LIFESTYLE NEWS - It may be too late for most of us, but share this article with your children and grandchildren.
Noise-induced hearing loss is the only kind of hearing loss we have the power to prevent and yet research shows that one in four teenagers are at risk of developing hearing loss at an earlier age because of it. We live in a world that embraces the enjoyment of sound in all its various shapes and forms, ranging from personal entertainment devices such as Smartphones through to high powered surround-sound entertainment units and live entertainment events such as concerts and clubs.
Most people are however not aware of the fact that hearing loss caused by excessive noise exposure to recreational or occupational sources of sound is irreversible. "Noise-induced hearing loss happens because excessive noise damages some of the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear," says Tally Sherban, a Client Relations Executive at Oticon South Africa, a leading hearing aid manufacturer. "It's not just the mega sounds such as a gunshot that does the damage, but repeated exposure to loud sounds will do the same."
What damages our hearing is the intensity and duration of the sound. Sound is measured in decibels (dB), where 0 dB is the faintest sound the human ear can detect and 180 dB would be the noise a rocket makes as it launches. In our daily lives, normal conversation would be at the 60 dB level, a lawn mower would be at 90 dB, a chain saw at 100 dB, a rock concert would be at 115 dB and a jet engine would be at 140 dB.
According to the Code of Practice for the Measurement and Assessment of Occupational Noise for Hearing Conservation Purposes, SABS 083, of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, it is stipulated that no employer shall require or permit an employee to work in an environment in which he/she is exposed to an equivalent noise level equal to 85 dB or higher without the use of hearing protection devices.
Personal Listening Devices (PLD) have never been a more integral part of our South African landscape with earphones plugged into many people's ears while they jog, commute or drive. "MP3 players often shoot sound levels from 91 dB – 139 dB straight into both ears," says Tally. "They do even more damage because the small inserted earpieces sit directly in the ears."
According to a recent study completed by the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Sheba Medical Centre, 80% of teens use their PLDs regularly, with 21% listening from one to four hours daily and 8% listening for more than four hours consecutively.
- Stay as far away from the source of noise as possible.
- Walk away when sounds get too loud.
- At home, turn down the volume on the television, radio, stereo and MP3 player.
- ;In noisy environments, try to rest your ears as frequently as possible.
- Never use a PLD at more than 60% of its maximum volume and not for more than 60 minutes a day.
- If you have a choice, rather use cushion-ed earphones than small insert earphones.
- If you are exposed to sudden loud noise, use earplugs. These can be foam earplugs that can be bought over the counter at most chemists or custom-made earplugs if you are going to be exposed to loud noises on a regular basis.
Hearing is a precious gift and it should be protected at all costs. "It is crucial to be aware of the type of sounds that could possibly damage your hearing over a prolonged period of time and to manage your exposure to these sounds. We can't deny the fact that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Therefore, the power is in your hands to be pro-active in the protection of your hearing," concludes Tally.
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