Hearing Protection Apps

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5.2 million children/adolescents and 26 million adults have noise-induced hearing loss. The good news is that while this is a widespread issue, this kind of hearing loss is entirely preventable. More and more, technology can help people recognize their exposure to loud sounds and the potential for hearing damage. We rounded up a few of the technologies leading the way in this form of hearing protection.

 Phone Settings and Accessories: Apple users can find helpful features both on their phones and through the Apple Watch. On the iPhone, users can tap into the Health app (which comes with the phone). This app has a section that tracks and measures headphone audio levels and will let users know if the noise exposure from their headphones is safe or too loud. The Apple Watch also comes with its own set of apps, including “Noise” (on Series 4 and later). The Noise app uses the watch’s microphone to read and measure noise levels. When noise that could be damaging is detected, the watch notifies the user. Apple is also set to release a new feature for the watch that will alert users if their headphones produce noise at a dangerous level.

Noise Canceling Headphones: If a headphone user’s external environment is loud, that person may find themselves turning up the volume on their device so they can better hear over the outside noise. Doing so could lead to someone listening to music, podcasts, or audio recordings at decibel levels damaging to their ears. But, when headphones have noise-canceling technology, users are less likely to increase the volume because they are no longer competing with other sounds. You can learn more about this technology here.

Noise Detecting Apps: Apps like Noise Meter can be a great addition to your hearing protection tool kit. These apps measure sound levels and can show you if decibels are at a dangerous level or not. You can find other helpful noise apps here.

Remember, some of the technologies above help notify you of dangerous situations, but it is up to you to use that information to take the next step. That necessary action can mean turning down your headphones, leaving noisy environments, etc. Earplugs can be another great tool to have on hand for environmental situations that impact your hearing.

If you think you are already experiencing noise-induced hearing loss, we hope that you make an appointment to have your hearing checked. You can request an appointment here.