Americans do not have the best loud-noise listening practices, with over one billion young adults experiencing the risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss. This is a preventable medical problem, with people only having themselves to blame.
Protect your ears by using hearing protection when exposing your ears to loud noises. Board-certified audiologists in Tampa, FL, can help you protect your ears with testing and customized earplugs.
Wear the Right Kind of Ear Protection
You need to wear the correct type of ear protection for the activity and loud noise you experience. Otherwise, you risk increased exposure from less effective protection.
Intermittent and varying loud noise calls for ear muffs or over-the-ear protection. You will want to take the protection off when the noise dies down.
This is done more easily with over-the-ear protection.
In contrast, earplugs are better for continuous noise. You will wear them for longer, and the earplugs are less intrusive.
Noise Canceling Ear Phones
When listening to music, you can become tempted to turn the volume up to drown out ambient noise. Unfortunately, this can result in you turning the volume up too loud for your ears. Using noise-canceling headphones addresses this.
The headphones will quiet the unwanted ambient noise so you can listen to your music at a lower volume.
Take Breaks
Plan to take breaks if you expect you will expose your ears to loud noise. For example, attending a concert can last a while. So protect your ears by stepping away to a quieter space every fifteen minutes.
This gives your ears a mini break. Then, you can return to your loud event when you feel your ears quiet and calm.
Give Your Ears Recovery Time
Many hearing disorders develop over time from long-term repeated exposure to loud noises. To prevent this hearing loss or disorder, give your ears a break after exposing them to loud noises.
As a general rule, wait at least 18 hours before exposing yourself to loud noise again. Let your ears rest in a quiet place to allow the small earbones to calm down.
Have Sound Volume Awareness
Any noise over 70 dBA will cause hearing loss with prolonged exposure. Many people do not realize how loud the sounds around them are. For example, a typical conversation usually happens at 60 dBA.
Take a look at this list to figure out when you should wear your ear protection.
Wear Ear Plugs
For maximum protection for your ears, consider purchasing hearing protection. Customized earplugs will fit your ears perfectly. This protects ears and increases their comfort level.
A board-certified audiologist will take a mold of your ears. They will then use that form to have custom earplugs made. Then, wear them every time you expect exposure to loud noises.
Visit Board-Certified Audiologists in Tampa, FL
If you have not previously protected your ears, you may already have hearing damage. So the first step is immediately protecting your ears to prevent further damage and problems. Next, schedule a hearing test with board-certified audiologists in Tampa, FL.
Schedule your hearing test appointment and discuss your hearing protection options.