October is Protect Your Hearing Month, a time to raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and talk about some of the ways it can be prevented.
The CDC is committed to helping young people understand the danger of loud noise, especially given recent statistics on the subject. While NIHL had been on the decline for a number of decades, it is on the rise again. About 10% of Millennials have NIHL, and 17% of Gen-Z’ers have it. These statistics are troubling, especially considering that Gen-Z is younger than Millennials.
Why Are Young People Incurring More NIHL?
While it is not completely clear why young people are incurring more NIHL these days, there are a few obvious culprits. Personal listening devices (PLDs) are more popular and prevalent than ever, and the maximum volume they can produce is even higher than the PLDs of previous generations. When young people listen to music loudly in headphones, they are likely to damage their hearing after only a few minutes.
Another reason may be the increased efficiency of PA systems. Speaker systems have become smaller while at the same time producing more volume than before. As a result, high school dances, music events, and sports events are louder than ever.
It’s estimated that about half of American teenagers listen to music at unsafe volume levels on a regular basis, and about 40% are frequently exposed to dangerous noise levels at sporting events and rock concerts.
About NIHL
Sound levels as low as 85 dBA (decibels A-weighted) can cause permanent hearing loss after about 8 hours of exposure. 85 dBA is about the noise level produced by a gas-powered lawn mower, or a noisy vacuum cleaner.
For every additional 3 dBA of sound level, the safe time of exposure is cut in half. That means by the time we reach 100 dBA (the noise level of an average high school dance, or riding a motorcycle), permanent hearing loss will set in after only 15 minutes of exposure. At 110 dBA (the noise level of a rock concert, or a jackhammer) it takes less than 2 minutes.
If you’re not sure of the noise level in a given environment, you can download an SPL (sound pressure level) meter app for your smartphone. These apps will give you a reading of the average noise level in dBA.
Preventing NIHL
While NIHL is permanent, it is also 100% preventable. It is the easiest type of hearing loss to prevent!
If possible, move away from the source of sound. If an ambulance or other loud vehicle goes by, cover your ears with your hands for a moment.
We can’t always move away from loud sound, and many of our favorite activities involve loud sounds. During these activities, we should protect our ears. Earmuffs and earplugs are the best way to do this.
Earmuffs
Earmuffs block sound by creating a barrier around your ears. They are usually very effective, and they are fast and easy to put on and take off. Those who wear glasses may not get the full benefit of earmuffs, as the temple of the glasses create a breach in the seal between the earmuffs and your head. They also tend to make your ears warmer, which can be a benefit or a drawback depending on your environment.
Earplugs
We should all carry a set of earplugs with us at all times, just in case. Maybe you find out at the last minute that your friend’s band is playing tonight, or your coworker has tickets to the game and you’ll have to leave straight from work. Carry a set of earplugs and you’ll be ready for what may come.
Earplugs are a diverse category of hearing protection. There are disposable foam earplugs that cost somewhere around $0.50–$1.00 per pair, reusables that range from about $15.00–$30.00, and custom-molded designs that will cost a few hundred dollars. As you might guess, there is a major difference in quality between these types.
Disposable earplugs are effective, but they can be uncomfortable after a while and they tend to block high frequencies much more than lower ones, creating an unnatural listening experience. Many reusable earplugs try to solve the frequency problem, and indeed they are much more realistic than foam earplugs. Custom-molded options are the best solution to this problem, and also the most comfortable for long periods of wear.
Those who spend a lot of time around loud sound—especially where a more natural representation of environmental sound is desirable—will appreciate the sound quality, comfort, and durability of custom-molded earplugs. Make an appointment for a hearing test today and see if custom-molded earplugs may be right for you!