 Help those you love hear!
Can you poke out your eardrums with earplugs? We work in a dusty, dirty place. Should I
worry that our ears will get infected by using earplugs? Can you hear warning sounds, such as backup
beeps, when wearing hearing protectors? Will we be able to hear each other talk when
we wear hearing protectors? How long does it take to get
used to wearing hearing protectors? How long can someone be in a loud noise
before it's hazardous? How can I tell if a noisy situation is too loud? How often should my hearing be tested? Where can I get a hearing test? Where can I get information about ringing in
my ears? Who can help with noise in my community? Q: Don't we lose our hearing as
we age? A: It's true that most people's hearing test gets
worse as they get older. But for the average person, aging does
not cause impaired hearing before at least the age of 60. People
who are not exposed to noise and are otherwise healthy, keep their
hearing for many years. People who are exposed to noise and do not
protect their hearing begin to lose their hearing at an early age.
For example, by age 25 the average carpenter has "50-year old"
ears! That is, by age 25, the average carpenter has the same hearing
as someone who is 50 years old and has worked in a quiet job. Q: Can you poke out your eardrums with
earplugs? A: That is unlikely for two reasons. First, the
average ear canal is about 1 1/4 inches long. The typical ear plug
is between 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long. So even if you inserted the
entire earplug, it would still not touch the eardrum. Second, the
path from the opening of the ear canal to the eardrum is not straight.
In fact, it is quite irregular. This prevents you from poking objects
into the eardrum. Q: We work in a dusty, dirty place.
Should I worry that our ears will get infected by using earplugs? A: Using earplugs will not cause an infection.
But use common sense. Have clean hands when using earplugs that
need to be rolled or formed with your fingers in order for you to
insert them. If this is inconvenient, there are plenty of earplugs
that are pre-molded or that have stems so that you can insert them
without having to touch the part that goes into the ear canal. Q: Can you hear warning sounds,
such as backup beeps, when wearing hearing protectors? A: The fact is that there are fatal injuries because
people do not hear warning sounds. However, this is usually because
the background noise was too high or because the person had severe
hearing loss, not because someone was wearing hearing protectors.
Using hearing protectors will bring both the noise and the warning
sound down equally. So if the warning sound is audible without the
hearing protector, it will usually be audible when wearing the hearing
protector. For the unusual situations where this is not the case,
the solution may be as simple as using a different hearing protector.
Also, many warning systems can be adjusted or changed so warning
signals are easier to detect. Q: Won't hearing protectors
interfere with our ability to hear important sounds our machinery
and equipment make? A: Hearing protectors will lower the noise level
of your equipment; it won't eliminate it. However, some hearing
protectors will reduce certain frequencies more than others; so
wearing them can make noises sound different. In cases where it's
important that the sound just be quieter without any other changes,
there are hearing protectors that can provide flat attenuation. There are also noise-activated hearing protectors that allow normal
sounds to pass through the ear and only "turn-on" when
the noise reaches hazardous levels. There are even protectors that
professional concert musicians use that can lower the sound level
while retaining sound fidelity. Q: Will we be able to hear each
other talk when wearing hearing protectors? A: Some people find they can wear hearing protectors
and still understand speech. Others will have trouble hearing speech
while wearing hearing protectors. Being able to hear what other
people say depends on many things: distance from the speaker, ability
to see the speaker's face, general familiarity with the topic, level
of background noise, and whether or not one has an existing hearing
impairment. In some cases, wearing hearing protectors can make it
easier to understand speech. In other instances, people may be using hearing protectors to keep
out too much sound. You may need a protector that reduces the sound
enough to be safe without reducing the sound too much to hear speech
at a comfortably loud level. For those people who work in noise
and must communicate, it may also be necessary to use communication
headsets. Allow your employees to try different protectors. Some
will work better than others at helping them to hear speech, and
different protectors may work better for different people. Q: How long does
it take to get used to hearing protectors? A: Think about getting a new pair of shoes. Some
shoes take no time to get used to. Others - even though they are
the right size - can take a while to get used to. Hearing protectors
are no different from other safety equipment in terms of getting
used to them. But if hearing protectors are the wrong size, or are
worn out, they will not be comfortable. Also, workers may need more
than one kind of protector at their job. For example, no one would
wear golf shoes to go bowling. If hearing protectors are not suitable
for the work being done, they probably won't feel comfortable. Q: How long can someone be
in a loud noise before it's hazardous? A: The degree of hearing hazard is related to
both the level of the noise as well as to the duration of the exposure.
But this question is like asking how long can people look at the
sun without damaging their eyes. The safest thing to do is to ensure
workers always protect their ears by wearing hearing protectors
anytime they are around loud noise. Q: How can I tell if a noise situation
is too loud? A: There are two rules: First, if you have to
raise your voice to talk to someone who is an arm's length away,
then the noise is likely to be hazardous. Second, if your ears are
ringing or sounds seem dull or flat after leaving a noisy place,
then you probably were expose to hazardous noise. Q: How often
should your hearing be tested? A: Anyone regularly exposed to hazardous noise
should have an annual hearing test. Also, anyone who notices a change
in his/her hearing (or who develops tinnitus) should have his or
her ears checked. People who have healthy ears and who are not exposed
to hazardous noise should get a hearing test every three years. Q: Since I already have
hearing loss and wear a hearing aid, hearing prevention programs
don't apply to me, right? A: If you have hearing loss, it's important to
protect the hearing that you have left. Loud noises can continue
to damage your hearing making it even more difficult to communicate
at work and with your family and friends.
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Fequently Asked Questions about Hearing Loss Prevention.