Protecting Your Ears from Noise Exposure

Sound is all around us! Just think of the hard work your ears do on a daily basis, listening to everything loud, soft, and in between. Repeated exposure to loud sounds can result in permanent hearing loss. Protecting your ears from noise exposure is vital to maintaining health hearing.

Wear proper ear protection

If you work in an area with continuous loud noise, it’s important to make sure your employer offers programs and products to protect your hearing. Earplugs or earmuffs significantly help reduce exposure to noise levels above 80-85 decibels (dB), which can cause hearing loss.

Most earplugs are disposable and easy to use. They come in different styles and are usually made from foam or silicone. Earmuffs resemble headphones with greater muffling protection through padding and a tight fit. Custom-molded earplugs are generally used in work situations and may last for years.

Check around the house

Is the TV turned up too loud? Can you hear the music from someone else’s headphones? Doing noisy chores? All these things can lead to hearing loss.

It’s tempting to turn the television sound up when playing video games or watching movies, but if you can’t hear normal conversation at the same time, the TV is too loud.

If you hear the bleed-over from someone else’s earphones, they’re listening at a risky level. Noise-cancelling headphones, while more expensive, actually work better because they mute sounds around you, so you listen at lower levels.

Earbuds may lead to hearing damage because they are worn in the ear canal, close to the eardrum. Limit use of earbuds to less than an hour a day and keep the volume low.

Be proactive with your hearing health

Take a moment to consider if you’ll be in a situation where you might be encounter loud noises. For example, wearing earplugs at a concert or a movie will dampen the noise without interfering with your enjoyment. Invest in some earmuffs to wear while mowing the lawn or using power tools.

See your audiologist

A visit to the audiologist should be on your to-do list! It’s important to have routine hearing tests, whether you suspect hearing loss or not. Early detection can prevent further hearing loss.

If you have tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), a difficult time understanding conversation, or often ask people to repeat themselves, these are indications of possible hearing loss.

It’s important to think about protecting your ears from noise exposure on a daily basis. Hearing loss due to noise exposure, especially prolonged exposure, is irreversible. With some simple precautions and a bit of preparation, you can minimize your exposure to noise and ensure health hearing.