Hearing loss can happen to anyone, and it can’t always be prevented. Sometimes, it’s just a part of getting older, but it can also be caused by exposure to loud noises. There are some easy things that you can do to protect your hearing from loud noises that could permanently damage it. Make your hearing a health priority. 

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1. Avoid loud noises. The easiest way to avoid damaging your hearing with loud noises is to keep away from the loud noises in the first place. If you have to raise your voice to talk to others, can’t hear what people nearby are saying, a noise hurts your ears, or you have ringing in your ears afterwards, then the noise is loud enough to damage your hearing. Noise levels of over 85 decibels can be harmful. 

2. Be careful when listening to music. Listening to loud music on earphones or headphones is one of the main dangers to your hearing. To avoid this damage, use noise-cancelling headphones so you don’t have to turn the volume up to drown out outside noise. Keep the volume to where you can hear the music comfortably, but no higher. Never listen to music at more than 60% of the maximum volume. Don’t use earphones for more than an hour at a time, and instead, take a five-minute break every hour. 

3. Protect your hearing at loud events and activities. Protect your hearing at loud events like gigs, sports events, or nightclubs. Move away from the source of noise, like the speakers. Take advice from an audiologist and take a break from the noise every 15 minutes. Your hearing will need around 18 hours to recover after exposure to loud noise, so give your hearing time before being around more loud noise. Wear earplugs. Musician’s earplugs reduce the volume without muffling music. 

4. Take precautions at work. If your job involves being exposed to loud noises, speak to your HR department. Your employer should make changes to reduce your exposure to loud noises, such as by switching to quieter equipment if at all possible, making sure you aren’t exposed to loud noises for long periods of time, and by providing protection for your hearing, like ear muffs or earplugs. Always wear any ear protection that you’re given. 

5. Get your hearing tested. If you’re concerned about your hearing and are worried you might be losing it, get a hearing test as soon as possible. The earlier a hearing loss problem can be detected, then the earlier something can be done about it. If you’re at a higher risk of noise-induced hearing loss, for example, you work in a noisy environment like on a building site, then it could be wise to have a regular hearing check, perhaps once a year. This way you can catch any problems before they get worse. 

It’s important to take care of your hearing as best you can. Never wait to have a hearing problem checked, so you can get help with any issues before they become worse.