This time of year, everyone starts thinking about what they are thankful for. Your hearing should definitely be on that list. So, how do you show you are thankful for your hearing? The best way to show your gratitude is by protecting your ears. Follow our tips: 5 ways to protect your hearing.
- Wear hearing protection. Whenever you will be exposed to loud noises, bring your hearing protection. Hearing protection can be ear plugs or over the ear headphones. There are different types of hearing protection available, therefore different types of protection may be better depending on your specific needs. If you have any questions about which type of ear protection is right for you, just ask us.
- Take a break. If you end up in a situation where you are unexpectedly exposed to loud noise without your hearing protection, the best thing to do is give your ears a break from the noise occasionally. A good rule of thumb is to take a few minutes each hour to rest your ears in a quiet place. This break for a few minutes can help give your hearing a chance to recover from the loud noise and might prevent permanent damage to your hearing.
- Know how loud is too loud. Not all noises that damage your hearing are extremely loud, short bursts like gunfire, fireworks, etc.The National Institute of Health says that noise above 85 decibels can be too loud, especially if exposed to it over long periods of time. You might not even realize that a noisy restaurant or bar can reach sounds above that threshold. There are free apps available for download to your smartphone or mobile device that can alert you if a room or environment you are in gets too loud.
- Know the law. If you are exposed to loud noises at work, your employer is required to provide the proper ear protection for you. Click here to read more about OSHA requirements and standards for hearing protection in the workplace. Some jobs are known for being loud. Some examples include military, airports, industrial, lawn care, maintenance and construction jobs. However, those aren’t the only loud jobs. Working in a bar or nightclub can be loud and can cause noise-induced hearing loss over time. Even still, you should be aware if your job includes power tools or even a loud vacuum. You might be surprised at how constant use of everyday items can cause noise-induced hearing loss.
- Get regular hearing assessments with us at Anderson Audiology. You may think that you would know if you have hearing loss, but that is usually not the case. Since hearing loss is gradual, it isn’t easily recognized until it is significant enough to impact your life and possibly put you in danger or cause you to miss out on important interactions. A hearing assessment is the best way to know if you have hearing loss, and you can schedule one with us today.
You Can Rely on the Experts at Anderson Audiology
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At Anderson Audiology, we are always here to help you through all aspects of your hearing health. If you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids, please contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our hearing professionals today. We have 5 convenient audiology office locations in southern Nevada to choose from including: Green Valley, Sun City Summerlin, Aliante / Centennial, Henderson, or Rainbow / Desert Inn.