Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2020

22 Attending loud concerts and events or using noisy tools around the house are some of the many things we expose our ears to— often without ear protection. As it turns out, many of the noisy activities we do daily can damage our hearing or even cause permanent hearing loss. Here in northern Idaho, many people seeking treatment due to noise-induced hearing loss work in carpentry or loud factories, serve in the military, or use farming equipment. We see quite a few recreational hunters as well. It doesn’t take much to cause damage. Many of us expose ourselves to unsafe noise levels every day without realizing it. Gretchen Switzer, Au.D. Need your hearing checked? Gretchen Switzer is an audiologist at Kootenai Clinic Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology. Schedule an appointment today by calling (208) 625-5160 . To learn more about audiology services, visit KH.org/enta . Q My kids listen to headphones frequently and I feel like it might be too loud. Can that damage their hearing? Ask the Expert Howloud is too loud? Noise-induced hearing loss occurs with exposure to very loud sounds. People can generally listen to sounds that measure 70 decibels (dBA) and lower all day with no problem. You can listen to 85 dBA for approximately eight hours before damage will occur, 88 dBA for about four hours and 91 dBA for about two hours. Because we don’t typically carry a sound meter with us, it can be hard to know when something is too loud or if we’ve experienced too much exposure to a loud noise. Here are a few signs from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to help you determine if what you’re listening to is too loud: • You must raise your voice to be heard. • You can’t hear or understand someone 3 feet away from you. • Speech around you sounds muffled or dull after you leave a noisy area. • You experience ringing in your ears (called tinnitus) or pain after you hear the noise. Protect your hearing The best way to prevent noise- induced hearing loss is to wear ear protection—foam earplugs, headphone-style ear protection or a combination of both. Gunfire is a common cause of hearing loss around here, either because of military exposure or recreational use. It only takes exposing your ears to one shot of a shotgun without proper ear protection to permanently damage your hearing. When it comes to firearms, you should use both methods of ear protection (foam inserts with a headphone-style covering over the ears). For events like concerts, you should always use one form of ear protection. While loud sounds aren’t always avoidable, there are things you can do to limit exposure. • Wear hearing protection when needed. • Take breaks from loud sounds or headphone use. • Turn down the volume on personal devices. • Check noise ratings on appliances and equipment before purchasing. • Speak up at movie theaters and other places if the volume is uncomfortably loud. Don’t wait until you experience hearing loss to protect your hearing or visit a specialist. The best thing you can do is be prepared and proactive when it comes to protecting your hearing.