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From blasting music to overlooking health conditions, many of our everyday choices could be quietly putting our hearing at risk. Here’s what you need to know — and how to protect yourself.
Hearing loss is often assumed to be an inevitable part of ageing. But the truth is, it’s affecting more people — and at younger ages — than most realise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 1.5 billion people worldwide (nearly 20% of the global population) live with some degree of hearing loss, and 430 million of them require rehabilitation for disabling loss.
Unless things change, projections suggest that by 2050, 700 million people — one in every ten globally — could be living with disabling hearing loss.
And the problem is no longer confined to older adults. WHO warns that unsafe listening habits among young people are fuelling a crisis: more than 1.35 billion young adults (ages 18–34) regularly expose themselves to dangerously loud music through headphones, earbuds, and entertainment venues.
The message is clear: hearing loss isn’t just an “old person’s problem.” It’s becoming a modern lifestyle issue, tied to habits and risks many of us ignore.
Here are seven common ways you may be damaging your hearing without realising it, plus other hidden risks you should know.
1. Listening to Loud Music Through Earphones or Headphones
Streaming, podcasts, and music on-the-go make headphones unavoidable — but blasting them at high volume damages the delicate hair cells inside your ear. These cells don’t regenerate, which means the loss is permanent.Quick Fix: Follow the 60/60 rule: keep volume below 60% for no longer than 60 minutes at a time. Noise-cancelling headphones are safer, since you won’t need to drown out background noise.
2. Constant Exposure to Environmental Noise (lagos People)
From car horns to crowded clubs, noise pollution is everywhere. Long-term exposure — even at moderate levels — wears down hearing. People working in construction, factories, or airports are especially at risk.Quick Fix: Use protective gear like earplugs or earmuffs. Whenever possible, step away to quieter spaces and give your ears recovery time.
3. Ignoring Ear Infections and Health Conditions
An untreated ear infection can cause permanent inner ear damage. Meanwhile, conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure affect circulation to the auditory system, raising the risk of hearing loss.Some medications (certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and even large doses of aspirin) are also ototoxic, meaning harmful to the ear.
Quick Fix: Don’t self-medicate. If you notice ringing, muffled hearing, or dizziness while on medication, speak to a doctor. Schedule regular checkups, especially if you have chronic conditions.
4. Using Cotton Buds or Sharp Objects in Your Ear
Cleaning with cotton swabs may feel satisfying, but it often pushes wax deeper, leading to blockages — or worse, punctures to the eardrum.Quick Fix: Let ears clean themselves naturally. Earwax acts as a protective filter. If buildup becomes uncomfortable, use ear drops or visit an audiologist.
5. Not Giving Your Ears Enough Rest
Going from a loud concert to a noisy bar to a blasting TV at home keeps your ears under constant strain. Like muscles, ears need recovery time.Quick Fix: After loud noise exposure, give your ears 12–16 hours of quiet. When at noisy venues, step outside for breaks.
6. Skipping Regular Hearing Tests
Hearing loss is gradual. Many don’t realise there’s an issue until conversations are hard to follow or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) sets in — by then, damage is often permanent.Quick Fix: Get your hearing checked every 1–2 years, especially if you’re over 40, have a family history of hearing loss, or work in noisy environments. Early detection means faster intervention.
7. Smoking and Poor Lifestyle Choices
Smoking reduces blood flow to the inner ear. Add poor diet, lack of exercise, or heavy drinking, and your risk of hearing decline rises sharply.Quick Fix: Prioritise a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, exercise regularly, and maintain a balanced diet to protect your ears as well as your body.
Hearing loss is often gradual, silent, and preventable. Everyday habits — like how loudly we listen to music, how we “clean” our ears, and how often we rest them — can make the difference between lifelong healthy hearing and permanent damage.
Managing chronic health conditions, limiting noise exposure, and scheduling routine tests can significantly lower your risk.
If you notice signs like tinnitus, muffled sounds, or difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, don’t ignore them — see a hearing specialist. Early action can protect not just your hearing, but your quality of life.
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