As a person who suffers some hearing loss due to working in a workshop as an Apprentice Fitter and Machinist, and also a tropical ear infection in my right ear, definitely do whatever it takes to protect your hearing, as Stan said, hearing loss is cumulative, the worst thing about it is you'll be unaware that you're doing the damage as it's happening, I also suffer from Tinitus (a high-pitched ringing in the ears).