Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Noise

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common but also one of the most preventable causes of hearing problems. The good news is that a few simple habits can make a big difference in protecting your hearing:

1. Turn it down: This is the easiest solution if you control the source of the noise. When you’re listening to music or television through earbuds, reduce the volume to the lowest level you can comfortably hear.
2. Protect your ears: Wear hearing protection when you mow, blow leaves, go to a concert, use a chainsaw or hunt. If your employer provides hearing protection, follow the recommended guidelines.
3. Create distance from the sound source: Keep away from the loudspeakers when you’re dancing at a club. Sit higher up in the stands when you’re at the motorway.
4. Limit exposure time: If your ears start buzzing or you feel drained from talking over background noise, give yourself a break. Step outside, end the outing earlier or take your scheduled breaks at work to let your ears recover.

These small changes don’t take much effort, but they can go a long way toward keeping your hearing strong and healthy.