Turn Down Your Risk for Hearing Loss
What did you say? Could you please speak up? No matter how old you are, if you find yourself asking these questions frequently, you may want to have your hearing checked.
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The most common type of permanent hearing loss is from too much noise, like that caused by MP3 players. "When the volume is set too loud, as little as five minutes of listening can contribute to permanent hearing loss," said Kelly Gitter, M ed, CCC-A, an audiologist with Prevea Health. |
"And it's not just the loudness that can affect hearing, it's also the length of the exposure," said Gitter. "Some MP3 players hold thousands of songs and are capable of playing for several hours without recharging. Even at a reasonable volume, listening for six to eight hours a day can cause damage."
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Gitter also cautions against the use of ear buds, which fit directly into the ear where they can deliver higher volumes. "Use muff-style headphones instead of ear buds because the music isn't as directly focused into the ear. Noise-cancelling headphones are even better because they cancel background noise, so music can be played at a lower volume and still heard." |
Kelly Gitter, M ed, CCC-A |
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
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Vague feelings of pressure or fullness in your ears
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Speech that seems muffled or far away
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A ringing sound in your ears when you are in quiet places
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Difficulty hearing when background noise is present
Whether it's MP3 music or another loud noise—such as a lawn mower, hair dryer or power tool—too loud for too long can cause permanent hearing loss.
Schedule an Appointment
To find out if you've experience hearing loss, schedule a comprehensive hearing exam with one of Prevea's certified audiologists by calling (920) 405-1414 or (888) 2PREVEA.
Protect Your Hearing
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Know which noises can cause hearing damage
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Wear earplugs, earmuffs or other protective devices when involved in a loud activity
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Set volume limits on your children's portable music players and limit listening time
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Replace ear buds with noise-cancelling headphones
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Be alert to hazardous noise in the environment
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Protect children who are too young to protect themselves
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Tell family, friends and colleagues about the hazards of noise
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If you think you have a hearing loss, see your doctor or audiologist