There are lots of New Year’s resolutions to choose from. You may want to read 20 books this year, learn to play the violin or start climbing at the New Jersey Rock Gym. The good news is that you don’t have to choose just one, and hearing protection fits nicely inside any resolutions list.
Why Is Hearing Protection Important?
An estimated 26 million U.S. adults aged 20 to 69 have noise-related hearing loss. Anytime you’re exposed to noise over 85 decibels, about the volume of a gas-powered motor, you’re at risk of developing hearing loss. The louder the noise gets, the faster it will damage your hearing. Something at 120 decibels, the volume of an emergency siren, can cause immediate harm.
There are lots of ways you could encounter damaging noise levels, from amped up speakers at a concert to lying on your horn in traffic. While it’s common, noise-related damage is highly preventable, making hearing protection the ideal New Year’s resolution.
Three Ways To Protect Your Hearing
Implement the following hearing protection tips this year:
- Buy earplugs. Earplugs dampen the force with which sound hits your ears. You should wear them when you’re surrounded by noise you can’t control, as is the case with concerts and construction sites. Disposable foam plugs are a nice option if you aren’t regularly around high noise levels, but reusable silicone, rubber or plastic options are better for people who frequent concerts or use heavy machinery.
- Set decibel limits. Many of us raise the volume of our music too loud when jamming out through our headphones. Go into your phone’s headphone safety settings and set a decibel limit of no more than 80 dB.
- Schedule a hearing test. A hearing test is a form of preventative care, much like six-month checkups at your general practitioner’s office. It allows your provider to establish your baseline hearing and track changes over time, setting you up for early treatment if you do develop hearing loss.
Grabbing earplugs, setting decibel limits and scheduling a hearing test are three excellent ways to accomplish a hearing protection New Year’s resolution. Contact us at Speech & Hearing Associates today to schedule your first hearing test and set the resolution in motion.