10 tips on how to care for your ears properly

Looking after your ears is one of the simplest ways to protect your hearing and enjoy the sounds that matter most. From listening to music safely to managing earwax, a few everyday habits can make a real difference to your long-term ear health.

At House of Hearing, we believe hearing well means the world. Here are our ten top tips for keeping your ears healthy and protecting your hearing.

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1. Protect your ears at concerts and loud events

Concerts, festivals and sporting events can expose your ears to potentially harmful noise levels.

If you're heading somewhere loud, wear well-fitting earplugs designed to reduce noise exposure. Musician-style earplugs can help lower the volume while preserving sound quality.

Take breaks in quieter areas and avoid standing directly beside loudspeakers.

Remember: If your ears are ringing or your hearing sounds muffled after an event, the noise may have been too loud.

2. Keep headphone volume at a comfortable level

Listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks through headphones is part of everyday life, but excessive volume can damage your hearing over time.

To listen more safely:

Keep the volume at a comfortable level rather than turning it up to drown out background noise.
Consider noise-cancelling headphones so you can listen clearly at lower volumes.
Take regular listening breaks.
Use your smartphone's headphone sound-level monitoring features where available.

The louder the sound, the less time you can safely listen. Many devices allow you to set volume limits or receive warnings about prolonged exposure.

3. Be mindful of television and radio volume

If you regularly turn up the television or radio, consider whether the volume is higher than it needs to be.

Keeping sound at a comfortable level can help reduce unnecessary noise exposure.

However, if you find yourself increasing the volume because dialogue sounds unclear, it may be worth having your hearing checked.

Difficulty following television conversations is a common early sign of hearing loss, particularly when background music or sound effects make speech harder to understand.

4. Protect your hearing at work

Working around machinery, power tools or other loud equipment can increase your risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

If your workplace is noisy:

Wear the hearing protection provided and make sure it fits correctly.
Follow workplace noise safety procedures.
Take breaks away from loud environments where possible.
Speak to your employer if you're concerned about noise exposure.
Attend occupational hearing checks where these are provided.

In the UK, employers have legal responsibilities to assess and control harmful workplace noise.

Ordinary noise-cancelling headphones are not a substitute for certified hearing protection in hazardous environments.

5. Turn down loud music in the car

It's easy to turn up the music while driving, particularly when there's road noise in the background.

However, listening at high volumes for extended periods can contribute to hearing damage.

Keep your car stereo at a comfortable level, and make sure you can still hear important sounds around you, including emergency vehicle sirens.

If you're regularly increasing the volume to hear music or speech clearly, consider arranging a hearing assessment.

7. Have your hearing checked regularly

Hearing loss often develops gradually, so you might not notice the changes straight away.

A hearing test can help establish a baseline for your hearing and identify changes over time.

Consider booking an assessment if you:

Frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
Struggle to follow conversations in noisy places.
Turn up the television louder than others prefer.
Find certain voices or sounds difficult to hear.
Notice ringing or buzzing in your ears.

At House of Hearing, we offer free hearing tests, with clear, personalised advice from our experienced audiologists.

You don't need to wait until your hearing difficulties become significant to seek advice.

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8. Look after your wellbeing and manage stress

Stress doesn't necessarily cause hearing loss, but it can make existing tinnitus more noticeable or harder to manage.

If you experience ringing, buzzing or other sounds in your ears, taking steps to manage stress may help you cope with the symptoms.

Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, relaxation techniques and enjoyable activities can all support your general wellbeing.

If tinnitus is persistent, affects your daily life or develops alongside hearing changes, seek professional advice.

9. Keep your ears dry after swimming and bathing

Moisture trapped in the ear canal can sometimes contribute to irritation or outer ear infections, particularly if you swim regularly.

After swimming or showering:

Gently dry the outside of your ears with a soft towel.
Tilt your head to help any trapped water drain naturally.
Avoid inserting cotton buds or other objects into your ears.

Consider suitable swimming earplugs if you're prone to recurring outer ear infections.

If you experience persistent itching, pain, discharge or swelling, contact your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.

10. Stay active and support your overall health

Looking after your general health is also important for your hearing.

Regular physical activity supports cardiovascular health and helps manage conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which have been associated with hearing problems.

Walking, swimming, cycling or other activities you enjoy can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Although exercise cannot guarantee protection against hearing loss, staying active is a positive step for your overall health and wellbeing.

When should you seek professional hearing advice?

If you've noticed changes in your hearing, regularly experience blocked ears or have concerns about tinnitus, it's worth speaking to a hearing care professional.

Sudden hearing loss requires urgent medical assessment. If your hearing changes suddenly over a few hours or days, contact your GP or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a routine hearing appointment.

Take care of your hearing with House of Hearing

At House of Hearing, we're here to help you enjoy better hearing for longer. Whether you need a Free Hearing Test, professional Earwax Removal or advice about hearing protection, our friendly, experienced team is ready to help.

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