Tag Archives: healthy hearing

Protecting Your Hearing and How to Maintain Good Hearing Health

Sounds are everywhere and often louds sounds are signs of a good time. But how do we participate in the fun while also protecting our hearing now and for the future?

Beyond Independence Day, July is a month filled with fireworks displays. It is important for us to think about not only the loud booms we hear from fireworks, but noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) as a broader epidemic.

Variables in noise-induced hearing loss

NIHL can be caused by long-term exposure to loud sounds, or in some cases, short, loud blasts. This type of hearing loss can be transient or persistent. The hearing loss may present itself immediately or it may take many years to show up on a hearing test. And while it often happens to both ears, it could affect just one ear. While NIHL can present itself in many different forms and may be the result of many different types of exposures, it is almost always preventable.

What kinds of sounds can damage our hearing?

Sound is measured in units called decibels. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, sounds softer than 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, sounds that are at or above 85 dBA can[1].

An intense one-time exposure to a loud sound, such an explosion or a jet engine, can cause a sudden change in hearing. Whereas slow exposure to loud sounds over time, such as a loud work environment, loud music, and loud recreational activities, may also cause hearing loss.

Noises are more likely to cause damage if they are 85 dBA for a few hours, 100 dBA for 14 minutes or longer, or 110 dBA for 2 minutes. This is a startling realization when we consider some examples of sounds that may be louder than we think!

  • Movie theater: 74-104 dBA
  • Motorcycles and dirt bikes: 80-110 dBA
  • Music through headphones at maximum volume, sporting events, and concerts: 94-110 dBA
  • Sirens: 110-129 dBA
  • Fireworks show: 140-160 dBA

According to Noisy Planet, if the noise causes you to yell to be able to hear yourself, the noise hurts your ears, or your ears are ringing during or after the noise exposure, chances are it is too loud[2].

Why do loud sounds cause hearing loss?

You may be aware that there are three parts to the ear: the outer (the part we can see plus the ear canal), the middle (where the three smallest bones in our body are), and the inner (where thousands of tiny hair cells live). Those little hair cells, the stereocilia, are responsible for stimulating the hearing nerve, which then tells our brains what we hear. This video from the National Institutes of Health further explains how the ear works.

When we expose the stereocilia to noise, they eventually die off. When those hair cells die off, there is nothing left to stimulate the nerve anymore. Interestingly, in the case of noise exposure, this often impacts your hearing at 4000 Hz on a hearing test first before you notice a change in the rest of your hearing.

How can we protect our hearing from loud sounds?

First and foremost, turn them down. If you cannot control the volume, remove yourself from the environment. If you must be around the sound, wear hearing protective earplugs or earmuffs. It is also helpful to have regular hearing tests to ensure that you are aware of your hearing health status. Finally, make others aware of how loud sounds are. Sure, we all like a good time, but if you are attending a loud concert, bring extra earplugs for your friends.

We at Oticon Medical encourage you to have a good time celebrating throughout the summer, but please remember to protect your hearing during this year’s fireworks shows, at concerts, and other loud events!

About the author

Alicia Wooten, Au.D. CCC-A is a Senior Auditory Technical Specialist at Oticon Medical. She specializes in implantable hearing devices and has a strong passion for supporting individuals with hearing loss.

References

[1] NIH (2018). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. [online] NIDCD. Available at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss

[2] It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing. (n.d.). How Loud Is Too Loud? [online] Available at: https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/publications/how-loud-is-too-loud#:~:text=Here%20are%20some%20rules%20of%20thumb%20to%20tell

YuXi Receives The Gift of Hearing for the New Year

YuXi Sun Todd is a seven-year-old girl who was born in Beijing, China, and is now a citizen living in the United States. YuXi was born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia and lived in an orphanage in China since she was three months old.

In May of 2015, YuXi was adopted by Lynn and Barbara Todd. Lynn and Barbara were on an adoption list for nearly 10 years before finally receiving the call about YuXi. By the time that call came, they were retired and didn’t have the income they had when they originally set out to adopt. So, they took out a loan and used savings and retirement to make it happen.

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Oticon Medical Outstanding Advocacy Moments Captured

We’ve seen just about everything come out of the amazing Oticon Medical and healthy hearing community. From Anthony Smith becoming Marvel’s Blue Ear superhero to YouTube videos with hundreds of thousands of views. There’s no doubt, this community is filled with champions.

Here, we’re collecting a living list of outstanding advocacy moments when the love for Ponto was taken to a whole new level!

Kristi Gardner's Sound Matters TattooKristi Gardner’s “Sound Matters” Tattoo

Kristi Gardner shows the world that sound matters with her brand new Ponto-inspired tattoo. “Sound Matters” is Oticon Medical’s tagline, and it’s truly why we do what we do every day.

“As I was waiting for my turn I HEARD an ice cream truck through the walls over the tattoo gun, so last minute change of plans. This is what it inspired. Thanks all to my Pontos!”

Kristi isn’t the only one in her family who loves her Pontos, her daughter Sarah also wears a Ponto Plus.

Also Read: Ponto Plus Users Share How They Use the Oticon Medical Streamer featuring Kristi’s daughter Sarah.

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Announcing the First Oticon Medical Advocate Leadership Workshop 2014

Because sound matters… you can help us help others!

By working closely with advocates like you, we’ve come to realize that our most important work gets done when we spent time with you – hearing your story and getting to know your wants and needs for you or your child’s device.

In order to take a deeper dive into your experiences, we’re hosting a small group session completely dedicated to feedback.

Inside Oticon MedicalThe group that comes together for this two-day workshop will help drive advances in healthy hearing, help us shape our research and development and take part in crafting and launching new community initiatives that get more people informed. You’ll also have the opportunity to get inside information on where the industry is headed.

If you are interested, we ask that you fill out this short questionnaire and apply for the all-expenses paid trip to our U.S. Headquarters office in Somerset, New Jersey.

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