If you’ve already noticed hearing loss, it’s essential to act before it worsens. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will continue to worsen. Statistics show that nearly 1 out of 10 adults in the 55-to-64 age group have considerable hearing loss, and this percentage jumps in later years.
Ignoring the early signs of hearing loss only speeds up its progression. 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 preserving your remaining hearing.
Start protecting your hearing now
Use National Protect Your Hearing Month as the ideal reminder to make hearing health a main concern. These easy-to-follow actions can have a major impact, regardless of whether you’re seeking to avert future harm or you’ve already experienced some hearing loss.
Don’t delay—book a hearing test now and gain control over your hearing health before the opportunity is gone.
