International Noise Awareness Day: How to Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Brentwood, TN (PRWEB) April 30, 2014 -- Today is International Noise Awareness Day, and in observation of the occasion, HearingPlanet, a leading national retailer of hearing aids, is encouraging Americans to prevent noise-induced hearing loss by being aware of dangerous noise levels, the warning signs of potential hearing loss and ways to protect their hearing.
According to The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders approximately 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds at work or in leisure activities.
Safe Noise Levels
• 0 dB-60 dB: Lowest audible sound
• 20 dB: A whispering voice
• 60 dB: Normal conversation
Dangerous Noise Levels
• 85 dB: Heavy traffic (dangerous with continuous exposure)
• 95 dB: Lawn mowers (dangerous with more than 2 hours of exposure)
• 110 dB: Loud concert (dangerous with 1/2 hour of exposure)
• 120 dB: Ambulance siren (dangerous with 15 minutes of exposure)
• Above 120 dB: Shotgun fire, jet engine (dangerous at any amount of exposure)
Warning Signs of Potential Hearing Loss
• You can hear people’s voices, but the words sound blurred or mumbled
• You have difficulty hearing high pitched sounds like alarm clocks or phones
• You have tinnitus (a persistent ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in one’s ears)
• You notice some sounds are hard to hear, while others have become annoyingly loud
• You have trouble conducting conversations or understanding dialogue on TV
Protect Your Hearing
• Pay attention to the noises around you and turn down the volume whenever possible
• Limit time spent in noisy sports events, rock concerts and nightclubs or when using loud equipment
• Wear adequate hearing protection, such as foam earplugs or earmuffs, when you must be in a noisy environment or when using loud equipment
The Center for Hearing and Communication founded International Noise Awareness Day to promote awareness of the dangers of long-term exposure to noise.
For more resources and tips on how to avoid noise-induced hearing loss, visit http://www.chchearing.org/.
About HearingPlanet
HearingPlanet simplifies hearing care by providing easy access to credentialed and endorsed local hearing clinics for superior service, the widest selection of competitively priced hearing aids, and a trained Hearing Consultant to guide patients toward the right solution. Based in Brentwood, TN, HearingPlanet has been helping patients seek solutions to their hearing care challenges since 1999 and is affiliated with more than 1,600 hearing care clinics nationwide.
HearingPlanet, a member of the Sonova Group, can be reached at 1-800-432-7669 for a free consultation or to download our free hearing aid buyer's guide, visit http://www.hearingplanet.com/landing/hearing-aid-buyers-guide-zs2.
William Brownie, HearingPlanet LLC, http://www.hearingplanet.com/, +1 (615) 724-1405, [email protected]
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