04 Mar In the future, will noise protection mean more than just earmuffs and earplugs?
One of the leading causes of hearing loss is excessive noise exposure. While some people can manipulate their environments to reduce noise to safe levels, not everyone can control the noise levels. In those cases, individuals exposed to the excessive noise levels should protect themselves with hearing protection. We’ve known this for years, and people are becoming more diligent with wearing hearing protection. With advances in hearing protective devices, we can protect the ears and still allow communication for those who need to hear speech and safety cues in noise.
New research (outlined here) suggests that we may be able to prevent noise induced hearing loss with a naturally occuring supplement. While this is still a few years out, it is an interesting story to track for anyone exposed regularly to excessive noise levels like musicians, construction workers, and physical education teachers.
If you work in an environment with excessive noise levels, you should have a hearing care plan in place. Contact 482-2222 to arrange your complimentary hearing test and hearing protection consult to determine what will work best for you!