Ten Steps to Saving Your Hearing

 

Let’s get right down to it. Nearly 30 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. And according to the American Academy of Audiology, about 17 million suffer from "nerve deafness" – a hearing loss that results from exposure to loud noise or music.

Around 15% of baby boomers, the first generation to crank up the volume, have this type of hearing loss – about the same percentage as their teenage children.

Think this can’t happen to you? Consider this: Just 15 minutes of exposure to high-decibel noise or music can cause permanent hearing loss. That’s right. Permanent. Research indicates that 30% of rock musicians have a measurable hearing loss. Classical musicians fare even worse – with up to 52% experiencing hearing impairment. The good news? Hearing loss can be prevented — so listen up! And read on.

Let’s start with a basic understanding of how the audio gear you were born with – your ears – actually function.

Your ears process audio frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Audio frequencies between 500 and 4000 Hz are the frequencies that we associate with speech.

A Sensitive Instrument


A typical rock concert can average between 110 and 120 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level), even in locations with local noise ordinances.

According to the organization H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), "At rock shows, the dB level can be as great as 140 dB SPL in front of the speakers and about 120 dB SPL at the back which is still very loud and dangerous."

Loud music isn’t the only problem. According to music writer Bernard Sherman, "Such stereotypical guy-toys as guns, motorcycles, chainsaws and snowmobiles can punish you ears just as badly – so can leaf blowers; so can some digital movie theater soundtracks. About 30 million Americans – more than one in ten – are exposed every day to dangerously loud levels of noise. And lasting damage can even come from a single blast of noise if it’s loud enough"

Hearing loss is classified according to which part of the auditory system is affected. There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed. We’ll be focusing on sensorineural - the "nerve deafness" type that’s largely preventable and includes the Noise-Induced type we’re talking about here.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when inner ear nerves become damaged and do not properly transmit signals to the brain. It’s the most common type of hearing loss among adults. It is not often medically or surgically treatable. A common cause is excessive noise exposure. Most sensorineural hearing loss can only be treated with hearing aids

Understanding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Excessive sound exposure damages hearing by over-stimulating the tiny hair cells within the inner ear. There are between 15,000 and 20,000 of these microscopic sensory receptors. When they are damaged, they no longer transmit sound to the brain.

Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dB SPL may cause permanent hearing loss. Exposure of 115 db of greater may pose a serious health risk. OSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – specifies the following as thresholds for potential hearing damage

This means that 15 minutes at the back of a concert hall where the decibel level is 120 SPL or greater can cause your hearing to be damaged forever.

Sounds are muffled. Human speech is difficult to understand. And the damage is permanent since the hair cells do not repair themselves or regenerate. This is the sensorineural type of hearing impairment that’s called Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

The damage that occurs slowly over years of continuous exposure to loud noise is accompanied by various changes in the structure of the hair cells. It also results in hearing loss and tinnitus. Exposure to impulse and continuous noise may cause only a temporary hearing loss. If the hearing recovers, the temporary hearing loss is called a temporary threshold shift. The temporary threshold shift largely disappears within 16 hours after exposure to loud noise.

A Noisier World
According to the House Ear Institute (HEI), "Advances in the electronics industry have made possible clean sound production at higher sound pressure levels. This has resulted in an average sound increase of 10-15dB in the work environments of musicians, audio engineers, record and movie/television producers, post-production mixers, dancers and other entertainment professionals."

Are You at Risk?

1. Do you have trouble understanding certain words or parts of words?
2. Do you often ask others to repeat themselves?
3. Do you have difficulties on the telephone?
4. Do others complain about television or radio volumes?
5. Do you have more trouble understanding people in noisy environments?
6. Do sounds seem muffled?
7. Do you experience ear discomfort like ringing or buzzing in the ears?

If you’ve experienced some or all of these indicators, you may be prone to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). It’s time for a visit to the audiologist.

Keep this in mind – even if you have experienced a degree of loss — it is not too late to preserve your hearing. NIHL is not a degenerative condition … unless you ignore it.

Ten Things You Can Do to Preserve Your Hearing

1. Limit the amount of time you spend in a loud environment
2. Wear hearing protection when involved in a loud activity. Forget about tissue or cotton – these homemade devices only reduce noise by about 7 dB. They’re not effective.
3. Be alert to noise levels in your environment.
4. If you know a gig will be longer than usual, decrease the intensity level.
5. Increase distance between you and the sound source – this means standing at an angle from the source – not in front of it.
6. Take breaks during long sessions to give your ears a rest.
7. Be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss – listen to your own ears.
8. Turn it down when listening to headphones – keep volume at moderate levels.
9. Have your hearing checked by an audiologist.
10. If you think you’re risking your hearing as a result of prolonged exposure, (for instance sounds in excess of 85 dB SPL) buy a sound pressure level meter and measure SPL against the OSHA requirements.

Remember:
Friends don’t let friends take risks — alert performers and those on your tech team. In fact, how about printing out and passing along this article?