Preventing Hearing Loss by Jane Thurnell-Read

We all know that hearing is vitally important but it’s easy to take it for granted especially when you are young.

Hearing loss can result from damage to structures and/or nerve fibers in the inner ear that respond to sound. This type of hearing loss, termed “noise-induced hearing loss,” is usually caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds and cannot be medically or surgically corrected. When you’ve lost your hearing, you’ve lost it. It’s too late then to wish you’d taken more care of it.

Noise-induced hearing loss can be as a result of a one-time exposure to a very loud sound or by listening repeatedly to loud sounds over an extended period. Sounds such as gas-powered lawnmowers, snowmobiles, power tools, gunfire, or music can all  cause or contribute to hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss can lead to communication difficulties, learning difficulties, tinnitus, distorted or muffled hearing, and inability to hear some environmental sounds and warning signals

Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

To reduce your risk of noise-induced hearing loss, adults and children can do the following:

• Avoid or limit exposure to excessively loud sounds.
• Turn down the volume of music systems; personal music players usually have a maximum decibel level of 100; prolonged exposure to anything above 80 decibels will damage hearing.
• Be aware that you can adapt to higher and higher levels of music from your MP3 player and not realise it is damaging your hearing. Apple say “If you experience ringing in your ears or hear muffled speech, stop listening and have your hearing checked.”
• If you like your music loud, turn up the bass, so that the music seems louder, and then you can turn down the volume.
• Move away from the source of loud sounds when possible.
• When you're in clubs or pubs, avoid standing close to the sound system.
• Use hearing protection devices when it is not feasible to avoid exposure to loud sounds (such as gun fire, power tools etc.) .
• Avoid driving or being in a sports carthat drives at over 55 miles an hour with the top down. Driving convertible cars with the top open at speeds exceeding 88.5 kilometres per hour (55 miles per hour) may put drivers at increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss, according to research published in The Journal of Laryngology and Otology (January 2011)

Copyright 2009 Jane Thurnell-Read | Online Healthy Living Store