Advice on Preventing Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is becoming more common this time because people still lack knowledge about how to properly take care of their ears and of their hearing. This is surprising because we are taught to take care of our ears since we were kids. The most common cause of hearing loss right now is noise exposure. However, most people don’t realize that preventing hearing loss means they should avoid loud noise.

It starts at home! Do you frequently listen to your stereos at high volumes? Do you like playing movies loudly? Turning the stereo, television, DVD player, and other sound-generating devices at high volumes can be a damaging practice. You should be aware that there is a strong connection between hearing loss and personal audio devices. Checking the overall volume at home is the first step in preventing hearing loss. Parents should teach their kids to take care of their hearing by ensuring the volume of their stereo or DVD player is kept way below the maximum.

Experts are also worried about the way teens and young adults listen to their iPods or portable music devices. You may be wondering why. The problem with these devices is they can only be heard by the one using them at the moment. So, if your daughter, for instance, turns on her iPod and wears the ear buds, you won’t know how loud the music she’s listening to is. If she can’t hear you when you call her attention, she has probably turned that iPod too loud. Now, these portable devices can produce maximum volumes that generate sound more than 100 dB. At this decibel range, hearing damage can start occurring within a few hours of exposure.

There is also an issue with workers working at noisy environments—such as factory workers. Being around noise-generating machinery can be irksome. What you might now know is that the noise generated is potentially damaging. Huge machinery can produce noise so loud that it can cause instant damage. Many workers don’t know this too. As a result, they go on with their jobs unaware of the damage they acquire cumulatively. Wearing of ear plugs is extremely necessary in these situations. A nicely fitting pair of ear plugs can cut back noise by about 25 decibels. That may not be enough to curb the effects of very loud sounds, but that will reduce chances of instantaneous hearing damage such as hearing loss and tinnitis.

There was a talk about rock music enthusiasts being prone to hearing damage. However, any genre of music can cause hearing impairment when played at very loud volumes. You see that any sound that is too loud can cause damage to your hearing. Even classical music conductors are prone to hearing loss. This is why they must wear protective devices during rehearsals and performances. But very few musicians are aware of the possible dangers of loud music.

Concert goers are also in danger. Do you take a seat in the front row? Are you too near the speakers? Blasts from huge speakers at a concert can cause instant damage. A lot of people notice this so-called ears ringing after concert. It’s a sign of damage, although it’s temporary. Experts call it “temporary threshold shift.” It should clear up after a day or two. Then again, preventing hearing loss means you must stay away from loud speakers next time.