May 31 is all about hearing protection: In the U.S., this day is observed as “National Save Your Hearing Day.” Do you know the best ways to protect your hearing and when to do so?

Whether you enjoy going out dancing in your free time or work in a noisy environment—our ears are exposed to a wide variety of background noises every day. Noise isn’t just a source of stress. If your hearing is constantly exposed to high decibel levels, it damages the highly sensitive hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound into nerve impulses. But even lower noise levels can damage your hearing over time. For example, when working near loud machinery, hearing protection is required at noise levels of 85 dB or higher. That’s equivalent to the noise of a busy street.

Protecting our ears isn’t just important in the workplace. Whether you’re a passionate gardener who regularly uses a power hedge trimmer or you love speed and take long weekend rides on your motorcycle—there’s the right hearing protection for every user and every situation.

• For DIY enthusiasts and those in manual trades, we recommend earmuffs, which completely cover your ears—much like headphones—and filter out high-frequency noise in particular.
• For musicians and avid concertgoers, there are special hearing protection solutions that are custom-molded to dampen the music without compromising the sound experience; for the disco, we recommend ready-made earplugs in the classic plug shape.
• There are various solutions for loud hobbies: Motorcyclists can wear soft silicone hearing protection under their helmets to dampen traffic noise; for hunters, there are active or electronic protection solutions that dampen loud noises but amplify quiet ones—such as the rustling of leaves; Swimmers and water sports enthusiasts can use special splash-proof solutions to protect their ears from infections.
• When traveling, special hearing protection is recommended—such as devices that can regulate pressure equalization on airplanes—and for a restful night’s sleep, custom-fitted ear molds can be used.

The range of hearing protection options is as diverse and personalized as our everyday lives. Modern hearing aids also offer their users a great deal of comfort and protection in this regard. With automatic volume control and noise cancellation, they automatically filter out loud noises or adjust them so they are no longer perceived as unpleasant. No matter what background noise you’re exposed to, your hearing care professional can advise you on the right protection for your ears.[/vc_column_text]