Here is an encouraging fact: while age-related hearing change is hard to avoid, the hearing loss caused by loud noise is almost entirely preventable. Once noise damages the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, it does not come back — but a few simple habits, and an understanding of how loud is too loud, can protect your hearing for the rest of your life.
How loud is too loud?
Both how loud a sound is and how long you are exposed to it matter. As a rough guide, prolonged exposure to sounds above around 85 decibels — roughly the level of heavy traffic or a busy restaurant — can damage hearing over time, and the louder it gets, the less time it takes. A simple test: if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone at arm’s length, it is loud enough to be worth protecting against.
Everyday ways to protect your hearing
None of these are dramatic — they just add up:
- Turn the volume down — for headphones, a good rule of thumb is no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time
- Use hearing protection at concerts, gigs, clubs, motorsport, shooting and noisy DIY — even simple foam plugs make a real difference
- Take listening breaks — give your ears quiet time to recover after loud exposure
- Move away from the speakers at events, and step outside for a break now and then
- Be careful with earbuds in noisy places — you end up turning them up to drown out the surroundings
- Consider custom moulded plugs if you are a musician, work in noise, or are often around loud sound
Protecting your hearing at work
If your job involves loud noise, your employer has a legal duty to protect your hearing — so use the protection provided, and wear it consistently rather than just some of the time. Occasional gaps still add up over the years.
Watch for the warning signs
Temporary ringing in the ears or muffled hearing after a loud event is a red flag: it is your ears telling you the sound was too much. It may settle, but repeated exposure causes damage that builds up permanently, and can lead to lasting tinnitus. If you are already noticing signs of hearing loss, protecting what you have becomes all the more important.
Get a baseline
A simple hearing assessment gives you a baseline to compare against over time, so any change is caught early. It is a small, sensible step, particularly if you are often around loud sound.
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent — and almost entirely preventable. Turn it down, protect your ears around loud sound, and give them time to recover.← Back to the Journal
