Protect Your Hearing

Knowing how noise impacts you is the key to protecting your hearing. You’ve taken that first step by reading this information.

The next step is to avoid loud noise whenever possible. Remember, if you have to shout to be heard, it is too loud. You should get away from the noise or find a way to protect your ears.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Wear hearing protection. Cotton in the ears will not work. You can buy things that protect your hearing, like earplugs or earmuffs, at the store or online.
   • Earplugs go into your ear so that they totally block the canal. They come in different shapes and sizes. An audiologist can make some just for your ears. Earplugs can cut noise down by 15 to 30 decibels.
   • Earmuffs fit completely over both ears. They must fit tightly to block sound from going into your ears. Like earplugs, earmuffs can reduce noise by 15 to 30 dB, depending on how they are made and how they fit.
   • Earplugs and earmuffs can be used together to cut noise down even more. You should use both when noise levels are above 105 dB for 8 hours or more. You should also use both if you might hear impulse sounds that are more than 140 dBP.

1. Do not listen to loud sounds for too long. Move away from the loud sound if you don’t have hearing protection. Give your ears a break. Plug your ears with your fingers as emergency vehicles pass on the road.

1. Lower the volume. Keep personal listening devices set to no more than half volume. The World Health Organization recommends a total of 40 hours of weekly exposure to volume levels no higher than 80 dB for adults and 75 dB for children on personal listening devices. Don’t be afraid to ask others to turn down the volume of their devices if you can hear them. Ask the movie theater manager to turn down the sound if the movie is too loud.

1. Be a good consumer. Look for noise ratings on appliances, sporting equipment, power tools, and hair dryers. Buy quieter products. This is especially important when buying toys for children.

1. Be a local advocate. Some movie theaters, health clubs, dance clubs, bars, and amusement centers are very noisy. Speak to managers about the loud noise and how it may hurt hearing. Ask that they turn the volume down.

Don’t be fooled by thinking your ears are “tough” or that you can “tune it out”! Noise-induced hearing loss is usually slow and painless. But, it is permanent. The hair cells and hearing nerve cannot be fixed. If loud sounds don’t bother you, you may already have some hearing damage.

You can avoid noise-induced hearing. Protect your hearing for life.