How can hearing loss be prevented?

Frequent exposure to noise can increase the risk of developing problems with your hearing as you get older. Extreme volumes can even damage your ears straight away.

Some people’s jobs expose them to explosions, for example during detonations, or to loud volumes when working with noisy machines like pneumatic drills. Noise-related hearing loss is a recognized occupational (work-related) illness. Because of this, certain types of workplaces have to have suitable noise protection measures in place. These usually include well-sealed earmuffs or well-fitting earplugs, noise-insulating walls, a limited time exposure to noise, and enough quiet breaks.

Immediate damage to the ears (called acute acoustic trauma) is rare in everyday life and is more commonly caused by accidents. When fireworks explode, for instance, there is a risk of hearing damage and other injuries. So people who don't want to miss out on a fireworks display should only use tested and approved fireworks, not tamper with them, always follow the instructions for use, and wear earplugs when setting them off.

But hearing damage is more often caused by exposure over longer periods of time. Young people in particular often expose themselves to high volumes when listening to music on headphones, in nightclubs, or at concerts. That can increase the risk of having permanent hearing loss when they're older.

Nobody can say exactly how often you can go to a nightclub or listen to loud music without developing hearing problems later in life. Experts generally say that it's best not to listen to loud music on headphones for longer than one hour per day. The volume is considered to be “loud” if it's more than half the maximum volume on the device. It is advisable to wear earplugs in nightclubs and at concerts. You can also get special earplugs that filter out the different sound frequencies to the same degree, so the sound of the music and singing aren't distorted. These earplugs are often used by professional musicians. They are available in different sizes and strengths.

There is generally a lack of good research on whether protecting your ears from noise can prevent hearing loss in the long run. But that doesn’t mean that protective measures don’t work. For example, one smaller-scale study suggests that wearing earplugs at loud concerts can prevent temporary hearing problems. But there are no larger, reliable studies to prove that earplugs and similar types of ear protection also prevent permanent hearing problems later in life.

There is a similar lack of good studies on the various workplace measures. But it can be assumed that noise protection regulations and correctly used protective equipment make sure that employees are exposed to lower volumes at work. That might also prevent hearing loss in the long term.