Dendra Cole Audiologist

Hearing Health

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Hearing Health

It is important to protect your Hearing Health to minimize the risk of permanent hearing disability. Hearing loss from excessive noise such as a noisy workplace or listening to personal listening devices (MP3 players, portable radios or mobile phones) can have a big impact on your hearing health and physical safety.

Without correctly protecting your hearing, you may gradually lose your hearing from noise exposure on a regular basis.

Preserving your hearing

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is the only type of hearing loss that is easy to prevent. If you are exposed to loud noise such as machinery, artillery or loud music these are loud sounds that can cause damage to your ears. Wearing protective devices such as earplugs/earmuffs or to move away from the noise source if it’s too loud or unbearable will assist in preserving your hearing. Visit your local hearing health professional at Dendra Cole Audiologist for more advice and recommendations on preserving your hearing.

Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Noise is considered too loud if the sound is over 85dB. To explain noise in different contexts: whispering or rustling of leaves is around 20dB, birds chirping are about 40dB, a person talking is approximately 55dB, a lawn mower is in excess of 85-100dB and a jet aircraft taking off is around 140dB which is in the threshold of pain.

It is easily identifiable the sound around you and how often you are exposed to it. So anything over 85dB is considered as loud noise and can harm your hearing depending on the length of time exposed to the sound. This means anything from major traffic noise, mowing the lawn or listening to loud music consistently every day for too long is considered exposure to loud sounds.

 

We experience loud noises on a daily basis. Over time as we get older, naturally, we lose our hearing and this we cannot do anything about but you can be aware if you are exposed to loud noise daily and protect yourself with ear muffs or ear plugs.

The ear is an incredibly delicate part of the body. It is easily damaged if you don’t protect it with good care. In many cases, it is irrepairable so that is why hearing aids are recommended to compensate for that type of permanent hearing loss.

If you listen to music too loudly or on maximum volume for too long you can damage your hearing.

Yes and No! It depends how loud and how often you listen to music. If you use your earphone for too long or play music too loudly, tinnitus and long-term hearing damage can occur.

If you or your loved one is suffering from hearing loss, she/he could have one or more of these symptoms.

  • Often ask people to repeat what they say
  • Hearing muffled sound
  • Cannot hear sound clearly
  • Feel left out from group conversations because you cannot hear properly
  • Fail to hear someone talking from behind you
  • The volume on the TV or Radio is turned up
  • The ring and voice on your mobile phone is turned up
  • Difficulty hearing the phone or alarm clock
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