Dr. Bonnie L. Baehr, Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology) — Audiologist and Founder, Beverly Hills Hearing Center, Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Baehr founded Beverly Hills Hearing Center in 1983 and prior to that practiced at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles as a staff audiologist for seven years, where she was involved with diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluations, research, and rehabilitation. She completed her clinical fellowship training at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in downtown Los Angeles. Dr. Baehr is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, the California Academy of Audiology, and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Latest posts by Dr. Bonnie L. Baehr, Au.D. (see all)
- Preventing Hearing Loss: Tips and Strategies - October 16, 2026
- How Influencers Are Destigmatizing Hearing Aids - October 2, 2026
- Superfoods to Incorporate Into a Hearing-Conscious Meal Plan - September 29, 2026
Hearing is an important part of daily life. It helps us communicate, enjoy music, notice warning sounds, and stay connected with the people around us. Although some types of hearing loss cannot be prevented, many risks can be reduced through simple habits and early care. Learning how to protect your ears can support better hearing health throughout life.
Noise exposure is one of the most common risks. Loud sounds can damage delicate structures inside the inner ear. This damage may occur suddenly after an extremely loud event, or develop slowly over time with repeated exposure. Because changes can be gradual, a person may not notice a problem until conversations and everyday sounds become more difficult to understand.
Understand When Sound Is Too Loud
A useful warning sign is the need to raise your voice to speak with someone nearby. If you must shout to be heard, the environment may be loud enough to strain your hearing. Concerts, sporting events, power tools, lawn equipment, motorcycles, and busy workplaces can all create high noise levels.
When loud sound cannot be avoided, hearing protection can make a meaningful difference. Earplugs or protective earmuffs can reduce the amount of sound that reaches the ear. Choosing the right option depends on the activity and the environment. People who regularly work around machinery or perform music may benefit from learning more about custom hearing protection, which can be designed to support specific listening needs.
It is also important to give your ears time to recover. After attending a loud event, choose quieter activities when possible. Avoid moving directly from one noisy setting to another. Short periods of quiet can reduce the total amount of noise exposure during the day.
Practice Safe Listening With Personal Devices
Headphones and earbuds make it easy to enjoy music, podcasts, and videos almost anywhere. However, it is easy to increase the volume in the presence of background noise. Instead of turning the volume higher and higher, move to a quieter location or use headphones to reduce outside noise.
Listening time also matters. Even moderate volume can become a concern when exposure lasts for long periods. Taking regular breaks can reduce overall sound exposure. Parents and caregivers can also help children build safe listening habits early, especially when they use headphones for entertainment, school, or gaming.
Pay Attention to Changes in Hearing
Early attention is another important part of prevention. Difficulty following conversations, asking people to repeat themselves, or hearing ringing or buzzing may be signs that deserve professional attention. These symptoms do not always mean permanent hearing loss, but they should not be ignored.
Regular evaluations can establish a clear picture of hearing health and help identify changes over time. A hearing health professional can discuss symptoms, review possible causes, and recommend appropriate next steps. If you have concerns, hearing tests can provide useful information about how well you hear different sounds and speech.
Make Hearing Protection Part of Your Routine
The best prevention strategies are often the ones that become regular habits. Keep ear protection in convenient places, such as a work bag, car, or music equipment case. Lower the volume before pressing play. Step away from unnecessary noise when you can. These small choices may seem simple, but repeated actions can add up over time.
It is also helpful to avoid inserting objects into the ear canal to remove wax or clean the ears. This can push wax deeper or cause injury. If earwax becomes uncomfortable or seems to affect hearing, seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional rather than attempting to remove it with a cotton swab or another object.
Protect Your Hearing for the Future
Preventing hearing loss does not require avoiding every loud activity. Instead, it means understanding risks and making practical choices. Use protection when sound levels are high, control the volume of personal devices, take breaks from noise, and respond promptly to noticeable changes.
Hearing health deserves the same long-term attention as other parts of wellness. By making protection part of your everyday routine, you can reduce avoidable risks and take an active role in preserving your ability to communicate and enjoy the sounds that matter most.