One third of Canadians over the age of 65 suffer from hearing loss. And 10% of all Canadians, regardless of their age, have some sort of hearing loss. Are you at risk? Some of the most common causes include noise exposure, aging, ear infections or injuries, Ménière’s disease, certain medications, family history and more.
So, what can you do to protect your hearing? Most of us are aware that short-term exposure to very loud noises can cause hearing damage, but so can long-term exposure to less loud noises. It is recommended that hearing protect be worn if in the presence of noise levels exceeding 85 decibels. Here are a few examples of common activities that are typically louder than 85dB, some might surprise you.
- A movie theatre: up to 117 dB
- Lawn mower: 90 dB
- Rock concert: 110-125 dB
- Motorcycle: 95 dB
Thankfully there are things you can do to protect your hearing. Learning about acceptable and not acceptable noise levels is a start.
Always wear hearing protect is you are engaging in activities about that 85 dB range. Especially when you are at work. The longer you are exposed to the noise, the more damage is being caused. Generally speaking, a sound is too loud if you cannot hear a person talking who is about 1 meter away from you.
Be aware of how loud you are listening to your music when wearing headphones. Sometimes we don’t notice how loud they really are, especially if you’ve turned the sound up when you’re in a noisy situation, like cutting the lawn.
Have regular checkups with your doctor. Things like untreated ear infections can lead to hearing loss.
See a hearing aid specialist. If you suspect you may have some form of hearing loss, don’t wait, have your hearing tested. Regular hearing screenings are important to find problems before they worsen. The Canadian Hearing Society recommends a hearing test every two years. If you’re in the Cambridge area, give us a call at New Hope Hearing for a free hearing assessment. Call our office at 519-220-1441.
Leave a reply