Acoustic interference is an perpetual element of modern life. Whether it’s gardening equipment, heavy traffic, or our own headphones, the aural world has intensified. The growing volume of sound poses a serious threat to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. As October marks National Protect Your Hearing Month, it serves as an opportune period to review how to safeguard this important sense.

8 key suggestions to protect your hearing

Luckily, some effortless measures exist that allow you to defend your hearing from routine environmental sounds. We present eight crucial guidelines to keep your hearing safe.

1. Understand noise levels and their impact

To begin preventing hearing loss, you must develop an awareness of when noise intensity is dangerously high. Varying noises generate different decibel (dB) measurements; spending too much time around loud ones can result in permanent hearing damage. Here’s a quick guide:

• Sounds like heavy traffic or lawn mowers (85–90 dB) can be tolerated safely for a maximum of 2 hours.
• At 100 dB (e.g., motorcycles, construction machinery), hearing damage can begin after only 15 minutes.
• Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.

A anticipatory mindset regarding noise levels enables you to keep away from environments that are detrimental for your hearing.

2. Determine sound levels yourself

Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? A smartphone makes measuring sound levels effortless. Several free sound meter apps are accessible, allowing you to check noise levels around you. The key to getting reliable data is to take the measurement from the distance you normally maintain from the origin of the sound.

Using this feature regularly can help you better interpret your environment and make informed 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. The convenience of headphones and earbuds often comes with hidden risks. It’s noteworthy that numerous 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 loud 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. 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

When situated in a noisy environment or living in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to mask the surrounding noise. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is dangerous for your hearing. The preferred solution is noise-canceling headphones, which permit listening to media at a greatly reduced and safer volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an efficient substitute.

5. When in noisy settings, use earplugs

For anyone often in 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 offered for those who need them regularly, providing better comfort and protection than generic options. Never fail to use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.

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 downplay 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 appropriate protective equipment.

7. Move further away 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 reaching 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. Even if a 150 dB firework explosion appears distant, being close to the launch site means the noise could still be over 120 dB, leading to immediate damage. However, by positioning yourself 2,000 feet away (approximately five football fields), you can view the show at a safer level, under 100 dB.

8. Address existing hearing loss promptly

Should you already be dealing with hearing loss, it is crucial that you take action so it doesn’t progress. Auditory impairment is not self-reversing; it will progress. Statistics show that nearly 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 disregarded, it only causes the condition to progress faster. Usually, individuals delay seeking treatment by a full 7 years. The sooner you consult with a hearing specialist and look into hearing aids or other treatments, the better your chances of preserving your remaining hearing.

Take action today

The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month serves as an great time to place a high value on your auditory well-being. 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.

To avoid future regret, set up a hearing test today and manage your auditory health.