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16 myths about hearing protection

16 myths about hearing protection

Hearing protection is crucial for preventing hearing damage caused by exposure to loud noises, also known as noise-induced hearing loss. However, many misconceptions about hearing protection still exist, causing numerous people to forego protection even when the situation calls for it. In this blog post, we'll debunk the most common myths about hearing protection!

Myth #1: Hearing loss only affects older people

Hearing loss affects people of all ages and is increasingly common among children and young adults. Only 35% of people with hearing loss are 65 or older.

Myth #2: Only extremely loud sounds can cause hearing damage

Even moderately loud sounds (from 80 dB) can gradually cause hearing damage, especially with frequent and/or prolonged exposure.

Icon of a girl with a large music note, symbolizing music or sound.

Myth #3: A few seconds of noise can't damage your hearing

While noise-induced hearing loss is usually the result of cumulative exposure to loud sounds over time, just one gunshot, explosion, or other sudden, loud noise can be enough to cause hearing loss.

Myth #4: Your ears can get used to loud sounds

It's impossible for your ears to "get used to" loud sounds. If you feel you can tolerate loud music better than before, it's probably because you've already sustained hearing damage.

Myth #5: If sound doesn't bother you, you don't need hearing protection

Just because you don't find a sound disturbing or think you're used to it doesn't mean it can't cause hearing damage. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops over an extended period. You typically won't notice damage occurring until it's too late and nothing can be done about it. Even if you know that volumes above 80 dB are harmful, it's impossible to accurately gauge sound levels by ear alone. Try downloading a decibel meter app to discover what volume levels you're exposed to daily – you might be surprised!

Myth #6: If you don't experience pain, ringing, or tinnitus, your hearing isn't damaged

There are several indicators of hearing damage, including:

  • Ringing in your ears

Almost everyone has experienced ringing in their ears after a concert or party. While it usually disappears within 24 to 48 hours, the damage to your hearing remains.

  • Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition where you hear a sound (usually constantly) that isn't actually there. This can be a ringing, rushing, buzzing, whistling, or pulsing sound.

  • Ear pain

For humans, the pain threshold for sound is around 140 dB. Ear pain primarily occurs with acute acoustic trauma, such as from a loud explosion.

  • Muffled sounds

While muffled sounds can result from a bad cold or ear canal inflammation, they can also be a symptom of hearing damage.

  • Fatigue

With hearing loss, you need to exert more effort to follow conversations and identify and distinguish other sounds. Many people with hearing damage therefore experience increased fatigue.

  • Hypersensitivity to certain sounds

Though it may seem contradictory, many people with hearing loss become extra sensitive to loud sounds.

Even if you've never experienced any of the symptoms mentioned above, it's still possible that you've sustained hearing damage.

Icon of a finger on the mouth, symbolizing silence or "shh" gesture.

Myth #7: You don't need hearing protection if you already have hearing loss

If you know you've already sustained some hearing damage, you might feel less motivated to protect your hearing. However, wearing hearing protection becomes even more important to prevent further damage.

Myth #8: Your hearing can heal

Unlike other cells in the human body, the hair cells in the inner ear cannot divide and multiply. Other types of cells in the inner ear cannot convert into hair cells either. In other words: damaged hair cells cannot repair themselves, meaning hearing damage is irreversible.

Myth #9: Hearing loss is inevitable

Prevention is better than cure, and since hearing damage cannot be repaired, prevention is crucial. Hearing loss can have various causes, including genetic predisposition, aging, use of certain medications, and exposure to loud sounds. While some causes cannot be prevented, noise-induced hearing loss can be!

Myth #10: Hearing loss doesn't affect your overall health

Excessive exposure to loud noise has long been associated with cardiovascular diseases and cerebral dysfunction. A recent scientific study on the systemic health effects of noise exposure revealed that noise also affects other vital organs. This occurs partly through its impact on the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the release of stress hormones.

Additionally, untreated hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, dementia, social isolation, and depression. There's a theory that the 'cognitive load' of hearing loss on the brain negatively impacts other brain functions, such as short-term memory.

Myth #11: Hearing protection causes ear infections

Many people think wearing earplugs leads to ear infections, but this isn't true. As long as you clean your earplugs regularly (for example, with Alpine Clean spray for earplugs), you don't need to worry about this.

Icon of an ear with a hand cupped behind it, symbolizing listening to or hearing something.

Myth #12: Earplugs can damage your eardrum

Earplugs are designed to protect your hearing safely. They feature smart design elements: rounded shapes and soft materials that adapt to your ear canal. Alpine even offers oval earplugs that follow your ear canal's shape for a better fit.

Only if you were to force earplugs very deep with considerable force could you damage your eardrum. But don't worry: if you insert them gently as indicated, there's nothing to worry about!

Tips for safe use:

- Check the insertion instructions

- Don't force them when inserting

- Use disposable plugs only once (like foam earplugs)

- Keep reusable plugs clean

Myth #13: You can't hear anything with hearing protection

Some people don't wear hearing protection because they think they won't be able to hear anything. This is a misconception! There's an important difference between earplugs with and without filters. Our filtered earplugs, such as festival earplugs, motorcycle earplugs, or music earplugs, are specially designed so you can still communicate. You can hear important sounds like conversations, traffic signals, or singing clearly, while harmful noise is dampened.

Non-filtered earplugs, like our SoftSilicone earplugs, provide good dampening but aren't designed to filter sound and therefore reduce all sounds. They're perfect for other situations, like sleeping or swimming.

Moreover, it's technically impossible to block all sound. This is because sound vibrations enter through two paths: via the air in your ear canal (air conduction) and through your skull (bone conduction).

Icon of a person meditating on a cloud while holding Alpine earplugs, symbolizing calmness and hearing protection.

Myth #14: Using noise-canceling earbuds is sufficient for hearing protection

Headphones, AirPods, or earbuds with noise canceling are not the same as hearing protection.

First, it's important to understand the difference between passive noise canceling and active noise canceling.

  • Passive noise canceling (PNC) reduces ambient noise through design. In-ear earphones seal your ear canal, and over-ear headphones cover your entire ear, reducing ambient sounds.

  • Active noise canceling (ANC) products are equipped with microphones that detect ambient sounds and generate counter-sound ('anti-noise') based on this input – sound waves that are the opposite of the ambient noise. This effectively neutralizes ambient sounds.

While noise-canceling products reduce the impact of ambient sound, the reduction is usually not sufficient to optimally protect your hearing. Moreover, active noise canceling cannot protect your hearing from sudden and explosive sounds.

Myth #15: Earplugs distort music

Not wearing hearing protection at concerts and festivals because you think the music won't sound good with earplugs? Choose Alpine's festival earplugs! Our PartyPlug Pro earplugs feature special filters that reduce volume without distorting the music. Our music earplugs also guarantee safe sound reduction without compromising music quality.

Myth #16: A hearing aid corrects your hearing loss

If you're nearsighted or farsighted, your vision can usually be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses. However, a hearing aid cannot correct noise-induced hearing loss. While a hearing aid can improve the detection and distinction between different sounds, it's impossible to restore normal hearing. The hair cells necessary to process the sounds amplified by a hearing aid no longer function.