Phone call icon Call us Call us (877) 846-7074 | TTY: 711

How's your hearing? Get your hearing score in just 5 minutes.

> Take Free Screening Now

Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss Prevention: How To Protect Your Hearing

Hearing loss prevention is crucial: noise exposure can damage your hearing.
Contact Us

Healthy hearing is a precious commodity - it connects us to others, nature, moments, music, and activities we enjoy. To experience all the sounds of your life, proper care and knowledge are essential. Understanding how to prevent hearing loss and taking proactive steps today is the absolute best way to ensure your hearing health for the future.

The Core Elements of Hearing Loss Prevention

Protecting your ears requires a combination of awareness, action, resources, and routine. Luckily, there are many effective ways to prevent hearing loss, from purposefully avoiding loud noises to practicing healthy daily habits. 

3 Pillars of Hearing Loss Prevention

Looking to build better habits? It helps to let the three pillars of hearing loss prevention guide your daily health choices.

Read about the Pillars

The Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

While hearing loss caused by genetics or the aging process may not be entirely avoidable, there is one type of hearing loss that is. Preventing noise-induced hearing loss can and should be a priority for everyone! This common condition happens from either a sudden, extremely loud noise (e.g., gunshot or explosion) or repeated exposure to loud sounds over time.

How Loud is Too Loud? 

Sound intensity is measured in decibels. See how different decibel levels can impact your hearing health and when to take precautions.

Decibel & Noise Level Charts

Practical Ways to Protect Your Hearing

Whether you’re at home, outdoors, or attending a loud event, knowing how to protect your hearing in different environments is crucial for preserving your hearing health.

Healthy Habits & Exercises

Your overall health impacts your hearing health and vice versa. Manage stress, eat a healthy diet, and quit smoking (smokers are estimated to have a 70% higher risk of hearing impairment than non-smokers1). Additionally, and surprisingly to many, maintaining healthy blood flow is vital. Implement exercise to help prevent hearing loss, with a focus on cardiovascular health and circulation. 

Choose (and Wear) the Right Ear Protection

Wondering about the best earplugs to prevent hearing loss? Finding the right fit can make a huge difference in preserving your hearing. Depending on the environment, custom-fit protection often provides superior defense, but not always.  Read our breakdown on customized earplugs vs standard ones.

Monitor Headphone Levels

Personal audio devices are one of the most common sources of daily noise exposure. To keep your ears safe while using headphones or earbuds, follow the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. If those around you can hear music from your headphones, it's too loud. It can be wise to upgrade to noise-canceling headphones, which block out background sounds so you aren't tempted to crank up the volume to unsafe levels.

Address Earwax Buildup (But Skip the Q-Tip)

Earwax helps keep the ears moisturized, but impacted earwax can block sound and cause temporary hearing loss. Have a doctor clear severe blockages and always avoid cotton swabs, which push wax deeper.

Avoid Flying with a Cold

Airplane ear happens when the Eustachian tubes struggle to equalize cabin pressure. Flying while congested can lead to severe pain or even a ruptured eardrum. If you must fly, take a nasal decongestant 2-3 hours before your anticipated arrival time so it's most effective during landing. In mild cases, chewing sugarless gum with Xylitol or swallowing liquids can help to open the Eustachian tubes. 

Minimize Ototoxic Medications

Certain medications, like some NSAIDs and diuretics, are classified as ototoxic, meaning they can potentially damage the delicate structures of your ears. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you’re currently taking any ototoxic medication and whether there’s a suitable alternative.

Talk to a Hearing Health Care Provider

If you think you have hearing loss, schedule a professional hearing test. Always follow your provider’s recommendations.

How to Prevent Hearing Loss at Concerts

Don’t let hearing your favorite bands today affect your ability to enjoy them down the road. When it comes to preventing hearing loss at concerts, our main advice is simple: wear ear protection! Specially designed concert earplugs allow you to hear the music clearly while protecting your ears. 

Quality Earplugs for Concerts
How to Protect Hearng Outdoors

Recreational activities such as riding motorcycles, fishing, shooting sports, and renovations can pose serious risks to your hearing health.

We put together expert tips for protecting your hearing outdoors so you can enjoy nature safely.

Protect Your Hearing Outdoors

Hearing Loss Prevention in the Workplace

Many individuals face a higher risk of auditory damage simply because of their careers. 

  • Factory workers. In addition to loud machinery, industrial fans run all day. Reduce noise at the source by adding silencers and wearing proper PPE.
  • Construction workers. Earmuffs or heavy-duty earplugs are an absolute requirement on job sites, especially since a power drill or a jackhammer can reach or exceed 90-130 dBA.
  • Musicians. Drum and amp sounds easily exceed 100 dBA. Noise-canceling monitors or filtered earplugs are highly recommended, especially for longer sets.
  • Military. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the most common service-related injuries, often due to sudden explosions, ship engines, or even gunfire.
  • Airport workers. With jet engines reaching over 140 dBA on takeoff, high-grade earplugs or muffs are mandatory on the tarmac.

Knowing about and planning for workplace risks ahead of time can help prevent hearing loss! Learn how awareness campaigns like National Safety Month work to spread the word about workplace safety. 

Special Considerations: Seniors and Hearing Aids

As we age, protecting our hearing becomes even more important. When exploring how to prevent hearing loss in elderly individuals, in addition to the recommendations above, the focus shifts to:

  • Managing chronic conditions such as hypertension (which accelerates age-related hearing loss)2
  • Reducing stress
  • Scheduling regular hearing exams.

Do Hearing Aids Prevent Further Hearing Loss? No, hearing aids cannot physicially prevent hearing loss. However, they can play an important role in preventing auditory deprivation. By continuously stimulating the auditory pathways, hearing aids help the brain retain its ability to process sound, preserving speech comprehension and preventing cognitive decline.

Protect Your Hearing Today

Some hearing problems can be trated or slowed down if addressed early enough. If you're uncertain about your hearing, don't hesitate to take action. Use our Clinic Locator to meet with professional hearing health care provider or try our Pure-Tone Hearing Quiz to get high-level insights into your hearing abilities.

Find a Clinic Near Me Pure-Tone Hearing Quiz
  1. National Library of Medicine (2025). A Comparative Evaluation of Hearing and Psychological Distress in Smokers and Non-smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study.
  2. National Library of Medicine. (2025). Association between hypertension and hearing loss: a systemic review and meta-analysis.
A senior couple sitting on a couch having a video call

Hearing loss symptoms

Think you or a loved one may have hearing loss?

Symptoms
A woman laughing wearing sunglasses

Hearing loss

Did you know nearly 40 million Americans have hearing loss? It's more common than you think.

Learn more
A senior woman kayaking on a lake

Hearing loss causes

Knowing what causes hearing loss is essential to preventing it.

Learn more

Good hearing matters

Start your journey today