Did you know exposure to noise is the most common preventable cause of hearing loss?
Read our top 5 tips for protecting your hearing and to learn what you can do to help prevent hearing loss.

1. At Work and at home:
   If you are surrounded by noise- whether it’s construction, engineering or dentistry- you can reduce the risks by using earplugs or other hearing protection devices.When at home, turn down the volume on the television, radio, stereo and MP3 player.
2. Personal music players:
   Overuse of earbuds to listen to music through personal listening devices like MP3 players is on the rise in teens and young adults. Use cushioned earphones rather than small earbuds. Never use MP3 or CD players at more than 60% of the maximum volume. Do not use music players for more than 60 minutes every day.
3. Move away:
   Stay as far away from the source of noise as possible. Walk away when sounds get too loud. When you are exposed to loud noises unexpectedly, cover your ears with your hands or insert a fingertip in to the ear canal to block out sound.
4. Turn things down:
   When at home, reduce the number of noisy appliances running at the same time. Buy quieter products by comparing decibel (dB) ratings- the smaller the better. Hearing protection is suggested for any noise above 85 dB.
5. Noise chart to the rescue:
   Refer to the noise level chart below to determine how long you can be exposed to a certain noise before putting yourself at risk of hearing damage.

Are you ready to start your journey to better hearing? If you are a Canadian over the age of 18 who may have hearing loss, book a free hearing test with us today!