With our increasingly noisy world and exposure to loud sounds, hearing loss is on the rise, especially in our younger generation. Noise exposure is cumulative and adds up over time. People who may be at increased risk of hearing loss include construction workers, pilots, dentists and hygienists, musicians (amateur and professional), police and emergency personnel, military personnel, or people with very noisy hobbies such as woodworking or shooting.
The widespread use of personal stereos, MP3 players, IPods has also increased the levels of loss we are seeing.
It is important to use common sense when exposing your ears to loud and repeated noise. Early signs of damage may include a ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or a thumping or pressure feeling after the noise exposure. Often times it is a temporary condition that will go away when the offending noise is stopped for a time, however with repeated noise there can be permanent hearing loss.
How can I protect my ears?
This is simple, but so many of us do not take the time or simply forget that we may be damaging our ears. If you are going to be in a very loud place for more than a few moments, put a set of foam earplugs deep within your ears. In order for them to be effective, they must be the right size, and put down into the ear canal and allowed to expand.
Often people who have noisy jobs face a safety issue when wearing hearing protection. If they are wearing earmuffs or plugs they may not hear important directions or equipment and this may injure them so they avoid wearing hearing protection.
One solution to this is custom hearing protection. This is available in several styles to suit your specific needs and can be custom made to your ear. Some examples of noise plugs are shown below.
Please remember that your ears and hearing are very important and you need to be able to use them for your whole lifetime. Protect your ears and put in plugs or put on noise protective earmuffs, or see us for a consultation regarding your needs for custom devices.