The new year is here, and you might be thinking about making resolutions for 2021. These include exercising more or eating a healthier diet. It can also include taking better care of your hearing health. Here are a few hearing-related resolutions to consider for the new year.
Invest in Good Ear Protection
A set of earplugs can protect up to 35 decibels. This is far more significant than people realize. You might know to wear these earplugs at rock concerts or if you work around loud machinery at a job. You might not realize how loud lawnmowers, power tools, and other machinery can get. Some of them can reach volumes of 100 decibels. Yet, people use them without any kind of hearing protection at all. If you are often exposed to these loud noises, ear protection is a must.
Turn Down Your Music Volume
If you like to listen to music, it can be hard to know how loud it is. Music from radios or smartphones can reach volumes of up to 100 decibels. Having that blasted through headphones into your ears will damage your hearing.
As a rule, you should never listen to music louder than 85 decibels. It’s almost impossible to know a radio’s volume setting. It’s best to keep the volume below the 60 percent level whenever you listen to music. If you think that’s too quiet, there’s a good chance that you have some hearing loss.
Have Your Hearing Checked
If you think you have some degree of hearing loss, you should get your hearing checked. Signs of hearing issues include trouble following conversations and ringing in your ears. Having to turn up your music or TV to uncomfortable levels to hear them is another warning sign. Even if you don’t have hearing loss, you should still get your hearing checked at least once every ten years. Do this until you turn 50. After that, get checked at least once every three years.
These are a few things that you can do in 2021 to protect yourself from hearing loss. If you have questions about your hearing, contact Atkins Hearing Center today. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you better protect your hearing during the new year.
