When I joined a radio station, most of my work – one way or another, involved using my ears. In a noisy environment, the only way to do that was to use headphones – sometimes many hours at a time.

Now, I’m in my fifties, and I can’t get rid of that high pitched ringing in my ears. I have to ask my family to repeat themselves all the time. I can’t hear what people are saying if there is any competing background noise. I don’t want to use hearing aids, but if I want to be able to hear my son’s wedding vows when he grows up, that might be my reality.

Bottom line? Protect your ears.

If you are a radio announcer, please watch your headphone volume levels. Believe it or not, loudest is not always clearest. Reduce the volume, and you will very quickly get used to it.

Put your headphones on before you perform a voice break, but take them off again afterwards. Give your poor ears air to breathe!

Where at all possible, use speakers instead.

If you can, use the lighter flat pad type, rather than enclosed headphones.

And, don’t use headphones for too long at a time. It’s simply not great for your hearing.

Happy broadcasting and God bless your hearing.

James