Healthy Habits to Protect Your Hearing 

Healthy Habits to Protect Your Hearing 

In Hearing Health by Dr. Jason Leyendecker

Dr. Jason Leyendecker
Latest posts by Dr. Jason Leyendecker (see all)

Hearing loss appears in different forms, from presbycusis (age-related) to noise-induced. Unlike hearing loss that occurs from the natural process of aging, noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. Even if you’ve spent years of your life exposed to loud noises, whether on the job or in your leisure activities, prevention now is better late than never! Here are a few healthy habits to incorporate into your daily life to protect your hearing. 

Avoiding sounds that could damage your hearing

All sounds are measured in decibels. Eighty-five decibels is the upper limit for safe sounds. Hearing specialists warn that sounds over 85 decibels can permanently damage our hearing. 

The amount of exposure time matters, too – the longer you are exposed to sounds above 85 decibels, the more you may jeopardize your hearing. Certain sounds above 100 decibels could permanently damage your hearing in minutes.

As you can imagine, many sounds in our daily life may exceed 85 decibels. A typical conversation clocks in at 60 decibels. Here are a few sounds you may experience above this safe limit (from the National Institute of Health):

110-140 Decibels

  • Rock concerts
  • Jet engines
  • Firecrackers
  • Nail guns
  • Ambulance sirens
  • Chainsaws
  • Home stereo speakers at maximum volume

85-100 Decibels

  • Garbage truck
  • Lawnmower
  • Motorcycle
  • Snowmobile
  • Jackhammer

If you experience sounds at these decibels regularly, consider custom hearing protection. Even if exposure is limited, consider carrying generic earplugs (silicon or foam) that are found at your local pharmacy.  It is essential to give your ears a break. If you have recently been exposed to loud noises, avoid going into loud situations. 

Turn it down

It seems like everyone’s plugged into their devices with headphones or earbuds these days. This immediate access to music and media may be convenient for workouts or commutes, but it also endangers your hearing. The positioning of earbuds to your eardrums creates dangerously loud conditions – comparable to noise conditions in a coal mine! 

Hearing specialists recommend listening to audio at 60% of the volume. If possible, get rid of those earbuds and invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Earbuds do not block out background noise, which means people tend to turn up the volume. On the other hand, noise-canceling headphones neutralize background noise, allowing you to listen to audio at a reasonable volume. 

Fitness and eating well still count

Hearing loss is the third most common medical condition. As with other medical conditions, it is linked to physical conditions.  Cardiovascular problems could lead to hearing loss. Our auditory system relies on a healthy supply of oxygenated blood, and medical conditions such as high blood pressure could constrict the blood flow to our inner ear. This could potentially lead to hearing loss. A well-balanced diet and regular exercise promote better health – and hearing health. 

If you’re a smoker, you’ve probably heard all of the reasons for quitting smoking. Did you know that preventing hearing loss is another good reason to quit? Smoking adversely affects your blood vessels and could interfere with your blood circulation. Additionally, second-hand smoke has been found to cause hearing loss in children and teens, according to a recent study from New York University’s School of Medicine. 

Hearing researchers have found that the inclusion of certain vital nutrients in your diet could help boost hearing. A diet rich in vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids could strengthen your auditory system. Include colorful fruits and leafy greens in your diet and several weekly servings of salmon and tuna to help your hearing. 

Regular hearing testing 

Hearing loss may occur to anyone at any age. While it is more common among older Americans, young people are at risk due to the popularity of portable technology and earbuds. Hearing loss often occurs gradually, which means we may not notice it at first. People tend to wait an average of seven years to seek help when they first experience changes in their hearing. 

The most important healthy habit to ensure a healthy hearing is scheduling an annual hearing test. Hearing tests provide you with an understanding of your current hearing abilities. Even if a hearing loss is not detected, having your results on file will keep you abreast of any future changes in your hearing. 

To schedule a hearing test, contact us today.