An everyday guide to safer listening

Modern life is loud; earbuds, concerts, gyms, traffic, power tools, even kitchen appliances—it all adds up. You don’t have to live in silence to protect your hearing, but a few simple habits can keep your ears safe for the long run. This guide covers three things you can control every day—volume, time, and breaks—plus quick tips for concerts, noisy jobs, kids and teens and all sorts of loud and wonderful things that fill our lives.

Why safe listening matters

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) often sneaks up on us slowly. Loud sounds can stress tiny hairs in your inner ear that send sound signals to the brain. When those hairs are overworked—especially for long stretches—they can be damaged. Once damaged, they don’t grow back¹. The good news? Most day-to-day hearing risk comes from habits that may be more in your control than you thought.

Think of safe listening like sunscreen. You don’t avoid the sun entirely—you use smart protection so you can enjoy it for years. Same with sound.

1) Keep the volume reasonable (60/60 rule)

A simple guideline: no listening to more than 60% of max volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time². This 60/60 rule is easy to remember and applies to all audio devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops. If you find yourself inching past 60% just to hear over the environment (things like bus engines, treadmills at the gym, or street noise), the environment is the real problem, not your ears.

• If someone an arm’s length away can hear your earbuds, it’s too loud.
• If your voice feels strained because you’re talking over your music, it’s too loud.
• If you can’t hear environmental sounds you should notice (doorbells, traffic, your name being called), turn it down.
  
  

2) Watch your total listening time

Your ears can handle short bursts of loudness better than hours of it. Even at comfortable volumes, long listening sessions add up. That’s where breaks come in. 

Breaks help your ear cells recover. They also give your brain a chance to reset from “listening fatigue.” If you notice the urge to keep turning things up over the course of a workout or workday, you probably need a five-to-ten-minute pause more than you need more volume.

A simple pattern: 60 minutes on, 10 minutes off³. Use a phone timer to help keep track. During the break, take both earbuds out and let your ears rest. If you’re in a noisy setting, step into a quieter spot. Even a few minutes of rest for your ears can make a big difference.

Warning signs to take seriously

Your ears are excellent messengers and will often tell you if you’re in danger of listening to something too loud, for too long. Pay attention to these signs if you notice:

• Ringing, buzzing, or hissing (tinnitus) after a loud event.
• Muffled hearing or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears.
• Needing to ask people to repeat more often, especially in restaurants or group conversations.

If any of these show up (especially repeatedly) dial back your volume and time, add more breaks, and book a hearing check.

Concerts, games, and festivals: Enjoy the show and keep your hearing

Live music and sports are meant to be loud AND fun. Protecting your ears doesn’t dull the experience; it makes it more comfortable, safer, and less stressful on your hearing.

Wear earplugs. Basic foam plugs work well if used properly; while high-fidelity musician’s plugs keep the music clear while lowering the volume⁴. Keep a pair on your keychain so you’re always prepared, or check with the venue as oftentimes foam plugs are provided on site at little to no cost.

Mind your location. Standing directly in front of the speaker stacks? Slide a few steps to the side or back. The harmful acoustic energy drops quickly and the sound often improves.

Take breaks. Step outside or into a quieter concourse between sets or periods.

Post-event reset. If your ears ring afterward, give them a quiet day (or two) and keep headphones off until that ringing fades.

Noisy jobs and home projects

Construction, landscaping, agriculture, factory floors, woodworking, and even weekend DIY projects can push sound levels into the danger zone. Protecting your ears is as normal and essential as wearing eye protection and gloves.

Match the protection to the job. Over-ear earmuffs are great for sustained noise (mowers, shop vacs). Foam plugs are good for quick tasks (hammering, drilling). Double up (using plugs and muffs) around firearms, impact tools, or very loud machinery.

Check the fit. A poorly inserted foam plug blocks far less sound than one that is used properly. Roll it thin, pull your ear gently up and back, and insert into the ear canal—then hold for 20–30 seconds while it expands⁵.

Quiet your environment. Close doors, add rubber feet under machines to reduce vibration, and keep blades sharp; a tuned-up tool is not only safer but quieter!

Kids and teens: Start good habits early

Younger ears are still developing, and great listening habits formed now can pay off for decades.

Set device limits. Most phones and tablets let you cap max volume for a child’s profile. Set it once, and make a lasting impact.

Model breaks. If you take regular listening breaks, kids notice. Make it a family habit (“We all take a ten-minute ear break after an hour of listening”).

Make earplugs a habit. Keep a small pack in the car for games, school dances, or pep bands.

The bottom line

Safe listening isn’t about perfection—it’s about making better choices most of the time. Keep the volume reasonable, limit how long you listen, and give your ears real breaks. Use earplugs for life's loudest moments, use noise-canceling devices to avoid cranking the dial, and watch for warning signs. Protecting your hearing today preserves your connection with loved ones, your energy, and your enjoyment of sound for years to come⁶.

Breaking down barriers to hearing care

Unfortunately, many people face financial barriers that prevent them from accessing treatment for their hearing loss. That’s why programs like the Gift of Sound™ are so essential. Since 1990, the Miracle-Ear Foundation has provided hearing aids and unlimited care to thousands of children and adults who could not otherwise afford them. By removing cost as a barrier, the Gift of Sound ensures more people can reconnect with the sounds and moments that matter most.

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References‍

1. National Institute of Health. (2025). Noise Induced Hearing Loss. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss‍

2. World Health Organization. (2023). Make Listening Safe. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/health-topics/deafness-and-hearing-loss/mls-brochure-english-2021.pdf?sfvrsn=bf19b448_5&utm‍

3. World Health Organization. (2025). Deafness and Hearing Loss: Safe Listening. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/deafness-and-hearing-loss-safe-listening‍

4. National Institute of Health. (2025). Hearing Protectors. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-protectors‍

5. Center for Disease Control. (2012). How to Wear Soft Foam Earplugs. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/mining/UserFiles/content/hearingloss/earplug.pdf‍

6. National Institute of Deafness and Other Hearing Disorders. (2025). How Does Noise Damage Your Hearing. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/how-does-noise-damage-your-hearing‍