3 Surprising Ways You May Be Damaging Your Hearing on a Daily Basis

Like the background process on a computer, your hearing works constantly and invisibly. Even when you are asleep, your ears are on – think about how the sounds of your alarm clock work their way into your dreams. As a result, we often do not consider the impact of our daily life on our hearing.

Hearing loss is the third most common physical condition in the United States. Regardless of age, hearing loss may affect anyone in varying degrees. Many recent studies have revealed statistics that hearing loss has begun to affect younger generations at a higher rate than their predecessors in the last 30 years. Still, hearing loss is often times a natural occurrence of aging.

Though there is innovative technology to treat hearing loss, preventative measures should be considered. Awareness of the different ways you may be damaging your hearing on a daily basis could save your hearing.

Here are 3 surprising ways you may be permanently damaging your hearing:

1) Commuting

Look around the subway train or bus and you’ll see folks plugged into their smartphones with earbuds. In addition to the dangerous levels of sound produced by public transportation systems, earbuds do not cancel out noise and therefore, listening to media on a commute requires cranking up the volume.

If you commute via public transportation, consider a pair of over-the-ear headphones with noise-canceling capabilities, rather than earbuds, to enjoy your podcasts and music. Similarly, commuting by car takes its own toll. Try to listen to your car stereo at a lower volume, as the enclosed space of a vehicle increases the risk of hearing loss when media is played at high levels.

2) Occupation

The US Department of Labor estimates that 30 million people in the US are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. Whether you work on a construction site, a dentist’s office, an airfield, a preschool, or a nightclub, the sounds of your occupational environment may be damaging your hearing. The National Institute of Health reports that “sounds above 80 decibels may cause vibrations intense enough to damage the inner ear.”

Standing next to the humming engine of a construction truck (90 dB) that is five yards away has potentially damaging effects to your hearing. The high frequency voices of young children are potentially as damaging as the whirring of dentistry instruments or the speakers at a music venue. Ask your human resources department for custom-made protective earplugs.

3) Recreation

Hearing experts recommend listening to music and media with the 60-60 rule: 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. The ubiquitous earbuds that accompany most personal electronic devices extremely damaging to hearing; their proximity to the eardrum and the volumes that are created within the enclosed space of your middle ear are akin to using power tools in a coal mine. Music lovers who attend concerts in venues are at risk without earplugs, as are sports fans in big stadiums with voices cheering on the home team.

Do-it-yourself home improvement projects and landscaping produce high decibels of sound from the use of tools. Recreational shooters and motorcycle riders are also exposed to high volumes that may damage hearing. Again, consider using customized ear protection to save your hearing while doing the things you love.