If you can’t go a day without your headphones and find heavy bass the most blissful moment of the day – or you love nothing more than going to live music or playing your own instruments – then this guide is for you.

Even though the hearing aids that we have today are incredible – and you’ll be able to enjoy your favourite music with no problems, hearing care is essential.

A Guide To Hearing Care

What are noise levels?

Noise levels are measured in decibels, and anything over 105dB can damage your hearing in around 15 minutes. There are some lower decibels, between 80 and 90, regularly throughout the week that can cause damage.

With the figure of 105 being highly damaging, many people might be surprised to know that a music player on loud can blast out 112 dB.

Here are some levels to help you judge loudness:

• A car horn and a nightclub register at 110 dB
• Conversations sit between 60-65 dB
• A busy street can be as much as 85 dB

How can I tell if my ears need to rest?

You know the sensation when you walk out of a plane, a nightclub or a live music event? Your ears feel slightly tingly, and sounds are muffled – you might even catch yourself talking too loudly. These are clear indicators that your ears need to get some rest.

How can you protect your ears and still enjoy the music?

When you are listening to music on headphones, the general rule is 60% volume for 60 minutes, then take a break. It is much better to have the volume lower, but for those who need some loudness, short bursts are better. Rest your ears for at least an hour or more after a listening session.

When you are at a gig, what should you do? You might not feel like standing out too much and having large ear protectors on, but there are new ear plugs on the market that are designed to give you a full listening experience without the hearing-damaging loudness.

If you don’t want to use plugs or ear muffs, then try to take a few 10-minute breaks throughout the event.

After a few hours of exposure, it is important that your ears get maximum rest, and there is no better time than when you are asleep to get it. Sleep is vital for the recovery of the ears and the rest of the body: Unveiling the Undeniable Importance of Sleep for the Body.

Noise Cancelling

This might be music to your ears, but instead of turning your music up to drown out the noise around you, the best investment you can make is a set of headphones that have noise-cancelling as an option.

This way, you can have your volume at a lower level and not be bothered by the other noise around you.

And finally, the most important way to protect your hearing is to get your hearing tested. Most often, hearing loss isn’t noticeable for a while, but getting a baseline test can help you track it.