Hearing Safety: How to Protect Your Ears

Who does not enjoy going to hear their favorite band in concert, cheering on a home sports team, or watching breathtaking fireworks? Those activities can be fun social experiences, but they also come with some risks. The ringing in your ears that you feel leaving a club or sporting event is an indicator of noise exposure and possible hearing damage. Think about your favorite soothing sound; imagine if you could never hear it again.

Inside the ear are tiny hair cells that help you hear. Protecting your ears is critical because continued exposure to loud noise can irreparably damage those cells. Unfortunately, pain or ringing in the ears typically does not occur until your hearing is already damaged, and noise exposure damage is usually gradual, making it less noticeable.

This kind of damage does not affect hearing alone. “Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, and anxiety,†said Northern Illinois University Assistant Audiology Professor Charles Pudrith. He added, “[c]omorbidities found with hearing loss include tinnitus, dizziness, and sound sensitivity.â€

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 48 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have difficulty hearing in at least one ear, making it the third most prevalent chronic condition for adults. You may have hearing loss if words are difficult to understand, you cannot hear high-pitched noises, you strain to hear in noisy places, or you have trouble hearing over the phone.

Over time, any sound that is 85 decibels (dB) or higher can lead to hearing loss or other hearing problems, such as tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears or head. The louder a sound is and the more exposure to it, the more hearing damage can result. Even if the exposure is brief, loud sounds can damage your hearing if the source is close to your ears.

A good indicator that the noise around you is too loud is if you need to yell to be heard by someone a short distance away. In such a situation, you should move away from the noise if possible. If you cannot avoid the noise, use adequate hearing protection.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than one-half of people ages 12 to 35 use smartphones or personal audio devices at volumes that pose a threat to their hearing, and nearly 40 percent of those who often visit entertainment venues are at risk for hearing loss. Recreational activities that pose a hearing loss risk include target shooting, boating, motorcycle riding, hunting, and snowmobile riding. Other common sources of loud noises include airplanes, sirens, woodworking tools, and lawn equipment.

To protect yourself, you can lower the volume on the television, radio, or music device. If you are listening to loud music, you can take breaks to reduce your exposure. You can reduce equipment noise by replacing worn, loose, or unbalanced machine parts and keeping equipment well-lubricated and maintained. If pregnant, you should also avoid having your body come in contact with the noise source to reduce your unborn child’s exposure to the vibration.

In public places, you can move or stay away from the loudest sound-producing source. You can also try to minimize the length of time you are exposed to loud sounds. You can keep hearing protection devices handy in your car or pockets.

In addition to noise exposure through home- and leisure-based activities, it is estimated that about 22 million Americans are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work annually. In addition, more than 30 million are exposed to chemicals, some of which are dangerous to hearing. In fact, according to the CDC, certain solvents, pharmaceuticals, and even pesticides can chemically damage hearing.

NIOSH recommends using a hierarchy of controls to reduce workplace noise. In most cases, the preferred approach is to eliminate the source of hazardous noise or use quieter equipment. The NIOSH Buy Quiet initiative (https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/08/07/buyquiet2) offers guidance on quieter power tools and machinery.

The next best solution is to use engineering controls, such as redesigning equipment and constructing barriers, or administrative controls, such as providing quiet areas and scheduling to minimize exposure. When other options have been exhausted, hearing protection devices should be used.

Most hearing protection devices are labeled with a noise reduction rating ranging from 0 to 35 dB. However, these ratings are measured in ideal laboratory conditions.

Insert-type earplugs offer an airtight seal in the ear canal and are typically inexpensive, effective, and simple to use.

Pudrith said many people believe hearing protection prevents communication. “I often spend time with patients explaining to them that they have the option of active plugs or earmuffs with microphones that allow them to communicate with their coworkers in a loud environment,†he said.

“The most underutilized hearing protection devices include active plugs,†Pudrith said. “These devices are ear plugs with a microphone so that when individuals are in a setting that varies from quiet to loud, the device will block out the loud sounds and transmit the quiet sounds. This [device] is perfect for many employees that are moving around a lot.â€

Employers should not assume that, even if they provide their employees with hearing protection, the employees are using it appropriately, according to Pudrith. “It is important for employers to monitor the hearing of the employees to find the individuals who are under-protected,†he said.

Pudrith said it is difficult for people to be concerned about something they do not understand. “I find that the best way to make a hearing loss feel real is to show them hearing loss simulators found online that allow the viewer to experience hearing loss,†he said. “I find that once they ‘experience’ hearing loss, they are more motivated to protect against it.â€

You can download free sound level meter smartphone apps, such as the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App, to measure the sounds around you. Experts recommend that you have your hearing tested if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.

The Department of Defense recognized the importance of testing early and thus advanced the development of a portable hearing test technology that allows testing in both clinical settings and austere environments.

Referred to as “boothless audiometry,†this technology enables fast diagnosis and treatment of injury, optimizing the care and readiness of each Airman.

Securing your valuable assets, like hearing, is clearly important for your future and for the future fight.