Noise Induced Hearing Loss - Know the Signs

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) affects over 10 million Americans, and another 30 to 50 million Americans are exposed daily to noise levels that have the potential to cause irreparable damage to their hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).  NIHL is a sneaky problem, because the changes often occur so gradually that you do not notice a change in your hearing until it has become significant.  Loud noises have become so widespread in our society that we don't think twice about the impact they have until there is a real problem.  Prevention is easy, you just have to know what to listen for.

What if you or someone you know is already showing signs of NIHL?  Here's what to watch out for:

• Frequently misunderstanding what someone has said, needing things repeated.
• Difficulty following verbal instructions, or responding inconsistently to them
• Turning up the volume of the stereo or TV to levels others find excessive
• Difficulty listening and/or paying attention in noisy situations
• Difficulty localizing or identifying sounds

These are some easily spotted signs to pay attention to.  If you find yourself experiencing any of these, go get checked out by an audiologist.  

Here is a handy infographic from the Better Hearing Institute just to give you an idea of how loud a sound needs to be to pose a threat to your hearing.

So, now that you know how loud is too loud, what do you do about it?  

Protect your ears.  There are a wide variety of ear plugs available at practically any major store that will go a long way to blocking excessive noise.  Most commercial foam earplugs have a 20-35dB attenuation, meaning they will cut 20-35dB from whatever noise is around when they're inserted properly.  The NRR rating will let you know how much sound they block (NRR 20 is 20dB, etc.).  

Hearing Protection headphones are a little more heavy duty, with protection ranging up to 110dbA.  This makes them perfect for excessively loud environments, or noisy places you plan on hanging around for extended periods (like a rock concert, air show, or theater performance).  Most cover the entire ear, which makes them ideal for kids and adults alike.  Like this little guy for instance, at his very first theater show:

Image source wqxr

So protect your hearing, and safely enjoy all those festivals and concerts this summer.