Hearing loss is a problem that can be prevented! Almost half of adults in the United States believe they have suffered some hearing loss; a third of people between the ages of eighteen and thirty feel that they have already lost some of their hearing.
Work-related hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases in this country. More than thirty million Americans are exposed to hazardous noise at the workplace, resulting in permanent hearing loss for more than ten million workers. But the workplace isn’t the only place for unsafe noise levels. Your vacuum cleaner and lawn mower (and other noisy home equipment) can damage your hearing, too.
Any loud noises can damage hair cells in your inner ear. These cells do not repair themselves! Most of the damage happens gradually when you are exposed to loud noises over a long period of time. Tinnitus, that ringing or roaring sound in your ears, is a sign of hair cell damage in your ears. The cells aren’t damaged enough to be totally silent, but are irritated — your brain perceives this irritation as constant sound.
How loud is too loud?
- Normal conversation level is about sixty decibels.
- Exposure to noise at eighty-five decibels and above can lead to hearing loss.
- Woodshop noise level is about a hundred decibels.
- A chainsaw makes noise at one hundred and ten decibels.
Are you getting your hearing checked regularly? Not even forty percent of adults in the United States have had a hearing test in the last three years. Get your hearing checked NOW if you believe you have suffered some hearing loss.
Not sure if your ears are in danger? Ask these questions:
- At work (or at home) do you have to raise your voice significantly to talk to someone who is just an arm’s length away?
- Do your ears feel plugged when you are in a quieter environment?
- Do your ears ring or whoosh when you go from a loud environment to a quieter environment?
If your answer to any of these questions is a YES, it’s time to get your hearing checked and take some precautions to protect your ears.