Why You Should Wear Hearing Protection

Carpenter wearing hearing protection while cutting wood.

Hearing loss can be the direct results of what can happen if you don’t protect your ears from sounds that are too loud.  A hearing loss that occurs as a result of exposure to loud sound is called a noise-induced hearing loss or NIHL.  A NIHL can occur immediately. Typically, it happens gradually over time and can take a long time to be noticeable. It can be temporary or permanent, and it can affect one ear or both ears. Even if you can’t tell that you are damaging your hearing, you could have trouble hearing in the future.

Although it’s unusual for individuals to suffer a sudden loss of hearing from exposure to loud sounds, it does happen.  However, what is more, typical is a gradual change in your ability to hear that takes place over the years.  And that’s the problem.  That’s typically the problem with most health issues that occur slowly; we ignore what isn’t a problem today in the hopes that it won’t be a problem later.

The Problems Come Later

The problem will usually begin with trouble hearing in groups and noisy rooms.  The inclination is to blame the hearing problem on the size of the group or the size of the room or the amount of background noise.  Next, you’ll turn the TV or radio louder than everyone else does to hear it clearly.  You’ll find that you will avoid going to places where you know you’ll struggle to understand what’s being said, for example, movie theaters and restaurants.  Eventually, friends and family will insist you find a solution to the problem.

Can Hearing Loss be Prevented?

What’s the best way to avoid the “problem later” scenario? A NIHL is preventable. If you understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health, you can protect your hearing for life.  If you’d like more information about the different forms of hearing protection available, call our office today.