What Should I Do if I’m Overexposed to Noise?

Overexposure to loud noise is a real health concern. Audiologists warn that repeated exposure to sounds over 80 to 85 decibels can cause damage to our hearing organs. But, just as we can’t always control our environment, we can’t always control the volume of its sounds. Still, there are ways to be both proactive and reactive about protecting your hearing.

Signs of overexposure

If you’ve ever been close to a gunshot or explosion without ear protection, you know that loud noises can be painful and cause temporary hearing loss. These are obvious and immediate signs you were exposed to a noise level that could damage your hearing. Although we don’t experience these situations every day, they do happen.

Now let’s consider a much more common scenario: have you ever had ringing in your ears after attending a concert or working with heavy equipment all day? What about dulled hearing? You may not have realized it at the time, but these after-effects are also signs you were over-exposed to noise.  

Reacting to overexposure while it’s happening

Being familiar with these signs and the situations that cause them is the first step to being more reactive the next time you’re in a similar situation. The faster you react, the more you’ll protect your hearing. Here are some immediate steps to take if you realize you’re being over-exposed to loud noise:

• If you have control, turn the noise level down or off.
• Get away from the noise as quickly as possible.
• Plug your ears with your fingers.
• Seek out ear protection like earplugs or headphones.

Sometimes extremely loud noises will also cause immediate hearing loss. Even if your hearing returns within a few hours or days, it’s wise to visit an audiologist for an exam to make sure there’s no permanent damage.

Preventing overexposure to loud noises

You may not be able to predict or control your environment in every situation, but you can prevent overexposure to damaging noise levels you expect in your daily routine. For instance, if you work around noisy equipment or plan on attending a concert, you should wear ear protection. While you’re listening to music, you should control the volume and limit the hours you wear earbuds. Technology can also help. Certain apps for smartphones can tell you the decibel range of noises so you’ll know when to grab your earplugs, turn down the volume or walk away.

You can’t prevent all exposure to loud noises, but you can be both proactive and reactive to it. Use these tips to protect your hearing and keep it healthy for years to come.