Some of these symptoms, including tinnitus or fullness in the ears, may happen temporarily after exposure to a particularly noisy environment, such as a concert or club. However, even if you’ve experienced these symptoms temporarily in the past, there is no guarantee that after repeated exposure to these situations your hearing will always return to normal, and you may end up with permanent hearing damage.

What Can I Do?

Sometimes, especially when exposure to hazardous noise levels happens because of job-related sounds, it’s difficult simply to eliminate exposure altogether. However, there are steps that we can all take to minimize exposure and the risk of developing permanent hearing loss as a result of noise. According to the Better Hearing Institute, one-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable by implementing responsible hearing loss prevention strategies.

Be Mindful of Hazardous Noise During Recreational Activities

Hazardous noise levels are present during many activities, including target practice at shooting ranges, firecrackers, power tools, concerts and clubs, sporting events, recreational vehicles -- including motorcycles, motorboats, snowmobiles and race cars. If you engage in hobbies during which you are exposed regularly to loud noise, you are putting yourself at risk for hearing loss. As a general rule, if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone within an arm’s length, the noise that surrounds you can be damaging your hearing.

Take Preventive Measures

Just because your hobby involves loud noise doesn’t mean you have to choose between it and your hearing. You can invest in earplugs, earmuffs or protective gear to minimize your risk of hearing loss while engaging in your favorite activities.