Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, and one of the most common occupational illnesses in the United States. One in every six people worldwide is affected by hearing loss and as the population ages and noise pollution in the world increases.
Effective ear plugs to prevent noise induced hearing loss
1. Effective Ear Plugs To Prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, and one of the most common occupational illnesses
in the United States. One in every six people worldwide is affected by hearing loss and as the population ages
and noise pollution in the world increases. As we live in an extremely noisy world even seemingly harmless
things like children’s toys and garden tools have dangerous sound levels that threaten our hearing over long
periods of time. Exposure to consistent loud noise in a work place might result in fatal auditory disorders.
While Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is preventable, it is important to take care of your hearing. It is
always a good idea to limit the exposure time to noisy activities. If you work in an at-risk occupation, check
with your employer to make sure you have adequately protected your hearing according to OSHA regulations.
At home, turn down the volume on the TV, radio, and stereo and try and reduce the number of noisy
appliances running at the same time.
The best way to protect your ears
Most hearing protection devices decrease the intensity of sound that reaches the eardrum. Wearing hearing
protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs can help a great deal. The use of hearing protection in the workplace
is of greater importance especially for workers who already suffer from hearing loss. It is best to opt for a
superior technology that allows the user to hear every sound, including conversation, even during high volume
noise spikes, instead of the traditional hearing protection devices, which simply block out all sound. Noise
blocking earmuffs for example are perfect for any application in any profession, and are great for situations
where people move in and out of noise often during the work day. Earmuffs fit over the complete outer ear to
form an air seal so the entire circumference of the ear canal is blocked, and they are held in place by an
adjustable band.
One can enjoy better protection with the simultaneous use of earplugs and muffs. Combined use should be
considered when the noise exceeds 105 dB. It is important to understand that ordinary cotton balls or tissue
paper wads stuffed into the ear canals are very poor protectors since they hardly reduce noise.
In reality, the more exposure to noise, the more hearing loss you will most likely have. Be alert to hazardous
noise. A majority of hearing loss is preventable with proper hearing protection and education. Ensure you
protect the hearing that you have now.