How does one conserve their hearing?

I think you have to take the precautions when you’re young. I think by now it’s late to think along these angles. You’re almost 40K, that’s pretty awesome.

I almost always have earplugs with me. I use them in zumba class, in movie theatres, basically I can put them in at any time I feel I am being exposed to loud noise for more than ten minutes. Supposedly damage happens after an hour of sustained loud noise that you have to raise your voise to be heard/hear when talking. Extremely loud bursts of noise can do damage in a moment. Since I already have some hearing loss and I hear noise in my head frim hearing damage, I try to be prudent about it, but I am not near as good as a should be. Adults tend to not cover their ears when around somethng temporarily noisy, but I often do now. Subway very noisy at certain stations, I cover my ears as it pulls in. Fireworks at SeaWorld got too noisy (oh, by the way I saw your relatives there on the new ride) I covered my ears the majority of the time the fireworks were going on.

Keep the volume down when you use electronic equipment for music or voice sound. Usually most damage is done when you experience loud sound for a prolonged amount of loud noise. People who work in loud noise or use headsets set to the highest volume are more likely to lose their hearing later in life.

It’s never too late to preserve what hearing you have left. Avoiding noise is the easiest, protecting from noise when it is unavoidable is also easy. Noise doesn’t have to be uncomfortably loud to be potentially damaging. Here’s a chart that shows noise level and the corresponding length of time one can safely be exposed to that level of sound. The company is working with musicians to help them protect and preserve their hearing, sothey have the different musical instruments listed, too.

The inner ear structures are easily effected by general or systemic health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Smokers are also aging their ears much faster than non-smokers. Heavy-duty medications can also be too taxis, so just keeping your general health at optimum is beneficial. Yourvwalking is benefitting your ears, but the hot fudge sundaes aren’t.

Avoiding heavy metal concerts is a great start.
That was my downfall. From the ages of about 16–30 I practically lived at them.
I know I have some hearing loss and constant ringing in my ears.
I actually had a roadie at a Metallica concert give me earplugs and say USE THEM!

I think that @JLeslie has a great idea with the earplugs.
Carry them with you and stick them in when you feel like you’re in a situation where the decibel level may harm you.

By the way, I have earplugs that are on a string, they come that way, so if I take one or both out for a minute to talk I can just have it around my neck. Like when you have glasses on a chain.