Your ears play a key role in your job, hobbies, and enjoying the sounds of life. They are equipped to deal with everyday sounds; however, loud or repetitive noise can cause serious damage. You may have experienced hearing loss without even realizing it - if you have been exposed to loud noise over time, hearing loss is more likely to be gradual. Check out these helpful tips from HearUSA that can pay dividends in the future for a life full of hearing:

• Understand when you are putting your hearing at risk. The safest listening zone is between 60 and 85 decibels (the unit of measurement for sound intensity) – somewhere between normal conversation and the sound of city traffic.
• Watch out for prolonged loud noise. Most people can recall when a sudden bang or blaring speaker at a concert left their ears ringing. Hearing loss from a sudden loud noise may be more obvious due to the ear ache you might feel afterwards. However, a constant loud sound may cause more long term damage and go undetected, as many do not notice the effects until after the damage is done.
• Practice preventative measures for hearing loss. You can do wonders for your hearing with simple changes. Consider wearing ear plugs if you work in a loud environment or while attending a concert, and listen to headphones at no more than 60% of the maximum volume. Many phones come with volume alerts that you can turn on to help manage listening to music too loudly.

Watch for symptoms of hearing loss such as: asking others to repeat themselves, struggling to hear conversation in a group or louder setting, and difficulty hearing on the phone. Any of these signs may indicate that a hearing screening is necessary.