Protect and Prolong Your Hearing

Although heredity or some unforeseen accident may result in hearing loss, we can take precautions to protect and prolong our precious sense of hearing. It is good to learn in advance about potential hearing hazards. As one audiologist said, "waiting for a problem to arise before taking action is like applying the suntan lotion after you've been burned."

Often it is a matter of how we listen and not so much what we listen to. For example, if you use stereo headphones, you may want to set the volume  at a level low enough for you to be able to hear sounds around you.  If your car or home stereo is set loud  enough  to drown out ordinary  conversation, this may well be a signal that it is also loud enough to damage your hearing. Experts caution that two to three hours of exposure to 90 decibels can damage your ears. Earplugs or other hearing protection devices are recommended whenever you are in a noisy environment.

Parents do well to remember that children are more susceptible to hearing damage than are adults. Keep in mind the potential danger of noisy playthings.  Why, a toy rattle can reach 110 decibels!

Our ears are delicate, small, an d wonderful mechanisms. with them we ca hear all the varied and beautiful sounds of the world around us. Surely, this precious gift of hearing deserves to be protected. 

Next time: How Can I Find a Good Roommate?

From the Awake! magazine, 2002