The biggest steps to protect your hearing are actually a series of small steps, according to audiologist Cory Portnuff, AuD, PhD, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Whether monitoring the noise around you with a smartphone app or bringing earplugs to a concert or sporting event, minor adjustments can go a long way in protecting your hearing for a lifetime.
In the following Q&A, Portnuff explains what those small steps are, warning signs of hearing loss, and why identifying those at risk of hearing loss can be challenging.