Many common New Year’s Resolutions feature your health: exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, quit smoking. One overlooked aspect of your health that might benefit from some intentionality in 2026 is your hearing health.
The Prevalence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), as the name implies, is damage to one’s hearing that occurs due to exposure to noise. Anyone can be affected by NIHL, and in fact, prevalence rates are rising among teens and young adults: it’s estimated that as many as 17% of teens have some degree of NIHL.
What Causes Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
It’s widely known that a single incident of excessively loud noise, such as a gunshot or attending a rock concert, can cause immediate NIHL. While it’s true that these single incidents can cause massive and immediate damage to your hearing, it is also true, albeit less well-known, that prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause damage over time. People who work in noisy environments, such as mechanics or machine shop workers, or live on a busy street with loud traffic, are susceptible to NIHL.
Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Due to the prevalence of noise in our modern society, NIHL rates are on the rise. Now is the perfect time to resolve to take better care of your hearing. NIHL is permanent once it’s happened, but it is also preventable.
Earplugs are an effective way to turn the noise levels down. Foam earplugs are inexpensive and widely available, making them an exceedingly effective option for their price point. There are also ample types of specialized earplugs available, designed for activities such as hunting, motorsports and occupational environments, among many others. There are also earplugs that can digitally filter noise, making sure you hear environmental sounds you need to hear while reducing the volume on dangerous sound levels.
If you know you’ll be in a loud environment, such as a concert or a sporting event, or doing a loud activity, such as blowing snow or hunting, wear your earplugs to reduce noise levels. Earplugs are discreet and comfortable, allowing you to feel more confident about protecting your hearing.
If You Suspect You Have Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
If you notice signs of hearing loss, such as muffled hearing, difficulty hearing higher-frequency sounds or difficulty hearing what people are saying, it’s a good idea to consult with an audiologist to determine the extent of the hearing damage. And if you have any questions about hearing protection, call our experts at Kampsen Hearing.