Hearing loss isn’t always something that comes on at once. It’s not a sudden happening where one minute you can hear and the next you’re deaf or have reduced hearing in one or both ears.
It’s more like a gradual loss over time, usually in small increments that build up over years until you can no longer ignore the change or the loss in your hearing.
However, before things even reach this point, there are a few things you can do to have some healthy hearing habits that can help you avoid hearing loss from your habits and external factors.
Get Your Hearing Tested
Hearing tests aren’t just for people who already suspect a problem. Anyone can get a hearing test whenever they feel they want to and then have follow-up checks every few years as required. A baseline test in your 30s or 40s gives you something to compare future results against to get a better idea of changes as you get older.
Most tests take less than an hour and include simple tone and speech recognition checks. There’s nothing invasive or uncomfortable, and the provider will assess your results to give you an idea of how your hearing is and anything you might need to be concerned about.
From here you can discuss your options such as how frequently you need checks, changing how you live, using hearing protection or even getting fitted for hearing aids if required.
Wear Earplugs at Loud Concerts and Events
One single loud concert can expose your ears to sound levels well above what is considered safe for sustained periods. And the damage from repeated exposure builds up even if no single event feels harmful at the time.
It’s a good idea to invest in foam or musician’s earplugs if you’re in these environments frequently. This will help to avoid excessive damage building up without ruining your experience so you can still enjoy the music.
Keep Headphones Below 60 Percent
Listening to anything at close range through headphones or earbuds delivers sound directly into the ear canal, which makes volumes feel deceptively manageable even when they’re doing real damage.
Keeping the volume below 60% and taking breaks during long listening sessions significantly reduces the cumulative exposure that builds up from hours of daily listening via headphones. These days many devices carry volume warnings or have listening time trackers so you can take breaks and give your ears a rest to avoid damage.
Give Your Ears Regular Breaks
Constant exposure to background noise, whether from a loud workplace, traffic, or ongoing headphone use, doesn’t actually give your ears time to recover from the assault on your senses.
Stepping into a quiet space, even for a few minutes at a time, gives the small hairs in your inner ear a chance to recover rather than accumulating strain consistently. Build this into your routine. Taking a break as often as you can, even for 5 minutes, means your ears get a rest, and you’re protecting your hearing as much as possible without needing to stay away from the things you enjoy.
