Our hearing is more important than we realize. That includes hearing protection! The sounds around us are louder than we realize. Did you know a whisper is about 30dB, average conversation is 65dB, a wedding reception can be 95dB, and hunting can be at 140dB?! That's louder than you think!
We start to see hearing damage happen at 85dB if you have been exposed to it for 8hrs within a 24hr period. And when you go up to 90dB, it becomes 4hrs. 95dB becomes 2hrs. And it continues from there. At 120dB, all it takes is 3.75 minutes of exposure to cause damage to your hearing organ. Damage that we cannot fix or replace with any known medicine today.
Now, I don't want to scare you. If you have not used hearing protection at certain times in your life, I understand, this is not to make you feel bad. I also have not worn hearing protection when I knew I should have in the past. But moving forward, with awareness and education, we can start to preserve what we have left. So, Yes, even if you already have a hearing loss, you should still wear hearing protection when needed.
A common question patinets ask when they get hearing aids is, "Should I still wear the hearing aids even at the movies, concerts and football games." And the answer is 'no'. If you are in a situation where hearing protection is recommended, then its recommended for you as well. I would take the hearing aids out, and put hearing protection in!
We can take care of our hearing at every stage of our lives. If there is a baby or child in your life, please put hearing protection on them when at any sport event, wedding, around loud church music, etc. If you're a young person who likes to go out, I highly recommend hearing protection every single time. And even if you already have a hearing loss, you can still preserve and protect what you have left.
Noise exposure can cause more than just hearing loss. Some other symptoms include tinnitus and decreased word recognition. These symptoms can be very burdensome on a person's quality of life. And unfortunately, while we do have some solutions to mitigate the symptoms, there is no guaranteed cure for either.
I have seen the burden firsthand of what noise induced hearing loss can cause on a person. And the amount of regret they carry with them. There have been cases where a person shot a gun only 1 time, and that 1 time alone was enough to cause a noticeable hearing loss.
If you have any questions about protecting your hearing, please don't hesitate to reach out. We have hearing protection solutions in our clinic: portable concert protection, sleep plugs, protection made with custom ear molds, and hunting protection.
This blog is intended for general informational purposes only and reflects my personal thoughts and professional perspective. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Texas Hearing Center and I are not responsible for how this information is used.