Men's Journal

A SOUND DEFENSE

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Childhoods spent driving around with the music at maximum start to explain why, according to a CDC survey, 15 percent of Americans 18 and older have some hearing loss. Here’s how to keep your ears sharp.

FOLLOW THE 60/60 RULE The biggest culprit for preventabl­e hearing loss is listening to loud music through headphones, says Garrett Thompson, an audiologis­t in New York City. “Listen at 60 percent of max volume, and take a break after 60 minutes,” Thompson says.

WEAR PROTECTION

For anyone working in loud environmen­ts—constructi­on sites, tarmacs—buy a pair of profession­al earmuff-style hearing protectors. If you need earplugs for commutes or in a loud spin class, single-use foam ones available at the pharmacy work fine.

TRY WHITE NOISE

It’s counterint­uitive to fight noise with noise, but if your house is loud, a white noise machine for background sound might help you hear with more clarity, suggest results from an animal study in Cell Reports.

KNOW YOUR DECIBELS Just like you track your steps, you can track your noise exposure. The Apple Health app can tell you whether your headphone volume is too loud. And a free app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the NIOSH Sound Level Meter, measures the volume around you, informing you of hearing endangerme­nt.

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