Volume 1, Issue 7
Noise is the leading cause of hearing loss, and hearing loss from noise exposure is usually preventable. Ten million Americans have already suffered irreversible hearing damage from noise; and 30 million are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day. Loudness is measured in decibels, with silence measuring at 0 dB. Any noise above 85 dB is considered unsafe. Repeated exposure to loud noise, over an extended period of time, presents serious risks to hearing health. If you have to shout over the noise to be heard by someone within ann’s length, the noise is probably in the dangerous range. Here are other warning signs:
- You have pain in your ears after leaving a noisy area.
- You hear ringing or buzzing (tinnilus) in your ears immediately after exposure to noise.
- You suddenly have difficulty understanding speech after exposure to noise; you can hear people talking but can’t understand them.
The best way to protect hearing is to avoid excessively loud noise. When you know you’ll be exposed to loud noises, like fireworks, wear ear protection. Every day you can protect your hearing by keeping down the volume on earbuds, stereos, and televisions. And you can teach children to quickly plug their ears with their fingers when they’re suddenly and unexpectedly bombarded by loud sirens, jack hammers, and other loud sounds.
Hearing Loss Myth #2
Hearing loss affects only “old people” and is merely a sign of aging.
Only 35% of people with hearing loss are older than age 64. There are close to six million people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss, and more than one million are school age children. Hearing loss affects all age groups.
