Dr. Ava Rhodes, Au.D.
When we think about staying healthy, hearing rarely tops the list. We keep up with annual checkups, exercise, and numbers like cholesterol and blood pressure, but hearing usually gets overlooked until something feels off. Restaurant conversations get harder to follow. Family members seem to mumble. The TV volume keeps creeping up.
Hearing changes tend to happen gradually, and one of the most common causes is something many of us encounter every day: noise.
As an audiologist, I often hear patients say, “I wish I had protected my hearing sooner.” Many are surprised to learn that damage can begin long before they notice any symptoms. The good news is that a few practical habits can go a long way toward preserving your hearing for years to come.
How Noise Damages Hearing
Deep inside the inner ear are tiny sensory cells that turn sound into signals your brain can understand. These cells are extremely delicate, and unlike many other parts of the body, they don’t grow back once they’re damaged. Because the loss usually happens slowly, many people adjust without realizing what they’re missing.
I like to compare it to sun exposure. One bad sunburn can cause harm, but so can years of unprotected time outdoors. Hearing works the same way. Often it isn’t a single loud event that causes problems, but years of repeated exposure quietly adding up.
Common Sources of Risk
For many of us, loud environments are simply part of the routine: concerts, sporting events, lawn equipment, power tools, motorcycles, and hunting. People who work in factories, landscaping, construction, or manufacturing face even greater risk because of daily exposure over many years.
Protecting your hearing doesn’t mean giving up the things you enjoy. It just means being intentional about how you enjoy them.
Concerts and sporting events. Forget the bulky foam earplugs that muffle everything. Today’s high-fidelity earplugs lower harmful volume while keeping music and conversation clear. Standing farther from speakers and taking short breaks also help. If your ears ring or sounds seem muffled afterward, the noise was likely too loud.
Hunting and firearms. Gunfire is loud enough that even a single unprotected shot can cause permanent damage. Modern electronic hearing protection lets you hear conversation and your surroundings while blocking harmful impulse noise.
The workplace. Many of my patients spent years in factories, warehouses, or industrial settings without realizing the toll that daily noise was taking. Wearing protection consistently, even when it feels inconvenient, pays off years down the road.
Kids, teens, and earbuds. Many young people wear headphones for hours every day, and long stretches at high volume can quietly affect hearing. I recommend the “60/60 rule”: keep the volume at or below 60% and take a break after about 60 minutes. Parents should also bring hearing protection for children at fireworks, concerts, races, and games.
Simple Habits, Lasting Benefits
Protecting your hearing mostly comes down to small, consistent choices:
. Turn down headphone volume
. Wear hearing protection during loud activities
. Take breaks from noisy environments
. Pay attention to warning signs like ringing or muffled sound
These habits help protect the sounds that matter most: conversations with loved ones, favorite songs, laughter, and the everyday moments that keep us connected.
Start With a Baseline
One of the best things you can do for your hearing is to know where it stands today. A hearing evaluation can catch changes early, often before they affect your day-to-day routine. Whether you work around noise, love concerts or hunting, or simply want peace of mind, understanding your hearing now is the first step toward protecting it for the future.
At our office, we are passionate about helping patients in Naples protect and preserve their hearing. If you have questions about hearing changes or would like a hearing evaluation, contact Dr. Ava Rhodes and our team today. Visit us online at www.AudioNova.com, or call (239) 631-5750. Protecting your hearing today can make all the difference tomorrow.
Dr. Ava Rhodes, Au.D., is a licensed Doctor of Audiology at AudioNova in Naples, Florida. She is passionate about compassionate hearing care, sunshine, and finding the perfect scoop of ice cream in Naples (original vanilla, if you’re wondering).
971 Michigan Ave, Naples, FL 34103
(239) 631-5750
3000 Immokalee Rd #8, Naples, FL 34110
(239) 593-5327