Are you at risk of losing your hearing?
Skydivers always wear parachutes, NHL goalies are covered in gear from head to toe, and rock climbers carry any number of devices to reduce their risk of falls and protect others when they’re scaling mountains. Even the biggest risktakers do everything they can to protect themselves from physical harm.
But what about someone heading out to see a favourite band that’s rolled into town for a once-in-a-lifetime tour, or a gardener who wants to invest in a leaf blower, or a dog parent with a new pup in their home?
earplugs for noisy places, personally molded earplugs on ear close-up
These folks aren’t necessarily risktakers, but they should still consider protecting themselves – and depending on your everyday activities, maybe you should too.
Why hearing protection matters
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. But it’s also preventable when you take the right steps.
Experts agree that the harmful threshold is 85 dB, which is about 25 dB louder than a normal conversation.
Of course, it depends on how long you’re exposed to sounds at dangerous volumes – you’re not going to lose your hearing if your dog is barking at a squirrel for five minutes. But it does only take 15 minutes at 110 dB to potentially start doing damage,2 and repeated exposure can eventually cause hearing loss.
To protect your hearing, make sure to balance out your exposure to loud noises with lots of recovery time in a quiet environment, and wear high-quality hearing protection when you do have to be in dangerously loud places.
The best hearing protection
It turns out your mom was right: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid damage to your ears when you’re in very noisy environments, consider custom earplugs made from impressions which can be taken at any HearingLife clinics. These are comfortable, designed to fit perfectly in the ear for each individual. If using reusable earplugs, your best option is silicone earplugs in addition to disposable foam plugs but it’s important to note that these need to be inserted properly to be effective.
Should you prefer earmuffs, make sure to factor in the decibel level of the environment you’re going to be exposed to. Your goal is to bring sound exposure down to below that critical 85 dB level, so make sure your muffs are rated for the activity you’ll be using them for.
If ear protection isn’t something you’ve ever considered, it’s possible you could have some degree of hearing loss depending upon your age and other factors. But that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind and blast your ears with a reckless amount of noise because the damage has already been done! It’s never too late to start being proactive about hearing protection.
If you’re wondering how your hearing has been standing up to the noise you experience every day, take advantage of a free, comprehensive hearing assessment and a free, 30-day hearing aid trial at a HearingLife clinic near you. PLUS, HearingLife also offers custom noise protection options, sleep plugs and swim plugs!
HearingLife forms the largest network of hearing clinics with over 350 network clinics across Canada. Staffed by certified hearing healthcare professionals, HearingLife offers the most advanced hearing aid technology and up-to-date diagnostic equipment, as well as clinical support and exclusive 360-AfterCare.
#LoveYourEars and visit HearingLife to book an appointment for your free trial today.