Oct 18-22

In today’s electronic age, people listen to whatever they want, whenever they want. Noise levels are measured in decibles, and sounds louder than 80 decibles are considered potentially hazardous. Here’s an idea of the average decibel levels of some everyday sounds:
       
        10 DB: The quietest sound you can hear
        30 DB: Whisper, quiet library
        60 DB: Normal conversation, sewing machine
        90 DB: Lawn mower, Truck traffic, Shop tools  
        100 DB: Snowmobile, Chain saw
        115 DB: Loud rock concert, Sandblasting
        140 DB: Gun muzzle blast, Jet engine

Since most people don’t thing in terms of decibles, a good rule of thumb is this: if you are standing next to a person with headphones on and you have to raise your voice to communicate, then it is likely the sound coming out of those headphones is loud enough to cause damage over long periods of time.
    “Some people listen to things at a really loud level, just not for too long. But there is no question that can damage their hearing for the rest of their life,” Jess Moulton, Au.D., from Utah Valley Speech Hearing, and Balance Center at Intermountain Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
    Once damaged, the hearing nerve and its sensory nerve cells don’t regenerate. In other words, hearing loss is permanent, even though it may occur gradually and without pain.
    “Don’t be fooled by thinking your ears are tough or that you have the ability to tune out the noise, if you think you have gotten used to the noise you are routinely exposed to, then most likely you have already suffered damage,” said Dr. Moulton.
  
    Teens and young adults don’t typically worry about hearing loss. But Dr. Moulton said many of his patients wish they’d protected their hearing in their younger years. Mild noise-related hearing loss can cause bigger problems when combined with age-related hearing loss can cause bigger problems when combined with age-related challenges adults often encounter in their 50’s.
    So how do you know if its time to get help with your hearing? Ask yourself the following questions. If you start to see a pattern in your answers, it may be time to have your hearing evaluated by a medical professional:

•    Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
•    Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
•    Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
•    Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
•    Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
•    Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
•    Do many people you talk with seem to mumble or not speak clearly?
•    Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
•    Do you have trouble understanding the speech of woman and children?
•    Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?

Utah Valley Speech, Hearing , and Balance Center offers free hearing screenings on the last Friday of every month. From there, Dr. Moulton and his colleagues provide a full range of diagnostic and treatment options for patients with hearing loss. Hearing aids are one option, but not the only answer.
    “You have to gauge the amount of loss with the demand on a persons hearing. Everyone has unique circumstances and needs. We can help people take all of that into consideration. That’s the benefit of going to a hearing professional and getting the appropriate counseling and diagnosis, “ said Dr. Moulton. 

Is Loud Music Damaging Child's Your Hearing?

    Noise-induced hearing loss was once limited to construction workers, soldiers, and drummers. But as more children and teens use MP3 players and attend concerts, they are experiencing the same hearing problems as older adults.
    One recent survey found that more than half of high school students had symptoms of hearing loss. These include ringing in the ears, turning up the volume on electronic devices, and feeling like others are mumbling
    To protect your child’s ears, talk with him or her about hearing loss. Studies show many young people aren’t aware of the problem. For example, tell your child to wear earplugs when going to a concert. Limit MP3 player use to one hour a day at 60 percent volume. If someone standing nearby can hear the same tunes, they're too loud.

Remember that you need at least 250 words in your response.
What are your listening habits? Do you think your music is too loud? Do you care about your hearing? Tell me about things you could do to preserve your hearing. What thoughts do you have on the subject?