Noise Protection
One third of all hearing loss is caused by noise exposure. We offer custom hearing protection for people who work or play in loud noise or music, as well industrial hearing protection. Custom earmolds are available for musicians, hunters, swim molds, iPOD, hands free cell phones and in-the-ear monitor molds. Noise exposure is 100% preventable.
Can I prevent hearing loss?
Being exposed to loud noise over and over is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing loss. It usually develops slowly and without pain or other symptoms, and you may not notice that you have hearing loss until it is severe.
Steps you can take to prevent hearing loss:
- Be Aware of And Avoid Harmful Noise.
You can be exposed to harmful noise at work, at home, and in many other settings. This exposure builds up over time and can result in ear damage and hearing loss. Harmful noise can come from commonly used tools such as power lawn mowers and snow blowers or from activities such as riding motorcycles and snowmobiles. Know what kinds of situations can generate harmful noise levels, and avoid these situations whenever possible. - Use Hearing Protection
If you know you are going to be around harmful noise, wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs. Cotton balls or tissues stuffed in the ears do not offer any protection. When used correctly, hearing protection can go a long way in reducing the level of sound that reaches the ear. Lawn mowers, power tools, and some basic household appliances can damage your hearing if you do not wear hearing protection. - Control The Volume
Control the volume when you can. Don't buy noisy toys, appliances, or tools when there are quieter alternatives. Reduce the noise in your life by turning down the volume on the stereo, television, or car radio, and especially on personal listening devices with earphones.
Do not wait until you notice a hearing loss to start protecting yourself from harmful noise. After noise-related damage to the ear is done, it cannot be reversed. But if you already have some noise-related hearing loss, it is not too late to prevent further damage and preserve the hearing that you still have.
An Ounce of Prevention
How you can guard against preventable hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a public health issue that is third in line only to heart disease and arthritis. Forty eight million people (about 1 out 5) have some form of hearing loss. Hearing loss should be screened for, just like blood pressure or diabetes.
Hearing, once lost, is seldom regained. Follow these simple steps to safeguard the hearing you have.
Protect Your Ears From Noise
More than 26 million people have noise induced hearing loss. And the number is growing every day. You can damage your hearing at a loud concert, using a lawn mower, using a power saw, or attending an aerobic class with loud music. If you have to raise your voice over any kind of noise to be heard by someone three feet away – that noise is doing damage.
How Loud & How Long
One way that noise can permanently damage your hearing is by a single brief exposure to a high noise level, such as a firecracker going off near your ear. But hearing damage can also occur gradually at much lower levels of noise, if there is enough exposure over time. To protect your hearing, you'll want to limit your exposure to these moderately high noise levels and give your ears a chance to recover after any period of noise exposure.
Safe Exposure Times
| Exposure Time | dB | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Instantaneous Permanent Damage | 140+ | Shotgun, rifle, jetplane takeoff |
| Less 1 Second | 130 | Jackhammer, Heavy Industry |
| Less Than 10 Seconds Threshold of Pain |
120 | Rock concert |
| 1.5 Minutes | 110 | Power Tools, Snowmobile |
| 15 Minutes | 100 | Chainsaw, Motorcycle |
| 2.5 Hours | 90 | Lawn mower |
| 8 Hours | 85 | Beginning of Danger Zone |
| Prolonged Exposure To Noise Levels 85dB and Higher Can Result In Permanent Hearing Loss | 80 | City Traffic |
| 70 | Vacuum Cleaner, Hair Dryer | |
| 60 | Office, Sewing Machine | |
| 50 | Normal Conversation | |
| 40 | Refrigerator | |
| 30 | Whisper | |
| 20 | Rustling Leaves | |
| Common Noise Levels (dB) & Their Effect Upon Hearing | 10 | Breathing |
| 0 | Threshold of Normal Hearing |
Custom Ear Protection Brands We Use
Rocky Mountain Audiology uses top brands, including Westone and Etymotic for our patients' custom ear protection:
Contact Us
To get treated for your hearing loss, please call Rocky Mountain Audiology at one of our two convenient Colorado locations: Edwards, Colorado at (970) 926-6660 or our Glenwood Springs location at (970) 945-7575. You may also Schedule an Appointment to meet with one of our hearing loss specialists.