As winter recedes and the bustling sounds of a new season take center stage, are your ears protected? From ball games, concerts, and hunting trips to hiking, gardening, and more, spring brings lots of activities and joy but also plenty of noise, making it a must to look out for your hearing health.
Most people don’t realize that excess noise exposure is one of the most common culprits behind hearing loss. It’s also among the most preventable. Read on for the lowdown on noise-related hearing loss, some common sources of loud sounds this season, and ways to protect your ears.
Why Is Noise An Issue?
Noise can be more than uncomfortable. Over 1.5 billion people of all ages live with hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. One of the most frequent but preventable causes, excess noise, can lead to hearing damage that’s not only immediate but possibly permanent.
The brain and ears work in concert to perceive and process sound. The cochlea, a small organ shaped somewhat like a snail shell within the inner ear, has tiny hair cells that sense sound and transmit signals to the brain through the auditory nerve. Excess noise can damage the hair cells, potentially resulting in temporary or irreversible hearing loss.
Most people start with about 16,000 hair cells in the cochlea, per public health estimates. A significant amount of the cells—as many as 50%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—could sustain damage or destruction before a hearing test would detect any hearing changes. So by the time the loss can be measured, many of the cells could be irreparable.
Hearing loss not only might impact communication but may also:
- Contribute to isolation and withdrawal from social settings
- Increase the odds of a balance issue or an accidental fall
- Go hand in hand with cognitive decline such as dementia
- Occur with tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears or head)
- Affect income, employment, and economic opportunity
When Are Sounds Too Loud?
Generally, sounds measuring 85 decibels or greater can spell danger. Individual perception also matters, but volumes aren’t always perceived to be as hazardous as they actually are. The louder and longer a sound persists, the more of a threat it can be.
Consider these decibel estimates for some common power tools you’ll likely hear this season, along with other familiar sounds:
- Whisper: 30 decibels
- Typical conversations: 65 to 80 decibels
- Lawnmowers: 80 to 100 decibels
- Gas leaf blower: over 100 decibels
- Sports games: 94 to 110 decibels
- Hand drill: 98 decibels
- Rock concert: 105 to 110 decibels
- Chain saw: 110 decibels
How Can Risk Be Reduced?
What can you do to reduce your risk of noise-induced hearing loss? The most effective step is to remove the source of the sound or otherwise avoid it altogether. But that’s not always practical.
Other steps to take control of your springtime listening environment can include:
- Putting more distance between yourself and the source of the noise
- Considering objective noise ratings when shopping for power tools
- Using equipment at reduced speeds—when appropriate—to lessen the noise
- Taking periodic breaks from the source of the noise, giving your ears a rest
- Wearing quality hearing protection, which can be customized for comfort and effectiveness
What Resources Can Help?
It also helps to be aware of how loud your environment might be. Resources such as the free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app, compatible with iOS-based mobile devices, can measure the sound level in your space. Using your phone or tablet’s built-in microphone, the app offers an immediate decibel rating. It doesn’t replace professional instruments or expert opinion, but it can help with approximate noise.
Speaking of awareness: Nothing takes the place of a professional hearing evaluation. If you’re around loud sounds at home, work, or play or it’s been a while since your last hearing exam, a checkup may be just what the doctor ordered! n
Comprehensive Audiology, at 261 Broadway in Lynbrook, helps people of all ages live better by hearing their best. Appointments can be made by calling 516-387-4000 or by scheduling online at comprehensiveaudiology.com/make-appointment. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, or Instagram @comprehensive_audiology.
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7 Signs Of Noise-Related Hearing Loss
- Trouble following conversations in noisy spaces
- Perception that sounds—including voices—seem muffled
- Frequent need to ask others to repeat themselves
- Complaints from loved ones that your TV volume’s too high
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears or head—also called “tinnitus”
- Sensation of pain or extra sensitivity to some sounds
- Difficulty with phone conversations or high-pitched sounds
If one or more of these factors sound familiar, it could mean hearing loss. Dr. Esther Fogel of Comprehensive Audiology can help. Contact Comprehensive Audiology for a hearing consultation: 516-387-4000. n
Comprehensive Audiology, at 261 Broadway in Lynbrook, helps people of all ages live better by hearing their best. Appointments can be made by calling 516-387-4000 or by scheduling online at comprehensiveaudiology.com/schedule-appointment/. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, or Instagram @comprehensive_audiology.
