Can Hearing Protection Prevent Tinnitus

Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide, but it varies from person to person. Some might hear ringing in their ears, while others experience buzzing, hissing or other sounds. Once you notice symptoms, it’s important to consult with an audiologist for proper treatment. In addition to getting advice on managing tinnitus, there are ways to help prevent it, like wearing hearing protection. Understanding how hearing protection works and taking steps to protect your ears can reduce the risk of developing tinnitus in the first place.

Protecting Against Sudden Loud Sounds

Protecting your ears against sudden loud sounds is important to prevent tinnitus. Situations like shooting ranges, explosions or industrial work can produce sharp, intense noises that can pose risk to your ears. Wearing hearing protection, like earmuffs or specialized earplugs, can absorb and reduce these sudden sounds, protecting your hearing. Without protection, these loud bursts can lead to tinnitus. By wearing proper hearing protection, you can minimize the risk and keep your ears safe from sudden noise exposure.

Lowering the Risk of Long-Term Damage

Hearing protection can help lower the risk of tinnitus by reducing your exposure to loud noises. Tinnitus, often caused by damage to the inner ear, can develop when you’re around high noise levels without protection. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs in noisy environments, like concerts or construction sites, can block out harmful sounds that might otherwise lead to this symptom of an underlying condition.

Types of Hearing Protection

You might be wondering exactly what hearing protection is and what types you could benefit from wearing, and there are actually a few different options to choose from. Let’s start with earplugs, which fit directly into the ear canal and are ideal for situations where you need a lot of protection from noise.

Then there are earmuffs, which fit over the entire ear. Many people find them to be more comfortable than earplugs if they have to be worn for an extended period, and you might want to have both types of hearing protection with you so you can assess the situation and make sure you are protecting your ears against the noise level.

Or, if you prefer, you could opt for custom-fit earplugs instead. As the name suggests, these are earplugs that are made specifically for you, so they’ll fit to your exact ear shape meaning they’re not only more comfortable, but they offer better protection as well. If you have to wear ear protection for your job, for example, custom-fit earplugs might be the ideal solution.

When To Wear Hearing Protection

There’s a common misconception that you only have to wear hearing protection when you’re in very noisy environments, but the fact is that audiologists believe even moderate noise levels can still cause issues, which could lead to hearing loss and tinnitus over time.

That’s why it’s better to wear hearing protection in any environment that might have harmful noise levels. An audiologist can help you choose the right type of hearing protection for you to prevent tinnitus. If you are already experiencing tinnitus, you audiologist will help to manage your symptoms and find the right treatments for you.