Hearing Conservation

Excessive noise exposure causes damage to the hearing nerves and is one cause of hearing loss.  People who are exposed to loud noises, either recreationally, such as hunting, or on the job, often experience a noise induced hearing loss.  The damage is related to both the intensity (loudness) of the noise and the duration (amount of time) of exposure.  Noise induced hearing losses tend to affect the higher frequencies of hearing first.  Initially, the hearing impairment may cause difficulty understanding people when there are competing sounds around them, such as in group situations or in a restaurant.  People vary in how sensitive they are to loud sounds, and often, once damage has occurred, they become more sensitive. 

In order to conserve our hearing, it is essential to take steps to avoid situations where loud noises tend to occur and/or protect our hearing if exposure cannot be avoided.  Some common sources of excessive, potentially hearing-damaging noises are:

• Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, other power tools
• Loud music; particularly the use of headphones combined with loud music, playing loud instruments, or attending rock concerts and clubs
• Recreational gunfire
   

Other less thought of sources of excessive noise include:

• Blow dryers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Some fans – remember duration is a factor
• Sporting events

The best way to conserve your hearing is to avoid noise or use protection.