If It’s Too Loud, Turn it Down and Other Common-Sense Tips For Avoiding Hearing Loss

While Americans in general are known for not doing as much as they should for their own health, one of the most neglected body parts is actually also very simple to protect. Actually, make that two. While daily life can strain bodies in many places, ears have a lot to deal with, especially when it comes to living in urban environments. Certain streets around the world have registered at decibel levels that are forcing local governments to make big changes, because just a half-hour of exposure to the sound is detrimental to health and hearing. But anyone who has been in the middle of a crowded city knows that it’s not just loud music and television that can do a number on one’s ability to hear.

Sometimes, though, the advice for how to prevent hearing loss gets a little bit overwhelming and tends to veer towards micromanaging. Since it’s entirely possible to overcomplicate some of the simplest things in life, here are some straightforward and highly effective tips towards preserving your hearing for years and years.

If it’s too loud, turn it down. Sounds simple enough, but sometimes people do not realize that it’s too loud, as they have been steadily turning it up over the course of a few years, not realizing that now the television/radio/car stereo is at a volume level that is actually damaging, and that the paradox is that it slowly crept that high because it was initially too loud. The best way to set volume on anything is to turn it up to what is an audible level, and then turn it down just a little bit. Stop at the point where you can still make out all of the sounds and words, but where it isn’t blasting, and you’ll give your ears a lot longer time to thrive.

You can’t drown out the city. Not with your television, not with an iPod with those tiny earbud headphones, and not with a car stereo. Don’t try to battle the sounds of life in a metropolis, because it’s only going to lead to hearing problems for you. There’s a reason why an MP3 player can’t drown out a jackhammer, and trying to do anything otherwise is just a recipe for hearing trouble down the line.

Be prepared/pack accordingly. Unless it happens to be a surprise party, most of the time, people know when they are going to be attending a concert or a nightclub. Instead of pretending like being close to the stage and all of the different speakers is tolerable, just pick up a pair of earplugs. Even if they aren’t the fanciest ones around, most drug stores sell brands that will at least decrease the decibels enough so that ears won’t be ringing at the end of the night.

It’s possible to overuse headphones. While it’s convenient to be able to take one’s favorite music anywhere in the world, when anywhere in the world includes loud airplanes, crowded subway cars, and bustling streets, there needs to be an understanding that headphones won’t be able to cancel out that noise (even if they are noise-cancelling). Try to save personal MP3 player use for environments where it’s not going to wear your ears out too much, or at the very least, take a break after listening for a couple of hours, so that your ears can rest and your hearing can stay safe.