Can You Prevent Hearing Loss?

The world we live in today is becoming louder than before every single day. This “loud” world is partly due to the industry that drives it, as well as technological advances that deliver noise directly to our ears. Just think about all those headphones and earbuds on the market today; these are perfect examples of how we inundate our sense of hearing on a daily basis. With this sometimes-constant assault on our sense of hearing, the loss of that ability should not come as a surprise.   

So, what can you do to prevent hearing loss, or, at the very least, reduce the risks?  

Understanding what is too loud

Understanding how to prevent hearing loss comes with the knowledge of how hearing loss occurs. Exposure to loud noises, in either overwhelming volumes for short period of time or semi-loud levels over a length of time, will cause damage to the hair cells within the ears themselves. These hair cells are naturally delicate by design and also susceptible to damage through loud noises.  

Noise exposure can take on many forms, including work and recreational. Common sources of harmful noise outside of work take the form of recreational vehicles, such as motorcycles or boats. Excessive noise can also be a part of your night out – think about that dance club you visited or even the bar. What about the concert you attended last month? These can all be sources of harmful and excessive noise that can damage your hearing in the long-term.  

Shockingly, more than 10 million people in the U.S. have already experienced hearing loss that cannot be reversed. This fact alone is astounding, but you may also be shocked to learn that approximately 40 million people are exposed to harmful noises every day.  

What should you look out for?

Since hearing loss can be a gradual process, the warning signs are not as overt as you would expect. However, you can be aware of some of the symptoms of hearing loss to help you understand where and when you’ve been exposed to high noise levels that may damage your hearing.  

These symptoms include:  

• Ringing in the ears 
• Difficulty hearing what people say at a conversational level 
• A full feeling in your ears after you leave a noisy area  

How do you protect your hearing?

If most of your exposure occurs at work or in an industrial setting, be sure to look into hearing protection or discuss the problem with your boss and co-workers. Hearing protection like earmuffs or earplugs should always be worn when working around loud machinery.  

In your personal life, limit the time you spend near loud machines or take the same precautions that you would while at work. Wear ear protection when operating machinery at home such as lawn mowers or leaf blowers. Listen to portable electronics at a reasonable level and remember to give your ears a break from time to time!  

Your hearing is an important and essential sense in your day-to-day life. Thus, you should protect it and prevent exposure to high levels of noise as much as possible. Giving just some consideration for the noisy world around you will help you prevent hearing loss now and in the future!