|
Your local hearing center has several services available to test and diagnose loss of hearing as well as fitting and maintaining sound amplifying devices. With more than thirty million Americans suffering some form of hearing impairment, its more important than ever to educate the public about causes of such loss. More than thirty percent of impairment is caused by overexposure to loud noises, but there are other causes and issues as well. The tiny hair cells in the inner ear are vital to the ability to hear soft sounds. If you cannot hear soft sounds, you may find you're technically able to hear the volume of the words without knowing what is being said. Certain vowel sounds are louder and easier to hear while other, higher-pitched sounds may become nearly impossible to hear. Loud noises can damage those hair cells. Often those loud noises are brief yet intense but typically damage results from prolonged exposure to loud sounds. So how do you know what is too loud? The average conversation takes place between 50 and 70 decibels (dB) and a lawn mower is about 85 to 95 dB. Overexposure to sounds above 85 dB is the biggest risk for damaging the hair cells in the inner ear. A rock concert can be as high as 120 dB and ambulance siren is about 140 dB. Although wearing ear protection is wise, it isn't foolproof. Loud, prolonged noises damage your ears even with protection. Specialists suggest taking fifteen minute breaks from noises over 85 dB. Apparently the period of "safe" time for exposure to noises around 85 dB is approximately eight hours, but noises at 100dB are not safe beyond fifteen minutes. Do your research to find out what you're being exposed to and try to protect your ears accordingly. Try to avoid being around truly loud noises. Even driving with your window down on the freeway can be dangerous for your ears. Any environment where you have to raise your voice to be heard is probably too loud for your ears. This is not limited to rock concerts but can include any loud area including a television turned up too high or a firing range. And when you have no choice but to be around excessively loud noises, wear protection and take breaks. There are multiple options for ear protection including earmuffs, foam plugs, silicone plugs and custom-molded ear plugs. When buying ear protection, make sure you check the noise-reduction rating (NRR). The NRR lets you know how much the device will protect your ears. Always try to buy protection with a bare minimum of 9 dB NRR. It's better to buy products with a higher NRR, and most provide 22 dB NRR or better. And if you need to hear music or conversations, buy a product with what is known as high fidelity hearing protection. Location is everything at concerts and other loud events. Don't stand or sit right next to speakers or amplifiers when attending noisy events. And if you're a musician or performer, try not to stand close to the equipment. And if you're doing something such as target shooting which requires you are right next to loud noises, double protection by wearing foam ear plugs with earmuffs over them. If you notice changes in your aural abilities such as feeling excessively tired after a conversation or having family or friends repeatedly question your ability to hear, visit a hearing center. An audiologist can test your senses and the team at the center can provide services such as fitting you for a device. Don't wait to have any pain or changes checked out. The sooner your ears are checked the faster your hearing center team can help. A Santa Barbara, CA hearing center like Miracle Ear can help you improve your life. Visit http://www.miracle-ear-santabarbara.com to learn more.
Related Articles -
santa barbara, ca hearing center,
| 
