Our hearing health isn't solely determined by genetics or age, it's also influenced by the activities we engage in and the choices we make. From bustling city streets to lively concerts, many aspects of our lifestyle and hobbies can contribute to hearing loss.
Protecting your hearing is important for maintaining quality of life and overall wellbeing. By understanding how everyday activities impact your hearing, you can take proactive steps to prevent potential damage and ensure lasting auditory health.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Noise induced hearing loss is a type of hearing loss caused by either exposure to loud impulse sound like a gunshot or explosion, or prolonged exposure to high levels of noise. It can happen immediately or gradually over time.
Our occupation and workplace environments play a significant role in hearing loss. Jobs in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and aviation often involve exposure to loud machinery and equipment, increasing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Similarly, certain professions including musicians, DJs, and nightclub workers, face heightened exposure to high levels of amplified sound, putting them at risk of hearing damage over time.
How loud is too loud
According to WorkSafe New Zealand, exposure to noise levels exceeding 85 decibels (dB) can have a significant impact on your hearing health, particularly if exposure is prolonged. To give you an idea, 85 dB is like heavy city traffic or a close-up diesel truck. Continuous exposure to this noise can lead to permanent hearing damage, like hearing loss and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
The Noise Awareness Organisation emphasizes that even brief exposure to loud sounds, such as gunshots or fireworks, can cause immediate and permanent damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear.
If you’re unsure whether the noise you’re being exposed to exceeds 85 dB, many smartphone apps like Starkey’s free soundcheck app let you measure decibel levels in real time.
Protecting Your Hearing
While it may be challenging to avoid all sources of noise, there are steps we can take to safeguard our hearing health.
- Use hearing protection around loud sounds. Foam earplugs are an economical solution, or consider purchasing custom earplugs to best reduce the sound levels.
- Avoid loud or noisy activities/places, when possible.
- Investing in quality earplugs or earmuffs can reduce noise exposure during loud activities such as concerts, sporting events, or DIY projects.
- Giving our ears regular breaks from loud environments allows them time to recover and regenerate.
- Give your ears time to recover after being exposed to loud noises.
- Move away from the loudest sound source (e.g., speakers, fireworks, etc.).
- When using headphones or earbuds, keeping the volume at a safe level and limiting listening time helps prevent overexposure to loud music or podcasts.
- Keep moving! Exercise keeps the blood pumping throughout the body, including the ears. This keeps the internal parts of the ears healthy.
- Get your hearing tested, especially if you experience a change in your hearing, ringing or fullness in your ears over 24 hours.
Embrace Hearing Health
Prioritising hearing health is essential for overall well-being. Scheduling regular checkups with an audiologist or audiometrist for routine hearing assessments can help monitor auditory health and address any concerns early on. Practicing mindful listening and being aware of our surroundings allows us to take proactive steps to protect our ears from excessive noise exposure.
Spreading awareness about the importance of hearing protection and encouraging healthy listening habits in our community can help promote better auditory health for everyone. If you have concerns about your hearing, reach out to your local hearing health professional today.