How Hearing Works: The Journey of Sound
Follow a sound wave from your ear canal to your brain. Understand the delicate system that makes hearing possible.
We struggled to find clear, practical resources to help people understand hearing damage. So we built this guide ourselves β in partnership with audiologists. No jargon, no fear tactics. Just the science you need to protect your hearing.
The science of how we hear, what damages hearing, and why it mattersβexplained simply.
Understanding decibels is the first step to protecting your hearing. This interactive guide shows you exactly how loud common sounds are, how long you can safely listen, and when you need protection.
Explore the Guide βFollow a sound wave from your ear canal to your brain. Understand the delicate system that makes hearing possible.
The only type of hearing loss that's 100% preventable. Learn what causes it, how to spot it early, and how to stop it.
Your ears are ringing after a concert. Will it go away? Learn the difference between temporary and permanent damage.
Practical guides to prevention, safe listening, and choosing the right protection.
Why 85 dB is the magic number, and how to use the 3 dB exchange rate to calculate your safe exposure time.
15% of adults have tinnitus. Most cases are preventable. Learn what causes it and how to protect yourself.
The World Health Organization's guidelines for safe listening, translated into practical everyday advice.
Your daily listening habits might be damaging your hearing. Learn how to enjoy music safely through headphones.
Specific guidance for concerts, DJs, musicians, and more.
Concerts can hit 120 dB. Learn how to enjoy live music without sacrificing your hearing.
Your ears are your career. Learn how to protect them without compromising your mix.
From drummers to guitarists: instrument-specific risks and protection strategies.
Multi-day festivals are especially dangerous. Here's how to make it through with your hearing intact.
Children's ears are more vulnerable. Learn when and how to protect your kids' hearing.
Interactive tools to understand your exposure and test your hearing.
Enter your sound level and duration to calculate your cumulative exposure and risk.
Test which frequencies you can hear. High frequencies are often the first to go.
Experience what tinnitus sounds likeβand understand why you want to prevent it.
Browse every guide in our hearing health library.
This guide is created by Unplugs' audiology team β combining 70+ years of clinical experience with the inventors of modern hearing aid technology.
50+ years in audiology
20+ years in hearing technology
"Having spent decades designing hearing aids for people who've already experienced loss, our focus shifted to a different question: how do we help people protect what they have before they need us?"β Dr. Natan Bauman & Ralph Campagna, Unplugs Co-Founders