Every day, we’re exposed to different sounds. Whether it’s your favorite show on television, common household appliances like blenders and vacuums, or the usual city traffic – sounds can be dangerous when they’re too loud.
A recent CDC study stated that about 40 million Americans aged 20-69 suffer from hearing loss due to noise exposure¹. Perhaps even more concerning, is a report from the World Health Organization, which revealed that 1.1 billion teenagers around the world are at risk for hearing loss from portable listening devices².
Noise-induced hearing loss can happen right away – for instance, if you’re exposed to a loud noise like a gunshot or an airhorn. Or, it can happen over a period of time. One important thing to note is when you lose your hearing, it’s lost forever.
The good news is, this can all be prevented. So how can you actually protect your hearing Here are some of the things we suggest as a precaution:
- Move away from the noise source. So simple, right?
- Wear earplugs if you anticipate being in a loud environment. You can find an
an inexpensive pair at your local drugstore or you can come to Kirsch Audiology for your custom-fitted pair. - Follow the 60/60 rule, which suggests that we listen at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. But this is not just for music coming out of your headphones, it’s also your exposure to the damaging sounds around you.
- Turn the volume down. Whether you’re at home or in the car, dial down your levels. You can also take little breaks from listening and just enjoy some silence. When was the last time you did that?
- Most importantly, schedule a hearing checkup. If you have any questions about your hearing, or are experiencing any hearing loss, we’re happy to help ease your concerns.
- Do you have any questions for us about noise-induced hearing loss? Let us know in the comments below!
Citations
¹ https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/injury-violence-safety/noise-induced-hearing-loss/hearing-loss.html
² http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/ear-care/en/
