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Prevention of Hearing Loss - What You Can Do

The importance of ears in a human being’s life need not be overemphasized. As such, it’s necessary to know the measures for hearing loss prevention before something serious happens. The first step towards prevention should be aimed at noise-induced hearing loss. This is because it is within a person’s control. Every day, you will encounter all kinds of noises and you have a choice to listen to the noises or not. For instance, the noise made by loud music, traffic, television, and household appliances can easily be avoided or reduced. If they are not avoided or reduced, long term exposure may damage the delicate structures of the ear.

The part of the inner ear which is the most susceptible to damage is the set of hair cells. It functions in the inner ear to convert sound energy into electrical energy which is transmitted into the brain. Younger children, who are not capable of protecting their ears on their own, should be made to wear ear protectors such as an earmuff or an ear plug. Extensive listening of music with ear phones on high volume is likely to cause hearing loss in the near future. It should be avoided strictly. An excellent way of listening to music is to choose earphones which come with a good signal to sound ratio.

Hearing loss prevention can also be achieved by gathering adequate information about what kinds of sounds are dangerous to the ear. Sounds which are above the 85 decibel mark are not good for the ears. The noise coming from hand drills, lawn mowers, and tractors amount to 90 decibels. Constant exposure to such noises leads to hearing problems. Other sounds such as that of chain saws, bulldozers, and engines fall in the range of 105 to 140 decibels so they are great risks to the ears as well. Modern music players are capable of playing music over 130 decibels. These kinds of loud sounds should be avoided or lessened by wearing protective gear. It is only when you are aware of the decibel level of the noise, that you are capable of taking such decisions.

Get your ears checked for your hearing ability. This can be done very simply so you shouldnt undermine its importance. Do not neglect the health of the ear. A major aspect which can definitely help prevent hearing loss is to give the ears some rest. Noisy and quieter activities should be done alternately.


Genes also play a role. If the grandparents in the family cannot hear, its highly recommended that the children of the house get their ears checked. Extra efforts should also be made to protect the ears. Smoking is a contributing factor in loss of hearing, so it should be avoided. Research shows that smokers are 1.69 times more prone to develop hearing loss than non-smokers. All of the preventive measures are quite easy but you have to be aware and determined to follow through.

For more information on hearing loss prevention, follow the links below:
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