We’re all likely familiar with the fact that prolonged exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss. For example, spend too much next to the speakers at a concert, and you will probably walk out with your ears ringing. However, that’s not the only exposure to noise that can damage your hearing. There are other loud sounds out there that might be chipping away at one of your most important senses—and you don’t even realize it!
For instance, many of us interact with appliances or other household tools and never even think about how loud they are. Take a standard hairdryer. Most of them are about 85 decibels or more. That means that they’re loud enough to start hurting your hearing. Over time, especially if you’re a frequent user, that can really add up. There are ways to prevent this, though. First of all, think about air drying your hair–it’s much better for your hair and as it turns out your ears. However, if you simply cannot live without a blowout, strongly consider investing in a quieter hair dryer.
Or perhaps you could wear ear protection. That’s probably not a solution for a loud hair dryer, but it is something you should consider when working on your home. Tools like mowers, leaf blowers, and other devices commonly used at home can really take a toll on your hearing. An easy solution then is to protect your ears. You can find quality ear protection at the same places you buy your tools. A note, though: While hardware stores and other places sell earplugs, these are not adequate to prevent hearing loss. Pick up a pair of hearing protection earmuffs, instead.
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are dangers out there for your hearing, but there are also simple ways to prevent damage. It’s a good idea to carry some kind of ear protection, like simple earplugs, because we encounter a lot of noise in our daily lives, especially if we live in cities. If you don’t have anything, it’s not a bad idea just to cover your ears. So whether you’re at work or on your own time, protect your hearing.
