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With technological progress, we certainly have made the world smaller. We also have amenities to make our life easier. However, all this has resulted in making the world a lot noisier. Noise has become an environmental and occupational hazard. Due to increase in the noise levels, there has been an increase in the cases of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This type of hearing loss is permanent. And it is caused by completely avoidable reasons. Then one would wonder why it is so common? It is so because the damage occurs gradually and there are no outside visible effects, like bleeding. Everyday exposure to loud noise hurts the hair cells in the inner ear. This happens over a period of time and hampers the hearing ability of a person. Some very loud noises like gunfire, noise from jet engine during take-off, loud firecrackers, etc. have the capability to damage hearing instantly. This kind of damage is called acoustic trauma. Daily exposure to high decibels of sound leads to N.I.H.L. Such noises include target shooting and hunting, snowmobile riding, woodworking, playing in a band etc. Home could also be a source of such noise like lawn mowers, personal music system and shop tools. There is a direct co-relation between the extent of exposure and the damage caused. More amount of exposure leads to higher damage. What are the ways of finding out if you function in hazardous sound levels? There is no better way than regularly going for a hearing test conducted by a health professional. This test will help determine the extent of damage. A test also helps in early detection which is essential to salvage the situation and not allow the condition to further degrade. Apart from a test, there are some other telltale signs that tell you if you are around hazardous noise levels. Signs like not being able to hear someone three feet away, feeling of fullness and buzzing in ears right after exposure to loud noise, needing to turn up the volume of T.V, difficulty in understanding people in a crowded room etc. Signs like the ones mentioned tell you that you need to pay the doctor a visit. The best way to avoid a situation when a visit to the doctor becomes imperative is precaution. Assess the noise around you in terms of decibel levels. If sounds louder than the acceptable decibel levels are a part of your workplace, take necessary precautions. When buying new equipment, consider its noise output, or try to cut down noise at the source. Keeping the equipment in good condition is a good way of doing so. Wear hearing protection devices when in surroundings with loud noise. Ear plugs are available in many varieties, each serving a unique purpose. Disposable plugs, sound isolating earphones, reusable plugs are some of the options. There are special-purpose options to choose from which are specifically made for certain noises like musicians earplugs. Lastly, the best way to combat NHIL is awareness. Make your family and friends of the hazards of noise. Suggest them the necessary preventive measures. Protect the hearing you have right now. If you are looking for the best hearing care Ottawa has to offer then Helix Hearing Care Centre will provide the best audiology-based recommendations.
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