Gauge your exposure

Check the chart to see how loud different types of products and environments can be. The more of them you're exposed to, especially for extended periods, the greater your risk.

As a rule of thumb, if the noise around you makes it difficult to carry on a conversation without shouting, it's too loud.

A rough way to test for temporary hearing loss is to put your car stereo on its lowest audible setting before you enter a noisy place, such as a rock concert. If you can't hear it when you return, you might have a temporary noise-induced hearing loss.

Turn it down

Discipline yourself to play music at a lower volume. Keep your MP3 player well below maximum volume and limit listening time to 90 minutes per day. Use your MP3 player's volume limiter if it has one.

Schedule quiet times

Hearing loss is cumulative, so make sure to offset noisy periods with quieter ones.

Use hearing protection

Foam earplugs can reduce your noise exposure by about 20 decibels, but only if you insert them properly. Here's how: Roll the earplug gently between your fingers to make it long and thin, then reach over your head to lift your ear with one hand while inserting the earplug with the other. Hold each earplug in place until it expands. Or you can use over-the-ear earmuffs, which are easier to put on and take off but can be hotter and bulkier.

Use the right headphones

Our tests have shown that noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones and insert-type rubber-tipped earbuds, properly sized to fit your ear canals, can be good at blocking background noises that lead to higher listening volumes. We found that the Panasonic RP-HC55 insert-type earphones were tops for noise canceling, and the Bose QuietComfort 2 were also very good at sound reduction. Just avoid using them in places where you need to stay alert, such as city streets and airports.