Every May, audiologists across the country recognize Better Hearing & Speech Month, a time to raise awareness about hearing health, communication, and the very preventable damage that loud noise causes every single day. At Better Hearing & Audiology in Idaho Falls, we believe your hearing care is health care, and protecting it starts with understanding how hearing loss actually happens.
This month’s edition of our patient newsletter dives deep into noise-induced hearing loss, prevention tips, and the latest in subscription-based hearing care. You can read the full May 2026 newsletter here, and below, we’ll cover the key takeaways every Idaho Falls resident should know.
The Hidden Cost of Loud Sounds
Hearing loss affects roughly 48 million people worldwide, adults and children alike. What’s surprising is how much of it is preventable. Tens of millions of people between the ages of 20 and 70 will experience hearing loss simply from noise exposure, and an estimated 10 to 20% of teens already show signs of noise-induced hearing loss, largely from headphone use.
Here’s why that matters: you were born with about 16,000 hair cells in your inner ear. These tiny cells allow your brain to detect sound. Once damaged or destroyed, they do not grow back, and you can lose up to 50% of them before you even notice a change in your hearing.
That’s the silent danger of loud sounds. By the time symptoms appear, significant damage has already occurred.
Why Hearing Loss Isn’t Just a Hearing Problem
Untreated hearing loss does more than make conversations difficult. Research consistently links it to:
- Social isolation from family and friends
- Higher rates of depression and anxiety
- Increased risk of falls
- Higher overall healthcare costs
- Faster cognitive decline and elevated dementia risk
Your ears and your brain work together. When sound input drops, the brain receives less stimulation, and that has consequences far beyond simply turning the TV up louder.
7 Ways to Protect Your Hearing Starting Today
The good news? Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most preventable forms of hearing damage. Here’s how to protect yours:
1. Manage your headphone use. Keep the volume below 60%, limit listening time, and take regular breaks. This is especially critical for teens.
2. Be aware of noise levels around you. If you have to shout to be heard — at a job site, concert, or restaurant — the environment is too loud. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs in those settings.
3. Always protect your ears when shooting. Recreational firearm use is one of the leading causes of preventable hearing loss. Hearing protection is non-negotiable.
4. Turn the TV and car radio down. Lower ambient volumes throughout your day make a bigger difference than most people realize.
5. Give your ears time to recover. After loud exposure, your hearing needs quiet time to recuperate. Build in recovery periods.
6. Stop putting things in your ears. Avoid Q-tips past the outer ear. Earwax naturally migrates outward — let your ears do their job.
7. Stay active. Exercise keeps blood flowing to the delicate structures inside your ears, supporting long-term hearing health.
The Most Important Step: Get Tested
Even if you don’t notice symptoms, anyone over 50 should have their hearing tested. And if you’re experiencing ringing, fullness, or difficulty following conversations at any age, don’t wait. Early intervention is the single biggest factor in protecting both your hearing and your long-term cognitive health.
Loud noise doesn’t just cause hearing loss, it’s also a leading cause of tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears) and hyperacusis (heightened sound sensitivity). Years of exposure can have effects that show up long after the noise has stopped.
Take Action This May
Better Hearing & Speech Month is the perfect time to take your hearing seriously — for yourself and for the people you love. Encourage your children to build healthy listening habits early. Schedule a hearing test for yourself. Share what you’ve learned with a friend or family member who’s been turning the TV up a little louder lately.
For more in-depth tips, a brain-healthy recipe, and details on our subscription-based care plans, check out the full May 2026 Better Hearing & Audiology Newsletter.
At Better Hearing & Audiology in Idaho Falls, we offer comprehensive hearing evaluations, tinnitus treatment, and subscription-based care plans that make protecting your hearing affordable and stress-free.