QC Family Focus: October 2014

Your ears never rest. Our hearing is a sense that we can
never turn off. Even when we are sleeping, our ears can
alert us to sounds in our environment. Hearing has such an
important role in our lives, affecting how we learn, how we
socialize and how we interact with the world.
Every day our ears are exposed to noise. When the
noise is too loud, or we are around it for too long, we can end
up with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). People of all
ages can develop hearing loss due to noise. The good news
is: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is completely preventable.
To understand how loud sound damages our ears,
let’s talk about how we hear. Sound waves enter your ear,
vibrate the eardrum which in turn vibrates the three tiny
bones in the middle ear. Those vibrations then move on
to the fluid filled inner ear, called the cochlea. Inside the
cochlea are microscopic hair cells which move with the
vibrations. The movement of the hair cells creates a signal
for the hearing nerve to carry to the brain. The louder the
sound, the larger the vibrations. When the vibrations are too
large, they damage the hair cells in the inner ear. Damaged
hair cells do not heal, they do not grow back. They are gone
for good.
So how do we know what is too loud? Sound
is measured in a unit called the decibel (dB). Normal
conversation may average around 60-65 dB. Sounds at or
above 85 dB may begin to cause hearing loss. Many sounds
we hear every day can be damaging to our hearing. A very
42 October 2014 - QC Family Focus
It’s a noisy world. Protect your hearing!
Heather Sandy, MA, CCC-A
Audiologist - Audiology Consultants, PC
See What’s New And Exciting
With Hearing Aid Technology
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Call today for a complete
hearing evaluation!
1931 10th Ave. E,
Milan, IL
(309) 283-5902
general rule of thumb says- if you have to shout to be heard,
the sound may be damaging. Here are some examples:
• Lawnmower –
90 dB
• Personal music player (MP3, iPod) - 105 dB
• Live concerts –
100-110 dB
• Large stadium peak crowd noise - 120-130 dB
• Firecrackers -
145 dB
The longer you are exposed to the sound, the more
damaging it becomes. A perfect example of this is the
personal music player with headphones. These devices are
so small and convenient now, that they are often used for
hours at a time at levels that can be very damaging to the
ears.
Hearing loss from noise exposure often happens
gradually and can be difficult to notice at first. If you have
a ringing or muffled sound in your ears after being around
loud noise, that can be a sign of noise damage.
Now that you understand the risks, let’s talk about three
ways to protect your hearing:
1. Walk Away: The further you get from the noise, the less
it can damage your ears.
2. Turn it Down: If you can control the volume, turn it
down to protect your hearing.
3. Protect Your Ears: Use earplugs or ear muffs for hearing
protection when loud sounds can’t be avoided, like
mowing the lawn or a loud concert.
Encourage these healthy hearing habits with your
family and friends!
Audiology ConsultAnts P.C.
2215 E. 52nd St., Ste. #2,
Davenport, IA
(563) 355-7712
1616 Cedar St.,
Muscatine, IA
(563) 264-9406
www.audiologyconsultants.com
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Hammond Henry Hospital
600 College Avenue
Geneseo, IL
(309) 944-9181