#earplugs or noise cancelling headphones!!! i see people wearing headphones at concerts ALL the time

[lazylittledragon]

ok i need you to listen to me. festival tickets are going on sale now so listen to me. bring your fucking earplugs. i'm not even slightly kidding PLEASE bring your ear protection if you're going to be standing by the stage from 10 til midnight. i was directly next to the speaker for three days grace back to back with motionless in white and it took months for the ringing to stop. i promise nobody cares ESPECIALLY if it's an alt show. i love you please look after yourself

[adapted-batteries]

Eargasm Vs Downbeats High Fidelity Earplug Review

I’ve been looking at “hidden” earplugs that filter sound, but don’t mute to the point I can’t hear much; sometimes I’m in places that it’s not acceptable, or not practical to wear earbuds or headphones/ear defenders to mute sound while hearing clearly, but it’s loud enough I’m uncomfortable and need a solution (like a lecturer who speaks loudly, or church service). I also have trouble hearing people talk when there’s a lot of background noise going on, but it wasn’t the main thing I was searching for. When I found out there were such things as high fidelity ear plugs, I realized this was a great solution to both of my problems.

After doing my research, I was torn between the two brands because Eargasm has better ratings, but Downbeats were supposedly comfier, and were half the price. I’m wanting to use them for sleeping in a large, many bunk dorm room as well, so comfort with sleeping on my side is a must. Fortunately, they happened to have a lightning deal on Amazon for Eargasm plugs when I was going to buy the Downbeats, making them only a few dollars different. So, thanks to the sale, I got both, and decided I should make a detailed review focusing on feel in ear and sound quality to help others in my predicament of just relying on ratings on Amazon.

Since this review is detailed, I’ll put a keep reading to not clog dashes, but tl;dr: Eargasm plugs are worth the price for clarity to volume reduction and if you don’t know if you have regular or smaller ear canals, but Downbeats are half the price and almost just as good quality for loud places like concerts or malls for people with regular to smaller ears.

Appearance

As far as packaging, Downbeats (on the left) is simple, the metal carrying case more slender and taller than Eargasm’s, but they actually have the same volume. Eargasm (on the right) does come with two earplug sizes (the ones on the far right are the smaller ones), which is good because I have smaller ears and the regular size didn’t fit well.

(Picture above shows the regular Eargasm plug on the left, Downbeats in the middle, and the small Eargasm plug on the right, with ruler for reference)

Both the smallest flange (flange is the flexible bit that goes in your ear) on the Downbeats and the middle flange on the smaller Eargasm plugs are approximately 1.3cm (0.51in) wide, with Downbeats just a hair smaller. The regular size Eargasm plugs 2nd flange is just over 1.4cm (0.55in). While that difference seems small, when it comes to your ear canal, it makes a big difference.

As far as sound reduction rating, the packages list 16 decibels reduction for Eargasm, and 18 decibels for Downbeats (see picture below). I didn’t notice much of a difference between the two volume wise, but I’ll discuss quality in that section below.

The blue thing in the Eargasm buds is the attenuation filter, which according to their Amazon page, “reduces noise evenly to maintain the full spectrum of sound while protecting hearing. Won’t muffle music or voices as foam plugs do.” It is removable, so I could transfer them from the regular size to the smaller plugs. Wearing the plugs without them doesn’t really reduce noise much because it leaves the middle wide open. If you don’t want that color, they do make clear ones. I got blue because it was the one on sale, and I don’t mind the color because I wear my hair down over my ears most of the time.

Feel in Ear

One reason I was looking at the Downbeats, besides price, was the fact that they were smaller in how much goes into your ear. They do feel pretty good in ear, soft and not irritating, and while some people in the Amazon reviews said they were hard to get out because the stem is small, my ears aren’t big enough to put them in super far so I had no issues with removal. (picture below with Downbeats in)

Surprisingly, the smaller Eargasm plugs felt almost the same as the Downbeats. They do stick out a little more due to being 3 flanged while Downbeats has only 2 flanges. With the attenuation filters, they feel slightly heavier, but I quickly got used to it; the material is very soft, not hard at all. The tab doesn’t bother me either because it’s so thin, and you can just turn the plug so the tab is sticking out if you don’t want it laying on your outer ear. (picture below with the small Eargasm earplugs in, with tab not adjusted to how I wear it)

Sound Quality

I did two controlled tests for sound quality. First, I listened to a song in my over the ear, noise cancelling headphones, without earplugs in as a calibration, making it just loud enough it was uncomfortable, but not painful. Then, I tried the Downbeats while listening to the song again. After that I listened to the song again at the first calibration volume, and then tried the Eargasm plugs.

Next, I used the Beltone hearing test for its tests of hearing words in crowd and white noise, since I want to also use these plugs to hear conversations in loud places better. I took the test before with no plugs, then tried it again with each brand of earplug at the same volume as I did the test without earplugs.

I also paid attention to sound when wearing them for the long period tests too, results of that are in the long use section below.

Downbeats

At the same volume as the calibration, the song was slightly muffled, enough to notice, and considerably quieter. However, when I increased the volume to a level that would be painful without ear plugs in, the muffled quality went away a bit, but it was still faintly noticeable.

In the Beltone test, it was overall easier to hear with the louder background noise, but that muffled effect came into play especially on my left ear (I have slightly less hearing capacity in that ear). It was enough that in both the crowd and the white noise tests, I messed up on the loudest round in my left ear.

Eargasm

At the same volume as calibration, the Eargasm plugs were slightly clearer, and when I put the volume up to the same level the Downbeats cleared up at, Eargasms sounded just a tad clearer, maybe a smidgen louder, but not enough I could say for sure it felt louder.

In the Beltone test, I got to each max level of background noise and could hear quite better than without the earplugs. I still struggled a tad, but I didn’t mishear anything wrong enough to click the wrong response with either ear.

Long Term Wear and Sleeping

As far as staying in while moving around, size is key on both. Downbeats run smaller, so they stayed in fine for me, but if you have big ears they may be too little and fall out (or little enough that you put them in far enough to make removal difficult, like the Amazon reviews say sometimes). They do make a larger size with a longer stem if that’s a concern.

Downbeats

I got quite used to them in my ear, and I wore them for two hours without any sensory issues or auditory comprehension mess ups, but I couldn’t “forget they were there” because anything in my ear makes my voice and sounds inside my mouth (i.e. swallowing, teeth clicking together) louder. It also means I have to remember to speak clearly because I tend to mumble and lower my voice when, for example, my ear is clogged, because my brain thinks it’s talking louder than it is.

Since Downbeats has the small stem, laying on my side it was fairly comfortable. I still knew they were there, but it didn’t hurt. I still probably would only sleep with one plug in the ear not on the pillow (I sleep on my side), but that’s just due to having something in my ear and laying on it in general, which doesn’t feel very great to me. That being said, they were more comfortable than the earbuds I used to block out sound in the large dorm sleep situation last time.

Eargasm

Again with size, the smaller ones fit me great, so they stayed in just fine (you should be able to shake your head, jump up and down, etc, without them coming out). If you don’t know your ear size, Eargasm has a higher chance of having a plug that will fit properly.

Since Eargasm plugs muffle less than Downbeats, overall I thought I heard more clearly. Like the Downbeats, I couldn’t “forget they were there” for the same reasons. A weird thing I noticed was if I had my headphones on over them (which wouldn’t be the normal way I’d use them), my tinnitus was louder than usual, but when I didn’t have headphones on, the ringing went away. Not sure why it did that exactly.

As far as sleeping, the filter makes Eargasm plugs a bit more noticeable in the ear, but surprisingly it wasn’t painful or even that much more uncomfortable than the Downbeats. I would still do just the one ear though like I said in the downbeats section.

Well, that is my review of the Eargasm and Downbeats earplugs. For what I need, Eargasm will work better, because I need to be able to hear clearly when in loud situations like a crowded mall. Though I still may use the Downbeats for sleeping when needed since that muffled quality doesn’t matter.

[lindawood]

What We Learned From Testing 1,000 Headphones

Our headphones expert, Lauren Dragan, has been reviewing headphones for Wirecutter since February 2013 and just tested her 1,000th pair of headphones. Here’s a window into how technology has changed since she first started reviewing, how she preserves her hearing after all those tests, and what headphones she would really—no, really—take with her if she were stranded on a desert island.

Ganda Suthivarakom: You’ve reviewed 1,000 headphones. Okay, which pair is the best?

Lauren Dragan: Well, at the risk of sounding evasive, there isn’t a best pair of headphones so much as a best pair for you. A pair that’s amazing for listening to your favorite album at home may be pretty terrible for use at the gym. And what fits one person’s ears may be totally wrong for another person. That’s what makes this category so tricky to review. It’s a little bit like matchmaking.

GS: How many different pairs of headphones is it okay for a person to own?

LD: Well, I think it’s okay to have as many as you enjoy and use regularly! But for most people, two to three is totally normal. One for everyday/work/school, one for workouts, and a cheap spare pair for emergencies. Musicians/podcasters/audio professionals can add at least one more to that. I’m really spoiled, because I rotate between an average of six in my non-testing day-to-day life.

GS: How have headphones changed since you started reviewing headphones? How has the technology changed?

LD: Holy cow, so much. First of all, music players didn’t have Bluetooth when I started reviewing audio in 2005 (this is pre-Wirecutter). Back then, the audio had to be very compressed to be sent wirelessly, which meant audio quality via Bluetooth was pretty bad. I remember I had a pair of Bluetooth headphones that came with a little transmitter that you plugged into the headphone jack.

That’s changed completely. Wireless audio, especially aptX HD, can sound really, really good. iPhones happened. Suddenly, you had a reason to have headphones with you all the time, and needed them with a remote and mic, which was something only headsets did before. Then, Beats happened. Love them or hate them, Beats made headphones mainstream again. Before that, they were geared toward audiophiles, professional musicians, or just throwaway earbuds. And now, we have headphones that have motion sensors, are waterproof, can monitor your heart rate … they’re becoming more computers in your ears as opposed to tiny speakers. (Also, if people want to do a blind listening test comparing various Bluetooth transmission methods, they can check out Wirecutter writer Brent Butterworth’s tests.)

GS: What’s the biggest misconception people have about headphones? What’s the most common question you get asked?

LD: I often get asked why there aren’t any Bluetooth headphones for swimming that can play the music off of your device. The answer to that one is, sadly, physics. Water blocks radio signals. The only way around that are waterproof earbuds that store the music on the earbuds themselves.

Pull Quote

Usually, when someone says to me that one of our picks have no bass, it’s a fit issue.

I also get asked why there isn’t one pair of headphones that does all the things, does them well, and is affordable. For example: “Why aren’t there true wireless headphones that have active noise cancelling, are sweatproof, have a 22-hour battery life between charges, and cost under $100?” And generally speaking, the answer for now is that the tech isn’t there yet. The newer any given technology is, the more it costs to make. And just about the time that the prices would start to drop, we make another breakthrough and nobody wants the old, cheaper tech anymore. And so the circle of tech continues. (Insert Lion King song here.)

GS: What are the problems people don’t even know they’re having with headphones?

LD: Fit, fit, fit, fit, fit, fit, fit. Did I mention fit? Usually, when someone says to me that one of our picks have no bass, it’s a fit issue. When someone tells me that their headphones don’t cancel noise well, it’s a fit issue. When workout headphones don’t stay put? You guessed it. And of course, when people say they don’t like how earbuds feel, or that over-ear headphones give them a headache, it’s a fit issue.

I like to tell people to check to see if their headphones are sealed properly by doing this trick: Take your fingers by your ear and rub them together. Hear that tiny skin-on-skin sound? If you have earbuds or headphones that seal properly (open-backed is an exception) you won’t be able to hear that noise at all. Usually the solution for earbuds is bigger tips, but sometimes it may mean that that particular pair of headphones aren’t the right ones for your personal noggin. When that happens, email me and I can help! I keep notes of picks or fixes that might be good for folks with small heads, or large ears, or large ear canals!

GS: As someone who uses her ears professionally, what do you do to preserve your hearing?

LD: Primarily, musician earplugs. I keep them in my bag. I wear them at the gym for group classes, especially. Clubs, bars, concerts, even certain movie theaters are too loud, and I’ll wear my earplugs. And if I find myself randomly somewhere noisy without my earplugs, I’m not beyond ripping up napkins or tissues. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Do I plug my ears when a fire truck goes by? Yes, I do.

Also, noise breaks. If I’m somewhere moderately loud for a while, like a subway, I’ll make a point to sit somewhere in silence for a while later on in the day. Regular breaks can allow your ears to recover and help prevent damage. It’s harder to do than you think, though. We’re surrounded by white noise in the city all the time. Air conditioners, traffic, TV … but it’s really important maintenance for your health, like brushing your teeth.

GS: Come on, you must have some favorites. What are your three pairs of desert island headphones?

LD: Gah! I can’t answer that without knowing more about the island! Does it rain a lot there? How hot does it get? Will I need to be running around gathering food a lot, or do I have rations? Is there solar power supply?

GS: You have no idea what the island will be like or what situations you will be in. Okay, what if it’s one pair, they will repair themselves magically if they break, but that’s all you have to live with forever and ever. Also, this is not for anyone else, this is for you, your ear canals, your audio sensibilities. What would you choose?

LD: This question is literally making me squirm. I mean, do I go with the easy answer of the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever heard that require their own huge amplifier and DAC which tether me to one listening location (and cost $50,000)? Or do I compromise on sound for the benefits and joy of portability? Gah! I think, if I had to choose, I’d go with the ability to have headphones on for as many activities as possible, so the Jabra Elite Active 65t. They’re not audio perfection, but I can’t imagine I’d want to build a shelter or hunt for berries without music, and that pair will go with me for whatever adventures the island has in store. So there you go.

GS: I know that was an impossible question for you and I kind of can’t believe you landed on an answer. Thank you for always being a pro. Let’s do this again at 2,000.

LD: Let’s! And maybe next time it won’t take me so much time overthinking to make a decision!

from DDigits WP Feed 2 https://wrctr.co/2Ruddoe via IFTTT

[snoringaids201]

Best Earplugs to Block Out Snoring

 Early every morning you get up feeling tired.

Usually more exhausted than the night prior to going to bed.

You drag through your day, tired as well as unfocused. You might feel irritable and cranky, seemingly for no good reason.

You can’t concentrate on your job and you fail to remember essential points like appointments and due dates.

The reason for this is noticeable. You’re sleep deprived. Your partner snores, so you have a problem getting to sleep at night.

Would you like to find out a way to get to sleep and not have to tell your partner that they are the reason you are so tired?

Earplugs seem to answer this issue. Take a look below to compare and contrast your best choice, then buy. They are very inexpensive compared to the price of alienating your significant other.

When you do take care to fall sleep, your partner’s snoring will certainly wake you up a few hrs later on. As well as, when you’re awake, the same snoring maintains you from dropping back to sleep.

You’ve tried sleeping in another room to obtain the remainder of sleep you need. Yet the snoring might be so loud that also that does not help.

Yes, residing in a residence with someone that snores could keep you up at night. However, thankfully, there are methods to obtain around this issue.

You could either attempt to block out the audio of the snoring, drown it out with a more soothing audio, or decrease the volume of the snoring so it doesn’t interfere with your capacity to sleep.

If you’re seeking a means to obtain a great evening’s sleep, even if your partner snores, the tools below might be just exactly what you need.

The Best Earplugs and Devices for Snoring on the Market

There are many ways to block out sound using earplugs:

Types

1. Misc – blockers using sound 2. Foam 3. Silicone Plugs 4. Molded Earplugs

We will be starting out with the most comfortable and easiest to use:

These are under Misc – because they are not earplugs at all.

 AcousticSheep SleepPhones:

Technically, SleepPhones aren’t earplugs, but they serve the same purpose.

SleepPhones are fully-padded headphones specially designed to be used while you’re asleep. They play soothing music to help drown out all noises in the room.

You can sleep in them comfortably, even if you prefer to sleep on your side. They are designed to be comfortable in any position you can get into when sleeping.

In fact, SleepPhones are comfortable enough to wear all night, from the time you go to bed until you get up in the morning.

SleepPhones are a headband that contains removable speakers. Just slip the headband on and pull the sides down to cover your ears.

And if you need a sleeping mask, you can pull the SleepPhone headband down from your forehead to cover your eyes.

With SleepPhones, you can fall asleep listening to your favorite music, white noise, a podcast or an audiobook.

Just use a 3.5mm headphone jack to plug your SleepPhones into any audio device, like your iPod, MP3 player, CD player, radio, or white noise machine.

SleepPhones are lightweight and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about skin irritation. The headband is made from recycled material and is machine-washable.

Cleaning is easy: just take out the thin, removable speakers and toss the headband into the washing machine.

The company’s website says: “SleepPhones are the world’s most comfortable headphones for sleeping.”

There are many glowing reviews on the site and on Amazon. If you are looking for something different than just earplugs, this is the product for you.

– SleepPhones come with a satisfaction guarantee, and a one year, full manufacturer’s guarantee.

– So you can try them without risk. But consider over 9 out of 10 customers say they’d recommend SleepPhones to a friend, chances are good you’d be satisfied with these specially designed headphones.

See the SleepPhones from AcousticSleep.

Foam 1:

Drift to Sleep Earplugs

They are a bit different than anything else you’ll see.

Drift to Sleep Ear Plugs have an NRR of 33 db, and are made to block out unwanted sounds like construction, traffic noise, loud neighbors, and snoring.

These earplugs are made of extra-soft, lightweight foam, so they fit comfortably inside your ear, and you can wear them all day long without pain or discomfort.

Thanks to the size and design it can be used even by those with very small ear canals.

*It contains Moldex R Pura Fit 6800 earplugs, PVC free Proudly MADE IN USA Highest Independently tested NRR 33*

The Drift Earplugs are also non-irritating, so you don’t have to worry about your ears itching.

There’s a 100% money-back guarantee.

If you aren’t satisfied for whatever reason, you can return the Drift to Sleep Ear Plugs for a full refund.

Many buyers rave about how good these earplugs are at blocking out snoring and other unwanted sounds.

You get 20 pairs of them with a handy pocket pack carrying case.

It deserves to be in the top 3 of the Best earplugs on the market.

5.0 out of 5 stars Snores McGhee September 4, 2016 Size: 20 PairsVerified Purchase The little purple plug. Highest decibel rating you can get without a trip to the ENT. Both my husband and my dog snore like locomotives. Literally, I can feel the vibration on my pillow at night. It’s as close to quiet as I’ll ever get without a divorce.

Foam 2:

Mack’s Ultra Soft

The other best earplug is Mack’s Ultra Soft

You can confidently purchase Mack’s Ultra Soft if you want ultra comfortable earplugs.

The foam in these earplugs provides you maximum comfort and low pressure. The amazing color of these earplugs is really attractive.

They are extremely effective in your ears.

The noise reduction value of these earplugs is 32 decibels. This is actually 1 decibel less than Drift Ear plugs and

Thus, Mack’s Ultra Soft can perfectly protect your ears from loud noises, thus you can protect yourself from hearing loss. Reliable performance is the other peculiar feature of Mack’s Ultra Soft. Ultra soft design helps you to insert them in your ears easily.

Apart from snoring sounds, this device is useful for protecting your ears from loud music concerts, sounds from outside traffic, and noise from power tools.

Features

– Can inset it very easily because of ultra-soft design – Perfect for sleeping, relaxation, studying and working – NRR of 32 dB – Each jar has 50 pairs

5.0 out of 5 starsAmazing comfort May 7, 2017 Verified Purchase Most comfortable earplugs I have ever worn! Found these at an exchange on deployment and will not wear any other ear plugs.

Silicone Plugs – reusable

Softvox No Noise Ear Plugs (Black)

You get two pairs of Noise Cancelling earplugs that are reusable and can block noise up to 34 db

This is the highest noise blockage you can find. It can effectively block out even airplane noise up to 25 db.

With these, you can still hear people, but all of the loudest sounds will be blocked effectively.

These are Earplugs for sleeping, shooting, motorcycle, work, snoring, airplane travel and etc.

Safety And Comfortable Sleep Ear Plugs.

Ear plugs for sleeping are made of a high quality non-toxic soft grade silicone material. These are absolutely safe for your ears and health. Hearing protection ear plugs are incredibly lightweight, soft and comfortable to wear. So even if you wear them all night long, your ears won’t feel sore the in the morning!

100% SATISFACTION WARRANTY: They are confident that you’ll like our sound canceling earplugs. Experience any issues? Simply reach out they’ll do all that they can to make it right. But if for any reason you don’t like these sleep earplugs, you can replace them with a free shipping or contact them to solve it.

They come with a carrying case/ tube that is water-proof and very handy. It can be attached to your keychain and takes up very little space. The case is durable and it comes with two sizes small and normal size with a clean brush and filters. There is also a manual, in case you don’t know exactly what you are doing.

5 of 5 stars The best I’ve found

August 30, 2018 Color: blue

Amazing. I’ve used these for my husbands video games at night when I’m trying to sleep, and on one occasion sharing a hotel room with my best friend who also snores like a freakin freight train! Super soft and comfortable (I have small sensitive ears so that was my main concern). You can still somewhat hear certain pitched sounds, but it’s not too noticeable.

 Molded Earplugs

I was not sure if I should add this last category, but due to the popularity of them and the great noise suppression NRR of 31 I added it. Now, realize some say they are not that comfortable when sleeping with them, but I have not had an issue.

I want you to have all the information so you can make an informed decision.

 Decibullz – Custom Molded Earplugs

Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs are easily and quickly fitted to the exact shape of your ear. This creates a perfect fitting earplug that will never hurt, never fall out and provide superior noise isolation.

Simply heat the Decibullz thermoplastic molds in boiling water, let them cool for a bit, and shape them to your ears. That’s it, and If you don’t get the perfect fit the first time Decibullz are the only custom earplugs that are re-moldable.

Decibullz are perfect for shooting, traveling, working, loud concerts, and safety. Decibullz Earplugs are made in the USA. Included: Two Decibullz Thermoplastic Custom Molds, Three Sets of Triple Flange Tips S, M, L, One Set of Max Protect MEDIUM Foam Tips, Earplug Carrying Pouch with Decibullz Logo. *Custom molded earplugs may become uncomfortable while sleeping on your side or stomach.*

   5 out of 5 stars Was very nicely done. Product arrived with a set of foam … March 10, 2018 Color: Blue

Verified Purchase Product arrived the day before yesterday. Cleanly packaged. Very neat. The package wasn’t 100x the size of the product and a nightmare to get into. Was very nicely done. Product arrived with a set of foam tips, a cloth bag to put the plugs in, several rubber tips in 3 sizes. Instructions were neatly folded and very clear/concise. Followed instructions to the T and wound up with an amazing fit set of earplugs. The only thing I might perhaps change is –

1. The molding surface – I wish it came in a normal and a “holy crap his ears are big” size. The normal ones fit very well but I would have like to have about 10-15% more molding for a less “thinly spread” feeling after the molding cools. 2. The plastic caps that go on the outside are nice – but metal w a rubberized sleeve I think might have been a better choice here as you get a rubbing noise whenever anything grazes the surface of the plastic caps.

Granted these are 2 things I consider to be small.. just observations since molding. I will say, they do still fit very well and they offer a level of sound reduction that dwarfs even my over-the-ear shooting muffs that stick off the side of my head a nautical mile. They’re just plain awesome. I may have to save up and spring for the percussion caps that decibullz offer which is from what I read designed to filter things like muzzle blast while allowing normal talking.

I don’t impress easily, I almost never write a product review but when I saw the card inside the packaging showing that the company cares enough to include a hand signed card by the staff.. I was pleasantly surprised.

I Really can’t say enough good things about the product. A little more molding and maybe the percussion caps and these things would be flawless. Go ahead, go overpay for another product if you want… but you’ll wind up coming back to these. These things are just flat awesome! I’m officially a decibullz fan for life.

The post Best Proven Earplugs for Blocking Out Snoring appeared first on The Stop Snoring Cure.

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From https://thestopsnoringcure1.blogspot.com/2018/09/best-proven-earplugs-for-blocking-out.html

from https://thestopsnoringcure1.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/best-proven-earplugs-for-blocking-out-snoring/ from https://snoringaids201.blogspot.com/2018/09/best-proven-earplugs-for-blocking-out.html

[mangohealth]

How To Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss In 3 Easy Steps

According to the World Health Organization, about 50 million people in the United States have disabling hearing loss. This includes 1 in 5 teenagers and 60% of returning veterans from foreign wars. But most noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. Hearing health advocate Shari Eberts recommends three simple steps to protect your own ears as well as those of your loved ones.

Each healthy human ear contains almost 20,000 sensory cells. These are very sensitive, which allows us to enjoy a full range of tones, but also very fragile.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a pervasive problem, and one that is spreading due to increasing noise pollution. This isn’t only in cities, but also in small towns, at our restaurants, sporting events, concert halls, and even at our schools. I was horrified to clock my daughter’s elementary school talent show at 90 decibels a few years ago, well above safe listening levels.

A 2011-2012 CDC study found that 24 percent of adults (aged 20-69) in the United States may have some degree of noise-induced hearing loss. Researchers also estimate as many as 17% of teens (aged 12-19) may have noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears. It is a growing problem, and one that deserves our attention.

What causes noise-induced hearing loss? Each healthy human ear contains almost 20,000 sensory cells inside the cochlea. These cells are very sensitive, which allows us to enjoy a full range of tones, but also very fragile. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when these cells are damaged.

When exposed to loud noise for an extended period of time, these inner ear cells bend and weaken and eventually die. Once these cells are compromised, they are gone for good. The resulting hearing loss is permanent.

The good news is that most noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable.

How loud is too loud?  Prolonged exposure to any sound at or above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. This is the level of heavy city traffic or a school cafeteria.

At 110 decibels, the level of a rock concert or loud sporting event, damage can occur after one minute. You can reference this ”noise navigator” chart for safe listening duration times for sounds of various volumes.

The good news is that most noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. Here are three safety precautions I recommend for you and your loved ones:

1. Turn down the volume. When enjoying music, be sure to keep it at a safe listening level. Listening to an iPod or iPhone at maximum volume (105 decibels) for 15 minutes is all it takes to permanently damage your hearing. If someone else can hear the music playing in your headphones, it is too loud.

Listen longer at lower volumes and stay safe. I often use noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music. Since they block out background noise, I can enjoy my music at lower volumes.

Listening to an iPod at maximum volume (105 decibels) for 15 minutes is all it takes to permanently damage your hearing.

2. Move away from noise. The farther you are from a loud sound, the safer it is. When at a concert or other venue with amplified sound, sit far away from the speakers. If you hear an unexpected loud sound, distance yourself from it as quickly as possible. Use your hands to block the noise as you relocate.

When walking outside, cross the street to avoid loud construction or other noise. If you are unsure how loud something is, use a decibel reader app to find out. A variety of decibel reader apps are available for most smartphones.

3. Use hearing protection. At loud places like concerts or sporting events or even on planes, wear earplugs or earmuffs. Ear protection comes in many styles and colors that range in price and complexity.

The simplest earplugs can be purchased inexpensively at most drug stores. Be sure to carry extras to share with family and friends. Acoustic earplugs are more expensive but work well for music lovers since they preserve the richness of the music while blocking other sounds.

Want more information on noise-induced hearing loss? Visit It’s A Noisy Planet, a website run by the National Institutes of Health.

About the Author Shari Eberts is a hearing health advocate, writer, and avid Bikram yogi. She blogs at Living With Hearing Loss, and she serves on the Board of Trustees of Hearing Loss Association of America. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story it will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

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The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.