Tarpon Springs, FL (PRWEB) December 18, 2013
Hunters and sport shooters are at a significantly increased risk for hearing damage, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASLHA), with an estimated 80 percent experiencing some degree of permanent auditory impairment, including tinnitus and hearing loss.
"Most people have become accustomed to noise around them, and accept that it goes with the territory," said Kristen Decelles, AuD, a board-certified audiologist who runs St. Luke’s Hearing Services Department. "We want people to know that to have a lifetime of good hearing you need to protect it, early on. We have some amazing new technology that can enhance the hunting and shooting experience, while at the same time it protects your hearing."
"In addition to our hearing evaluations and full range of screenings and We now offer state-of-the-art earplugs that actually enhance a shooter’s hearing range so that they can pick up even the quietest sounds in their environment," said Dr. Decelles. "Then, at the crucial moment of the gunshot when damage to your hearing is the greatest, the earplugs automatically adjust and suppress the noise, whether in the woods or at a shooting range."
"The SoundGear® digital hearing protection device we carry is unique, and solves a longstanding safety problem for hunters and shooters," said Dr. Decelles. "There hasn’t been a safe and effective option to the bulky earmuffs or uncomfortable plugs hunters and shooters had available to them. Now, they have the option of an extremely small device that’s more powerful than anything else out there."
The ASLHA reports that exposure to any noise greater than 140 decibels (dB) – in the range of gunshots and jet engine takeoffs – has been determined to pose a high risk to hearing health. In fact, even a small .22-caliber rifle can produce noise at around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound higher than 175 dB. Under certain conditions, the report says, even a single shot can cause permanent hearing loss.
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About St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute
St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute provides world-renowned cataract and refractive eye surgery and ophthalmological care for patients in Tampa Bay and from more than 75 countries around the world. Believing a better quality of vision means a better quality of life, St. Luke’s Founder James Gills, MD, and its President, Pit Gills, MD, have set new standards of care in ophthalmology and patient care that have been adopted around the globe. St. Luke’s also has expanded the services it offers patients to include treatment for many different eye conditions, as well as expertise in plastic surgery, hearing services, Mohs dermatology and even aesthetic skin care and anti-aging treatments. Headquartered in Tarpon Springs, Florida, St. Luke’s also has offices in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Spring Hill, Bayonet Point and The Villages.
About St. Luke’s Hearing Services
St. Luke’s Hearing Services are all-inclusive, from advanced diagnostic testing to an extensive selection of state-of-the-art hearing aids, including some that are Bluetooth compatible. Our board-certified audiologist and team of hearing aid specialists can evaluate and proscribe options for each individual patient’s needs. Call 1.800.282.9905 for an appointment with our team.