The ear has three parts: the outer ear, where sound waves enter; the middle ear, where these waves make the eardrum vibrate and travel through the ossicles to the inner ear; and the inner ear, which transmits nerve impulses to the brain. Ear disorders can lead to balance or hearing problems and deafness.

Ear disorders can be caused by many factors, including infections (which are more common in babies and children) and loud noises (which cause a low, constant ringing; the clearest example is tinnitus). They can also be caused by problems with fluid in the middle ear, such as in Ménière disease, or by water or air pressure.

Workplace noise isn’t the only sound contamination we are exposed to on a daily basis. Many experts agree that sounds from daily activities can also damage hearing—and once hearing is lost, it’s impossible to get back. To keep your ears safe, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Turn down the volume

Even if you don’t have a sound measuring device, it’s easy to tell if the noise around you is too loud. If you or people near you need to shout to be heard or can’t be understood even when standing close by, the noise is too loud and can cause both short- and long-term damage to your ears.

For these situations, the solution is simple: lower the volume. Put your TV and mobile devices at a comfortable volume: high enough so that you don’t have to strain to hear, but not so high that you can hear it from another part of the house.

Stay away from loud noises

As much as you can, keep your distance from noise, whether it’s at home, work, or in public places. Daily activities, such as using electrical equipment, mowing the lawn, and going to gyms with loud music, can seriously affect your ability to hear. This precaution applies to children, too: keep them away from loud music and equipment.

Take breaks from noise

Avoid activities and places that are too loud. If you need to stay in these environments, or if you have to do work that involves loud noises, specialists recommend taking frequent breaks to give your ears a “breather.”

Use protection

About 70% of people exposed to loud noises rarely or never use hearing protection. If you can’t follow the above tips and avoid loud noises, use protective devices, whether you’re at home or in public. You can use earplugs or earmuffs—just remember to always keep them on hand.

Hazardous environments

You should protect your ears if you regularly go to concert venues, construction sites, airports, train stations, racetracks, and shooting or hunting ranges, or even just mow the lawn often. Professionals recommend consulting an audiologist about personalized earplugs if you are routinely exposed to these environments.

Get tested

Most adults have never had a hearing test. At your next annual physical exam, ask your doctor to include a hearing test as part of your routine checkup. This gives your audiologist a baseline for comparison against future results to monitor the progression of your hearing loss—and gives you a chance to learn about your ear health.

Sources:

National Library of Medicine; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mayo Clinic; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.