Being able to hear great music or the sound of your child laughing is something we take for granted. However, studies show that by the age of 65, one-third of Americans will have some sort of hearing loss—and the gradual decline in hearing begins years earlier.  

Listening to loud music, working in noisy environments without hearing protection, or frequent exposure to loud machinery (like lawn mowers and leaf blowers) are some common ways that we can gradually erode our hearing. Here are 10 ways to protect yourself from suffering hearing loss. 

1. Hang up the cell phone. According to the hearing resource site Helping Me Hear, people who are on a mobile phone for more than one hour a day are at greater risk for high-frequency hearing loss. You can offset some of this damage by using a headset instead of holding the phone to your ear.
2. Pay attention to infections. Untreated ear infections can lead to hearing loss, according to Everyday Hearing.
3. Check your meds. Some medications, including antibiotics and drugs for chemotherapy, can affect your hearing. They are called ototoxic because they are toxic for ears, so check any medications in order to know whether they are ototoxic.
4. Kick your butts. Smoking has many negative side effects, but did you know that tobacco use is associated with hearing loss? Here's one more reason to kick the habit.
5. Eat right. Eating a healthy, high-quality diet is good for your body and mind, and studies link poor diets with hearing loss.
6. Limit exposure. Loud noises for long periods of time are hard on your hearing, so the U.K. magazine Saga recommends giving your ears a break after 10 minutes of loud noise.
7. Use protection. If walking away from the noise is not an option, use ear plugs or ear protection. This is also good advice to use while attending concerts, doing yard work, or whenever you are going to be in a noisy environment.
8. Avoid the canal. If you make it a habit to put a cotton swab in your ear canal and give it a good cleaning, you may be putting your hearing at risk. Resist the urge to put a cotton swab inside the canal, and instead focus on the outer part of your ear.
9. Turn it down. This one may seem logical, but is often ignored. Try listening to your TV, iPod, and car stereo at no more than 60 percent of their volume—and lower if possible.
10. Get it checked. If you have ear pain or are concerned that you might be suffering from hearing loss, talk to your doctor and find out what tests are available to evaluate it. The earlier hearing loss is diagnosed, the more effective the treatments may be.