Don’t Let Your Hearing Fly Away: How to Protect Your Ears When Traveling by Air

Posted on by Advanced ENT & Allergy

If you’re planning a trip this holiday season, it’s important to be prepared. That could mean making sure to pack a swimsuit if you’re headed somewhere warm or bringing a book (or two) you can read while waiting for your flight to board at Newark Liberty International Airport.

You might not know that it is also important to prepare ways to protect your hearing when traveling by plane.

How Traveling by Plane Can Affect Hearing

People in the cabin of a commercial plane.

Loud noises of any kind have the potential to damage your hearing. While you might think this only applies to things like construction sites or concerts, it can happen on plane rides as well.

The National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that all air worker exposures to noise should remain below 85 dBA in an eight-hour workday to minimize noise-induced hearing loss. The noise inside a plane during flight stays right around 80-85 decibels and can get upwards of 105 decibels during takeoff and landing. If you frequently fly or are taking an especially long trip, it’s possible this noise exposure could be damaging to your ears.

Tips to Reduce Noise Exposure

Thankfully there are several ways to protect your ears when flying. These include:

  • Bringing earplugs. Not only do they protect your ears, but also can help cut out some of the other unpleasant noises that can come when traveling (like a loud talking passenger a few rows ahead.) They are inexpensive and easy to find either online or in stores. They might even make it easier for you to take a quick nap on your flight.
  • Use noise-cancelling headphones. Noise-cancelling headphones are a great investment that can help protect your hearing and allow you to enjoy listening to music or watching your favorite movies or TV shows to pass the time while you’re traveling. Just make sure to keep the volume at a reasonable level!
  • Pick a seat away from the engine. The front rows of the plane are probably the safest in terms of noise exposure as they are the farthest away from the engine. If you don’t like the idea of sitting up front or tickets aren’t available for that section, try choosing an aisle seat. Aisle seats are several decibels quieter than window seats.

If you have any additional questions about noise-induced hearing loss or wish to schedule an appointment, call Advanced ENT & Allergy today! Safe travels!