Protect Your Hearing Month

We are wrapping up Audiology Awareness Month by thinking about hearing protection!

While there is no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, the good news is there are many steps you can take to protect yourself from the harmful effects of noise exposure. In general, noise levels are likely dangerously loud if you must shout in order to be heard by those near you. You can use a combination of the following tips to prevent noise exposure from damaging your hearing:

1. Use hearing protection when you know you will be exposed to prolonged periods of noise, including concerts, sporting events, fireworks, using power tools/machinery, and long-haul flights. Hearing protection comes in many forms including generic foam earplugs, high-fidelity music plugs, and earmuffs. Ask your audiologist which form of hearing protection is right for you.
2. Take listening breaks to give your ears a rest. This means either physically moving away from the loud sound source or taking a break from listening to music with headphones. For every 60 minutes of noise exposure, take a 15 minute break to reduce potential damage.
3. See your audiologist for a baseline hearing test. If you work around loud noises or participate in noisy recreational activities, having a hearing test on file is important because it helps your audiologist monitor your hearing health over time. If you suspect your hearing is changing or you start to have symptoms like ringing, buzzing, or humming sounds in your ears, having a baseline hearing test can help determine your best course of treatment.

For more information regarding noise exposure and hearing protection, please see this page from the CDC regarding Protect Your Hearing Month:

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/protect-your-hearing-month/index.html

Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your hearing health!