Keep Your Hearing, There's No Reason To Lose It

Volume levels are increasing and the increased background noise in our daily lives means we are constantly turning the volume up so we can hear what we are listening to more. Over 28 million Americans are deaf or have hearing problems, many cases being due to the rise in volume in our daily lives.

Fortunately it is possible to delay and even prevent a lot of hearing loss. Hearing aids have become more advanced making them more comfortable and clearer and medical treatments have continued to improve.

More young people are suffering from hearing loss as the amount of dangerous sound levels in our lives increases. 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerously high noise levels on a daily basis and 10 million are known to have already suffered irreversible damage to their hearing.

The age group with the biggest decline in hearing is people between the ages of 45 and 64 with 85% loss amongst women and 365% loss amongst men. Everyone gets old is inevitable, but hearing loss from noise or ear infections isn't.

It is recommended that hearing tests start right from birth. It is now possible to detect any problem with a newborn baby's hearing by using otoacoustic emissions. By diagnosing any hearing problems early a baby can have the best opportunity to develop its language skills which are developing even within the first six months of its life.

We hear due to the incredible process of turning sound into electrical nerve impulses as the sound waves are collected by the outer ear and cause the ear drum and tiny bones of the inner ear to vibrate. The cochlea, also known as the organ of hearing, has tiny cells that are able to convert these vibrations into nerve impulses which then travel to the brain. Unfortunately these cells cannot be replaced if damaged.

Some people who damage their ears from dangerous noise levels may start to suffer from a condition known as tinnitus which is the presence of a constant ringing in their ears. It is estimated that 40 million Americans have some form of tinnitus, but thankfully the majority can learn to live with it.

Some people actually find the sounds they hear to be soothing. For millions of others, the level can be truly life wrecking. Fortunately 80% of the 10 million severe cases can receive some form of relief, but as of now, there is no outright cure.

The actor William Shatner who starred as Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek was tormented by tinnitus and even considered suicide. The numerous explosions during the filming of Star Trek may have been the cause of his condition.

There are ways to protect your hearing. Wearing earplugs can prevent hearing loss. Being exposed to noise above 90 decibels for a prolonged length of time such as a power drill or a motorcycle can caused temporary hearing loss. Without protection its possible to suffer hearing damage in 15 minutes if using equipment that produces 100 decibels of sound. Anything above 110 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss and industrial machinery and most music concerts typically exceed this level.

Treat any ear infections as soon as they develop. Pain and swelling are not always present during an infection. No other symptoms may be present apart from a loss in hearing. If you ever suffer any problems with your hearing, book an appointment to see a doctor and get a test done.

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