Do you ever walk out of a noisy dance with that fuzzy feeling in your ears? Congratulations! That is a sign of permanent hearing loss.
According to cdc.gov, approximately 12-15% of 6-19-year-olds already have permanent hearing damage due to noise (Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss).
I was curious about the strange feeling in my ears that I got after every school dance, so I took it upon myself to download a decibel reader on my phone and use it at last year’s winter formal dance. Sure enough, the sound levels were dangerously high.
Did you know that any sound at 95 decibels can cause hearing loss in just less than an hour? Unfortunately, our Notre Dame Winter Formal last year had sound levels at 97.9 decibels, 108.7, and even 117.5. It takes less than an hour for these high sound levels to cause permanent hearing loss, and our winter formal was 2-3 hours long. Yikes!
But it’s not just school dances—it’s concerts, sporting events, loud parties, and even things that seem harmless like listening to loud music with AirPods or blow-drying your hair.
After realizing that these levels can contribute to hearing loss, I started to wonder what I could do to prevent it. There are a few solutions that can help protect your hearing. If you start doing these as a teen, you’ll be grateful when you’re older.
For starters, when listening to music, choose headphones or earbuds that block exterior sounds. This way, you will not be tempted to compensate for the noise around you by turning up the music volume. Similarly, don’t listen with just one earbud in—with the added outside noise, you will be more inclined to turn up the volume to hear better with just one earbud in. This could put one ear in serious danger.
A handy solution could be getting pocket-sized earplugs that reduce noise while still allowing loud music to be played. You can enjoy yourself at a dance, concert, or noisy event without having to worry about hearing damage.
You may have noticed that all singers are wearing some sort of ear protection at their concerts. It is a common misconception that only the singers themselves need ear protection due to their occupation, which presents a constant strain on their ears; meanwhile, the concert attendees are A-okay because it is just for one night. While it is true that constant loud noise over time takes a toll on your hearing, just a single night can cause permanent harm to your hearing, too. According to cdc.gov, just one concert, dance or party can permanently affect your hearing in as little as 15 minutes if it is above 100 decibels (Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss). Injury to your ears can happen in a snap.
Most of us know the familiar shouting match with our grandparents all too well. You call out to them and ask a question, but all you get in response is, “What?” You must repeat your question louder and louder each time until they finally hear it clearly. While old age is yet another contributing factor, hearing loss is more preventable than many people think.
We can not control everything, but it is important to control what we can. So, start protecting your ears now. Your future self will thank you.
