Imagine a hike in the beautiful Colorado backcountry with no sound. Thats right no music, no podcasts, not even ordinary conversation with a friend.
Would you be able to distinguish the natural noises all around? Would you hear the birds singing, the bugs buzzing, the faint rustle of rodents in the undergrowth? Would you hear the bubbling brook? Would you recognize the crack of a twig?
When was the last time you consciously focused on your sense of hearing? How important is it to you?
Most of us take our sense of hearing for granted. Our lives are so full of noise that it becomes difficult to imagine silence, much less the gentle natural noises for which our sense of hearing was designed. In the pre-industrial age, the loudest sustained noise most humans experienced was ordinary conversation.
Hearing loss is common. According to the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health, more than 10 million Americans experience noise-induced hearing loss. Yet hearing loss does not result from work-related exposures alone.
These days, digital entertainment is a significant source of hearing loss. Add to that the use of home power equipment such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, chain saws and electric power tools, and you begin to see the challenges to the health of our sense of hearing.
In medical terms, hearing loss comes in two varieties, which are sometimes mixed, known as conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss refers to the latter. Protecting yourself from sensorineural hearing loss means a commitment to noise protection.
Noise levels are measured in decibels, with the higher the number the louder the noise. According to the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, sounds louder than 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss.
Consider these decibel estimates for common noises. A blow-dryer or food processor is about 80-90 decibels. A motorcycle engine is 90 decibels. A hand drill is 100 decibels, while a gas lawnmower is 105 decibels. A chain saw equals the maximum output of many MP3 players at 110 decibels. The discharge of firearms is around 140 decibels.
Now take into account that brief intense noises or repeated or recurrent exposure to loud noises can produce permanent damage to sensitive nerve cells in the cochlea, the inner-ear organ responsible to translating sound to the brain.
The secret to preventing noise-induced hearing loss is protection with earplugs or earmuffs. Earplugs are placed inside the ear canal while earmuffs fit snugly over the ears. Each can reduce noises by 15-30 decibels, and even greater amounts of reduction can be achieved when both are used together.
When hearing protection is not available, move away from continuous loud noises. Also, reduce the volume on personal listening devices.
Remember that we all lose hearing as we age. The severity of this hearing loss can be reduced through proper hearing protection.
Dr. Matthew A. Clark is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics practicing at the Ute Mountain Health Ute Center in Towaoc.
