Custom Hearing Protection

Noise is not just a nuisance - it can be very damaging. It is the second most common form of hearing loss after age-related hearing loss. NIHL occurs where a person is exposed to more than 85 dBA of the sounds, which can cause damage or death to the delicate hair cells that transmit sound waves into nerve pulses to be sent to the brain. They won't recover when those hair cells are damaged.

The difficulty with this kind of hearing loss is that it is permanent. There is currently no surgery to repair the damage. Especially dangerous sounds are part of many people's leisure habits and include music from a rock festival, a leaf blower, gun noise, and some water sports.

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Understanding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

The amount of harm that the NIHL can cause depends on many factors, including how long the person has been exposed, how noisy the sound is, and whether hearing protection is used.

The condition initially affects high frequencies of 3,000 to 6,000 Hertz ( Hz) and increases gradually over time. This can make it tough to follow conversations, especially in noisy environments.

If you work in a noisy environment, you're more likely to suffer noise damage to your ears. Let's take a look at a few of the most dangerous professions for noise.

Noisy work conditions make teachers more likely than others to experience hearing loss, an American study has found. Wakefield Research conducted research and revealed that 15 percent of American teachers had reported hearing loss.

In 2007, the CDC reported that 82 percent of cases involving occupational loss hearing occur among workers in the manufacturing sector. That's 8 out of every ten workers employed in the manufacturing industry. Hearing loss is the most common type of work-related injury reported in the manufacturing sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Most auto repair and bodywork power tools-disk sanders, impact wrenches, running engines, shop vacs, grinders, sandblasters, car horns, electric drills - produce enough noise over time to cause hearing harm.

Hunters and shooters are especially vulnerable to hearing loss (NIHL) caused by noise. This can even happen after a single gunshot has been exposed. A recent study by the University of Washington found that people who regularly hunt are more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss. This is not shocking since one gunshot can be between 140 and 190 decibels in volume, and can instantly damage your hearing.

Of the previously mentioned study participants, 38 percent of the target shooters and 95 percent of the hunters reported not wearing hearing protection. These figures indicate that while most shooters are unlikely to step into an unprotected gun range, hunters using weapons tend to overlook recommendations for protecting their hearing.

Whether you’re a professional or amateur musician, you know that hearing is an important part of your creative endeavors. A German study conducted in 2014 found that musicians were about four times more likely than the average person to experience a new hearing loss caused by the noise.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the only kind of hearing loss that can be avoided. Whether you're going into the woods to hunt a deer or on your way to a band rehearsal, make sure that you're taking proper ear protection.

Protect Yourself from Excessive Noise

Though we can't escape the noise, we can do something about it by using adequate hearing protection. These are used in situations where you're exposed to high noise levels for a sustained amount of time. These can include activities such as concerts and sports games, or when you're working in a venue that often has a sound level of 85db or higher.

Various smartphone apps tell you how loud your immediate environment is. This will help you decide if it's time to protect your ears. It would help if you started protecting yourself when the dB level reaches 90 or above.

Using Custom Hearing Protection

Using generic earplugs can be helpful, but the superior solution is custom ear protection. The snug fit keeps the dangerous decibels out, while also allowing you to hear the sounds you like.

Even if you get some protection by using over the counter earplugs, custom-fit earplugs offer protection and comfort designed explicitly for your unique ear shape. You are more sure your ears have the best defense against loss of hearing. As the name suggests, custom earmolds are designed to suit your ear's specific size and shape. We also have some of the best hearing protection possible.

Hearing protection will go a long way to maintaining your ears while enjoying your favorite pastimes. They can be especially useful for:

Amateur and professional musicians
Hunters and professional shooters.
Motorcyclists.
Garden and house maintenance.

At Ascent Audiology & Hearing and Northville Hearing Aid Center, we still agree that prevention is better than treatment. While noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, we can prevent it with custom hearing protection.

We offer custom fitted hearing protection for all areas of life. They are made of molds of the ear canal and concha (the outer bowl-shaped part of your body). Our custom fitted ear molds closely complement the shape of the inside of your ear, providing you with a comfortable fit and excellent sound protection around you, while still allowing you to listen.

There’s no reason to stop doing the things you love! To prevent any future damage to your hearing, protect your hearing with custom hearing protection. The majority of retired teachers and auto workers enjoy hearing benefits with their insurance. Call our office to see whether you qualify for coverage.