Our Hearing Tips

Most noise damage happens quietly, over years, and none of it comes back. That makes hearing one of the few things where the prevention is worth more than the treatment. These are the things we end up saying in the office most often.

85 decibels is where the damage starts

Any sound at 85 decibels or above can damage hearing over time, and the louder it gets the less time it takes. NIOSH puts the working limit at 85 dBA for eight hours. Ordinary conversation and a hair dryer sit below the line. Gunshots run from 140 to 190 decibels, which is why hunters and law enforcement officers need protection built for gunfire rather than ordinary foam plugs. Jackhammers and fireworks belong on the same list.

Give your ears time off

Turn the television and the radio down. When you are stuck somewhere loud, step outside for a few minutes, because distance and time both count. Give your hearing about 18 hours to recover after a long stretch of noise. With headphones, aim for roughly 60 percent volume for about 60 minutes at a time, then take a break. That is a rule of thumb rather than a medical threshold, and it fails you on a subway or in a gym, where the noise around you pushes the volume up. You should still be able to notice someone speaking nearby without taking the headphones off.

Nothing goes into the ear canal

Cotton swabs push earwax against the eardrum and can block the canal completely, so use them on the outer ear only. Ear candling does nothing useful and can burn you. If your ears feel plugged, allergies are a common cause and treating them helps. Persistent blockage is worth an appointment rather than a home remedy, because we can look in the ear and see what is actually there. And if you are turning the television up further than you used to, or missing words in a busy room, book a hearing test instead of waiting until you are sure. Call Audiology Associates of Westchester at our Harrison or Somers, NY office.