We talk often in our culture about the ways Millennials and Gen Z are redefining standards as they come of age. One way that the next generations might disrupt a standing assumption we have is by proactively protecting their hearing health.
They’re under greater pressure than ever to do so, as our hearing behaviors have perhaps deteriorated in the past decade as the ubiquity of earbuds and personal devices grows exponentially. If today’s younger people have a chance at avoiding noise-induced hearing loss, it will be because of the education and advocacy that is taking place right now. October is Protect Your Hearing Month and the message is aimed most pointedly at people aged 40 and under. By embracing healthy hearing habits today, we can look towards a brighter hearing future.
Attitudes toward hearing health today
Today, many Americans will readily agree that hearing health is important and related to good quality of life. A March 2021 survey conducted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association found that 70% of respondents agreed that “untreated hearing loss can lead to feelings of social isolation and nearly as many realize it can lead to feelings of depression.” But that attitude doesn’t entirely line up with people’s behaviors around attending to their hearing health. While a majority had undergone an eye exam in the last five years, only two out of ten had their hearing checked.
People with hearing loss are also unlikely to take advantage of the evidence-based proven solutions available. On average, people with hearing loss wait about a decade before opting in on hearing aids. That’s a long time to live a life with challenging hearing experiences! Though hearing aids wearers repeatedly provide glowing reviews, only one-third of people with hearing loss wear them.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Hearing loss later in life is the result of the natural aging process, in which important inner ear cells deteriorate over time. However, the second leading cause is noise-induced hearing loss, where these inner ear cells are damaged because of exposure to dangerous volumes of sound.
Both have permanent effects on hearing. Once these inner ear cells are damaged, they do not repair themselves or generate replacements. Their job is to collect sound from the external environment and transmit those signals to the brain for processing. When damaged, less sound information reaches the brain, which is what we perceive as a loss of hearing.
What volumes are dangerous?
Mandated by federal law, workplaces must put safety interventions in place if sound levels exceed 85 decibels — the unit to measure sound — over an eight-hour shift. We collectively use 85 decibels as a good rule of thumb. Keeping your noise exposure below this is good practice, but it isn’t always possible. Even a noisy restaurant can easily reach a measurement of 90 decibels. Mowing the lawn, for instance, exposes you to approximately 90 decibels of noise, clearly over the limit (and provides a wonderful excuse to duck out on a chore).
That said, time plays an important factor in considering dangerous sounds. Experts agree that any exposure to noise over 100 decibels will harm hearing if the exposure persists beyond 15 minutes.
Unique dangers to today’s younger folks
While labor advocates have fought for decades to make workplaces safer, particularly in regards to noise levels that might cause noise-induced hearing loss, we all willingly participate in very loud noise daily. Recreational activities like snowmobiling, jet skiing, and shooting all expose our ears to too-loud sounds. Entertainment venues, like dance clubs and rock concerts (even symphonic events!), can project sounds beyond 100 decibels. And our earbuds, connected to our devices, are at an all-time high in terms of use. Now, we have these speakers directly in our ears for music, gaming, movies and tv, virtual classes or meetings, panel discussions, and all sorts of online communication. Keep in mind that the max volume on earbuds can range from 85-110 decibels.
Protecting Our Hearing for the Future
The next generation can interrupt the harmful effects of a noisier world by taking precautions today and developing a habit of attending to their hearing health.
Take note of the sound exposure you’re putting your ears through by monitoring your earbuds’ decibel level. Some devices are already collecting that information and it’s up to you to access it. For instance, on an iPhone, just tap the ‘Health’ app to scroll through daily headphone measurements. If your device doesn’t keep this score, always aim to keep your volume at about two-thirds of the maximum.
If you engage in loud hobbies or recreational activities, invest in hearing protection. Our team can guide you toward your best options, whether that be custom earplugs or noise-canceling headphones.
Schedule annual hearing exams and remain curious and attentive to your hearing health. Our hearing health experts can set you up with a quick and easy hearing exam, plus we are ready to offer guidance towards both healthier habits, as well as any interventions that might be right for you.