We live in a world full of noise. People, vehicles, machinery, weather—everywhere we go there is a lot of noise, the volume of which we cannot always control. Then there are those times when we put ourselves in the path of noise with work, concerts, festivals, and personal music players. The problem with noise is that too much noise can damage our hearing, and sometimes this damage is irreparable.
The damage caused by noise can be permanent and irreversible, and if you don’t reduce your noise exposure you’re putting yourself at risk. The best option to achieve this if you cannot avoid being surrounded by too much noise is to wear appropriate hearing protection. Problem? Hearing protectors come in many styles, colours, materials and sizes. Hearing protection must be tailored to you and your needs, and when you choose the wrong hearing protection, you will notice it immediately. With all of this in mind, you need to talk to an audiologist to find out whether you have significant hearing loss. They will be able to test your hearing and tell you whether you need hearing protection in the future and what type of hearing protection will be best for you. Let’s look at three of the best tips for choosing the right hearing protector for you.
Know what you need Before you can choose a type of hearing protector, you must have an appointment with an audiologist. They will then be able to explain the extent of your hearing loss and tell you how much noise reduction you need. You need to understand that the hearing protector you choose will block out enough noise to keep you protected. The good news is that many hearing protection options can meet your needs. The noisiest environments require a high level of noise reduction, but you don’t want to reduce the sound to the point where you can’t hear anything at all. Talk to an audiologist about hearing protection options that best suit your specific needs, whether it’s a hobby like hunting or construction work.
Think about your lifestyle Many jobs expose you to large amounts of noise, especially if you work professionally. In most workplaces that require hearing protection, you will also need eye and head protection. So headphones on the head to block out noise will not work because the rest of the protective layer has nowhere to go for protection. Earplugs would be best here, so you can continue wearing protective equipment elsewhere.
You should also consider whether your lifestyle requires ear protection continuously or intermittently during the day. If your hands get dirty during the day, you may not want to use earplugs so that you don’t invite infections in your ears. You should also consider how much you need to hear your boss talking to you in the day.
Think about your comfort Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of hearing protectors, you can try testing them all to find out which one works. This only works if you make sure you are not constantly exposed to a lot of noise. Many people think that headphones are more comfortable than earplugs, but earplugs are convenient to carry and lightweight. If your ear canal is narrow or irregularly shaped, headphones may be the best choice for you.
Your hearing health largely depends on knowing how to care for your hearing, and that includes choosing the right hearing protector for your own needs. You should use full protective gear for work and personal tasks, then wear it more when exposed to noise that makes you flinch. The best thing you can do is make an appointment with an audiologist, who can explain your hearing loss and give you the best possible advice on hearing protection options. Take the time to choose the right audiologist, and you’ll soon feel great about hearing effectively! Personal preference Your personal preferences are also important. You want your hearing protection to be comfortable and fit your lifestyle.
Hearing protection is only effective if you wear it correctly and consistently, so it’s important to find a style that you’ll use instead of one that won’t be used as often as needed. How noisy is a construction site? You may have noise problems if the noise is louder than busy city traffic. You have to raise your voice to talk to someone more than a meter away. You hear ringing or ringing in your ears when you get off work. You need to turn up the volume on your TV, phone, or other media device to the point where other people complain. You have difficulty hearing and understanding conversations when there are other sounds or voices in the background.
The first step in deciding whether you should wear hearing protection is to assess the level of noise to which you are exposed. There are different directions to do that: Walk around the location and listen to the noise levels in the area you are working in. Can you have a conversation without shouting or getting close to others? Use the app to know the exact noise levels when using different types of equipment and in different locations within the work area. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s sound level meter offers one option. Your employer may also take formal measurements of sound levels using equipment designed for the job, such as level meters and noise meters. Compare hearing protection There are two basic types of hearing protectors: in-ear or over-the-ear styles and over-the-ear or over-the-ear styles.
Each type has advantages and disadvantages. But both are designed to reduce the amount of sound reaching your ears. Now that you know you need hearing protection, here are some things to keep in mind when comparing options. Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) If your workplace noise levels require a 20 dB reduction for safety reasons, then an NRR rating of 20 dB or more on the HPD is high enough to provide the protection you need. need. If you occasionally experience larger impulse noises, look for a higher NRR level to cover these peaks. “Double” your protection Wearing earplugs and noise-canceling headphones at the same time can help reduce noise by an additional 5 dB.
There is some math behind the calculations, but you don’t just add the NRR rating of the second hearing protector to the first hearing protector. NIOSH recommends that anyone whose average noise exposure exceeds 100 dB over 8 hours wear both types of hearing protection devices at the same time. Take it to the next level Hearing protection is essential for safety. But what about communication? Hearing protection such as earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones will block out most noise, including your team’s voices, nearby vehicle sounds, and engine overheating warnings. Do you take out your earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones so you can hear? You are now back where you started.