Have you ever experienced ringing in your ears after a night of partying or attending a concert? Was there a time when you turn on the TV in the morning and it was too loud? And it didn’t seem too loud the night before? Here’s a wake-up call: you might need to consider getting your hearing tested.
While a single loud sound, like a firecracker to your ear, can put you at risk for hearing loss, most happen gradually over repeated exposure to loud ear-damaging sounds. You might not realize it, but daily lifestyle activities may put your hearing health at risk. The good news is that you can do simple things to prevent it.
How loud is too loud?
Noise levels are recorded in decibels or dBA. The louder the noise, the greater the noise level. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the safe noise level is up to 70 dBA. You can spend as much time as you like listening to sounds that are 70 dBA or lower.
However, if you listen to sounds at 85 dBA for longer than 8 hours at a time, you could lose your hearing. As the noise gets louder by 3 dBA, you also cut the safe listening time in half. That means when the noise level reaches 88 dBA, the safe listening time is down to 4 hours. When it hits 91 dBA, you will only have 2 hours of safe listening time before the noise damages your hearing.
To put the numbers into perspective, a whisper is 30 dBA, a typical conversation is 60 dBA, and a loud environment such as a rock concert is 112 dBA. Examples of noises that are not safe for any period include sirens (120 dBA) and firecrackers at 3 feet (150 dBA).
Keeping your hearing health in check
Steering clear from loud environments is still the best way to prevent hearing loss. However, if you can’t avoid it, here are some changes and actions you can start taking:
● Limit frequent music exposure in your daily routine.
It’s important to remember that constant and prolonged exposure to loud music can make you at a higher risk of acquiring hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or both. One example is listening to music using earphones daily. To reduce being at risk, turn on your phone’s safe listening mode so you can enjoy music without compromising your hearing health.
If you’re at a party, consider wearing earplugs that fit perfectly in your ear canal. A 2016 study showed that earplugs in concerts were effective in preventing hearing loss.
Manila Hearing Aid offers custom-fit earplugs for children and adults – available for preorder at any MHA clinic.
● Wear ear protection if noise exposure cannot be avoided, especially for occupational risks.
People working on construction sites and factories encounter loud noises frequently. It is highly recommended to wear earmuffs or industrial earplugs to lessen the risk of acquiring occupational hearing loss.
For swimmers, divers, and lifeguards, swim plugs are recommended to prevent water from getting stuck inside the ears which can cause ear infections. The same goes for music professionals who are frequently exposed to music-related activities like rehearsals and performances.
● Schedule regular hearing health checkups.
Although it’s commonly assumed that hearing tests are only for those experiencing hearing problems, getting regular hearing checkups is vital as well for normal hearing as it may help provide early awareness about their hearing health and unveil other underlying health conditions if there are any.
For instance, if you have a medical condition that did not appear on a physical exam or present any symptoms, a hearing test evaluation can help provide you with valuable information about your health.
Manila Hearing Aid has made it easier for patients to get their hearing checked through in-clinic hearing testing and consultation which they can book online or by directly getting in touch with their preferred MHA clinic.
● Trust only the experts for hearing care needs.
While it can be convenient and easy to just Google every symptom, which is NOT medically advisable, nothing beats having a reputable professional answer to your burning questions about hearing health.
Manila Hearing Aid has been in the hearing care industry for over 40 years and has proven to be a trusted institution in providing a wide range of hearing care solutions.
A new milestone has been added to their legacy as they officially launched their e-commerce store, MHA Online Store — a new convenient option for buying authentic hearing aid batteries, hearing aid care products, and accessories.
For more information on how Manila Hearing Aid can help you protect and care for your hearing health, visit https://manilahearingaid.com.ph.