For those of us who work in a noisy environment we need to be aware of how important it is to wear hearing protectors. In addition noise from appliances you use at home such as power saws and lawnmowers can also cause damage to your hearing over time. When you experience noise so loud that it causes buzzing in your ears, damage is occurring and will result in loss of hearing.

How does loud noise affect my hearing?

In the inner ear there are tiny hairs that line the cochlea. These hairs respond to sounds and transmit a signal to the brain so that we ‘hear’. If these tiny hairs are damaged no signals are transmitted to the brain and we cannot hear the sounds. They can be damaged by prolonged exposure to loud sounds such as music, traffic, noise from power tools etc so it is essential if you work in a noisy environment to wear hearing protectors to prevent this kind of damage. Many people like to listen to very loud music but, over time, this will result in loss of hearing. If you’ve been in a nightclub or bar where the music is very loud you will have experienced a ‘buzzing’ sensation in your ears which is an indication that damage is occurring to the hairs in the cochlea.

How loud is too loud?

The level above which damage can occur is generally accepted to be 85 decibels (dbs). How loud is this? As a comparison consider that normal conversation is around 60 dbs, an idling bulldozer 85 dbs, many power tools around 100 dbs and using earphones at a volume greater than 5 around 110 dbs.

How do hearing protectors work?

Hearing protectors reduce the noise level without blocking out all sounds (which would be dangerous!). They need to be fitted correctly and be comfortable. If you work in a noisy environment it is mandatory in many countries for your employer to provide adequate hearing protectors.

What types of hearing protectors are available?


There are a number of different types of hearing protectors that you can use. Not everyone feels comfortable with each of them so try out different type to find the most suitable one for you. If you need to use them for long periods then it is essential that you are comfortable wearing them or you will be tempted to remove them!

1) Foam Plugs: These should be soft and need to be compressed so that they expand once inserted into the ear. If you have difficulty inserting them pull the outer part of the ear gently to ensure the ear canal is straight.
2) Ear Muffs: should have flexible pads that fit comfortably around the ear. If you need to wear safety glasses as well then make sure that they can both be worn comfortably.
3) Molded ear plugs: these are harder than the foam plugs and are inserted into the ear canal. You can also buy custom made ear plugs.

Some tips to reduce noise exposure

Always wear hearing protectors when exposed to loud noise whether at work or home. Common tasks around the house like using a power saw or a lawnmower can cause damage over time.

Be very careful when using in-ear buds to listen to music as they have been shown to cause more damage than muff type headphones. Never listen to music that is too loud or causes you to experience buzzing in the ears after exposure.

Try to avoid situations where you will be subjected to very loud noises (above 120dbs), such as from gunshots, fireworks at close range, as this ‘impulse’ noise can lead to instant damage.

Be careful to protect the hearing of children who can’t do it for themselves.

Conclusion

Although you may not be aware at the time that damage is occurring over time, with enough exposure to loud noise your hearing will suffer. You may start to find that sounds become muffled and you have trouble following a conversation. To prevent this happening always wear hearing protection and avoid situations where there is very loud noise.

For more information on hearing protection and some good deals on hearing protectors visit http://besthearingprotectors.com/ or http://besthearingprotectors.com/category/peltor-hearing-protectors/

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