Hear the Joy of the Holidays: Tips for Protecting Your Hearing During Festive Celebrations

The holiday season is filled with the sounds of laughter, carols, and festive music. While amidst the merrymaking, it's easy to forget that excessive noise can put your hearing at risk. Loud holiday parties and concerts can easily reach dangerously high levels of sound. Protecting your hearing doesn't mean missing out on the fun. Here are some top tips for a hearing-safe holiday season:

1. Mind the Volume and Distance

   Holiday noise levels at parties or concerts can easily exceed safety limits. Noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable! Avoid standing directly next to a booming speaker or stage. Always try to maximize the space between yourself and the source of the loud sound. The farther you are, the lower the volume will be and the safer your ears will be.

2. Give your ears a break

   Step away from the main party every hour for a few minutes. Find a spot that is noticeably quieter, like an adjacent room or an outdoor area. Give your ears a rest by moving away from the loud environment periodically. While attending gatherings, avoid always being stationed right next to the speakers. Switch positions with friends or family throughout the event.

3. Use Hearing Protection

   Keep a pair of high-quality sound filter earplugs in your pocket or bag. These aren’t like traditional plugs - they reduce hazardous volume levels without sacrificing sound clarity, allowing you to still clearly hear speech and music at a safe level.

4. Mindful Gifting: Protect Little Ears from Loud Toys

   When buying gifts for children, be mindful of loud toys. Some electronic toys, such as toy cars and play phones, can make dangerously loud sounds. A child's developing hearing system is especially vulnerable to permanent damage from noise. Take note while purchasing a toy, check for volume control. If a toy is too loud, consider removing the batteries or covering the speaker with tape to muffle the sounds before presenting the toy to children. Otherwise, consider a quieter gift instead.

5. Practice Smart Personal Listening

   While using personal devices for music and movies, keep your device volume below 60% of the maximum level. Take a listening break for at least one hour every time you use a device for an hour. This essential break gives your ears a much-needed rest. Consider using noise-canceling headphones or earbuds. They can block out background sounds, allowing you to listen comfortably at a safer, lower level. Use available apps and built-in features on your devices to monitor your overall sound exposure duration and intensity.

6. Listen to your ear

   Pay attention to signs, as your body often provides early warning of noise-induced damage. If you experience temporary tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing) after a loud event, do not ignore it. These signals might indicate damaged hair cells in your inner ear. Furthermore, a feeling of muffled hearing is a clear sign to take a break immediately from the noise.

The holiday season is a beautiful symphony of joyful sounds, and your hearing plays an important part in letting you enjoy every note. Loud celebrations should not come at the expense of your hearing health. Protect your hearing and enjoy the joyful sounds of the season without risk by taking proactive, mindful steps. Protect your ears today to guarantee you can "hear the joy" of the holidays, and all the moments that follow, long into the future.

Written by: Tan Hee Yen, Audiologist at 20dB Hearing Singapore