How your Apple Watch can help protect you from hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the top two leading causes of hearing loss, affecting millions in the UK.

Noise-induced hearing loss can happen suddenly, say if you’re exposed to a loud impulse sound like a gunshot or explosion. Or, it can happen gradually - caused by regularly listening to music too loud, working in noisy environments, or using things like leaf blowers, lawnmowers, motorcycles or power tools without proper hearing protection. But noise-induced hearing loss can also be prevented - by knowing what sounds are too loud (anything above 85 decibels) and either avoiding them, limiting your exposure or proximity to them, or wearing earplugs, earmuffs, or other hearing protection when around loud noises.

Did you know that the Apple Watch features ambient (environmental) noise monitoring that is quick and easy to use, including noise threshold warnings? That makes it much easier to prevent hearing damage and loss by knowing when to turn down the volume, use ear protection, or leave a loud environment.

The Noise app on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 and later measures the ambient sound levels in your environment using the microphone and duration of exposure. When Apple Watch detects that the decibel level has risen to a point where hearing could be affected, it can notify you with a tap on the wrist.

Learn more here.