Can Hearing Loss be Prevented?

Hearing loss can strike anybody at any time. But that doesn't mean that there’s nothing you can do to reduce your risk. Just like exercising and eating healthfully will cut your risk of developing heart disease, engaging in appropriate preventive behavior can also help prevent hearing loss.

Get your hearing tested regularly

If you’re worried about hearing loss, then the first thing you should do is visit a trained, professional audiologist who can perform a hearing test. Just as with most medical conditions, the sooner you can begin treating a problem, the better the final outcome. Those who catch hearing loss early can often arrest the progress of the conditions and learn how to protect their ears in the future. For instance, audiologists teach musicians who work in noisy environments how to protect their ears from further damage.

Mitigate loud noises at work

Many people work in loud environments. But loud noises can damage the ears and cause permanent hearing loss.

Employers are obliged to protect workers from the occupational sources of hearing loss. Workers can mitigate the damaging effect of loud noises by using quieter equipment, wearing earplugs or headphones, and avoiding exposure to loud noises for as much of the day as possible.

The most critical intervention is wearing hearing protection. Good earplugs and headphones can block out the majority of dangerous noises.

Wear earplugs at loud events

Nightclubs and live music events often play music at extremely high volumes; louder than is safe for the human ear.

The good news is that you can take a range of precautions to protect your ears at these events and enjoy yourself at the same time. First, wear discreet hearing protection, like earplugs. Second, avoid standing right next to loudspeakers. The further away you are from the source of the sound, the less energy will be transmitted to your eardrum. Third, take a break from the noise every fifteen minutes or so. And finally, do not listen to any loud noises for 24 hours after the event. This will allow your ears to recover.

Take precautions when listening to music with headphones

A common cause of hearing loss is listening to music at too loud through headphones. You can lower your risk of hearing loss by listening to music at less than 60 percent of maximum volume and by taking regular breaks (for instance, five minutes every hour).

Avoid loud noises

How loud is too loud? In general, any noise which requires you to raise your voice to speak to other people is probably too loud. Also, any noise which causes pain or ringing in your ears is also likely above the safe threshold. And if your hearing feels muffled after exposure to certain sounds then, again, they are likely too loud.

Ideally, you should avoid noises that are above 85 decibels. To put that in context, busy traffic usually measures somewhere between 70 and 85 decibels. Music on full volume through headphones often measures as much as 110 decibels.