Earbuds are a wonderful thing after 60. They bring music, audiobooks and the grandchildren’s voices straight to your ears.
A few everyday earbud habits are worth leaving behind. Each one has a simple, better way to do it.
Below you’ll find 6 habits to stop, plus easy ways to hear the TV and your phone calls more clearly.
Number 4 surprises most readers. Almost nobody thinks about it.
1. Stop Turning the Volume Past Halfway
Many earbuds can go past 100 decibels at full volume. That is about as loud as a passing motorcycle, right inside your ear.
Hearing experts pay close attention to loud sound heard day after day. Gentler listening is kinder to your ears over the years.
Your phone has a built-in volume limit setting. It caps how loud your earbuds can go, so a stray thumb never sends a song roaring.
Look for it under Sound or Accessibility in your phone’s settings. A grandchild can usually find it in under a minute.
One caution: the limit only works on the device where you set it. If you also listen on a tablet, set it there too.
2. Stop Falling Asleep With Earbuds In
Drifting off to a podcast is a cozy habit. Earbuds weren’t designed for a whole night of wear, though.
Hours of sound through the night leave your ears with no quiet time. An earbud pressed into the pillow can also leave your ear sore by morning.
A small bedside speaker with a sleep timer gives you the same comfort. Set the timer for 30 minutes and the speaker switches itself off after you’ve drifted off.
Many of these speakers are no bigger than a coffee mug. Some double as an alarm clock.
One caution: keep the speaker’s cord tidy and off the floor. Your path to the bathroom at night should stay clear.
3. Stop Sharing Earbuds With Family or Friends
Handing one earbud to a grandchild to share a song feels sweet. But earbuds sit snugly inside the ear.
Every ear carries its own wax, skin oils and everyday germs. Sharing earbuds passes them back and forth.
The better way is to give each person their own pair. Simple wired earbuds often cost less than a family pizza night.
Most earbuds come with 3 sizes of tips. Each person can pick the size that fits them.
One caution: tips count too. Swapping tips between pairs is still sharing.
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4. Stop Leaving the Tips Uncleaned for Months
This is the one that surprises most readers. The soft tips of your earbuds pick up wax, skin oils and dust every time you wear them.
Left for months, that buildup clogs the tiny mesh where the sound comes out. Your earbuds start to sound muffled, so you turn the volume up without knowing why.
A dirty tip can quietly undo all your good work from item 1. Clean tips give clear sound at a gentle volume.
The better way is to wipe the tips gently with a soft, dry cloth, as the maker’s instructions say. A quick weekly wipe, maybe Sunday morning with your coffee, turns it into a habit.
Check the little instruction leaflet for:
- Whether the tips come off for cleaning
- Whether any water is allowed at all
- Which kind of cloth the maker suggests
- When the tips should be replaced
Many makers suggest fresh tips about every 6 months. Spare tips are inexpensive at most electronics counters.
One caution: never poke the mesh with a pin or toothpick. It tears easily and can’t be repaired.
5. Stop Cranking Earbuds Up to Hear the TV Over the Room
When the kitchen is busy and the grandchildren are laughing, the TV gets lost. Turning your earbuds up to beat the noise pushes them far louder than you need.
Captions are the easiest switch. Every TV sold in the US since 1993 can show them, usually through the remote’s settings menu.
A TV listening speaker set near your chair is another good choice. It brings the voices close at a volume just for you, while everyone else hears the TV at their own level.
One caution: place the speaker so its cord doesn’t cross a walkway. Rugs and cords together are easy to trip on.
6. Stop Pushing Call Volume to the Max
Holding the phone at full volume against your ear makes calls loud but not much clearer.
Speakerphone in a quiet room spreads the sound out and often makes voices easier to follow. Around 10 a.m., when the house is calm, is a lovely time for a long chat.
Your phone’s live captions for calls show the caller’s words on the screen as they speak. Look for it in your Accessibility settings.
One caution: captions can misspell names and numbers. Repeat important details back, like an appointment time, to be sure.
When to talk to your doctor
Nearly half of adults over 75 have some trouble hearing, so it’s worth noticing changes. Talk to your doctor if you notice:
- Ringing or buzzing in your ears that doesn’t go away
- Voices sounding muffled, even with clean earbuds
- Often asking people to repeat themselves
- Ear pain, itching or fluid from the ear
A sudden drop in hearing in one ear needs a doctor the same day. A hearing check is quick and easy.
Small Changes, Clearer Sound
These swaps take only minutes, and they make every song, show and phone call a little more pleasant.
Share this list with a friend who loves their earbuds. Then keep reading for more simple tips:
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For more practical after-60 label checks, see soap words to avoid and canned soup labels worth reading twice. For another useful everyday safety guide, learn what not to clean with vinegar.
