Professional hearing protection provided by an audiologist can be a great choice if you want to protect your hearing for years to come. In fact, many people with noise-induced hearing loss admit they wish they’d known about and used hearing protection before it was too late.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at who should wear hearing protection, when it should be worn, and what types of professional hearing protection are currently available.
Who should protect their hearing, and when is wearing hearing protection advisable?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), repeated exposure to noises above 70 dB can cause hearing damage. Immediate damage can occur with just one unprotected exposure to 120 dB or more.
So, who should protect their hearing? Everyone! Whether you’re young or old, wearing hearing protection makes sense any time you’re going to be exposed to loud noise. Even everyday activities like mowing the lawn, using a leaf blower, or attending a concert could cause excessive noise exposure.
Is every type of hearing protection okay to use?
There are a variety of professional hearing protection options available, as well as many options you can get from your local department store. It’s important to remember, though, that the type of protection you wear matters. That’s because the options available offer varying degrees of hearing protection. The higher the noise reduction rating (or NRR), the better the device will be for blocking sound.
The best hearing protection option is the one with the rating that best matches the type and frequency of noises to which you’re exposed. For example, someone who is repeatedly exposed to loud noise at work may find that simple earplugs aren’t enough. The same goes for hunters or law enforcement officers, where a single gunshot can expose them to more than 120 dB.
In addition to the type of hearing protection, quality matters. This was recently made evident in the news with widespread coverage of a 3M lawsuit and settlement related to earplugs that were allegedly defective. According to the lawsuit’s claimants, numerous individuals who used 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs experienced hearing loss, tinnitus, or other hearing issues. The case revealed that 3M used its own laboratories to determine the effectiveness of the earplugs. Furthermore, the actual noise reduction rating of the devices was less than half what their label claimed.
Rather than leaving your hearing health to chance, we recommend using professional hearing protection. These devices have been tested and proven to be effective, and a hearing health professional can help determine which option is best.
What types of professional hearing protection are available?
Here are some of the most common hearing protection options available today:
- Expandable foam earplugs: Made of a soft, formable material, these plugs expand to fill the ear canal. While they don’t block all sounds, they’re an easy, affordable option for someone who only needs occasional protection from moderately loud noises.
- Custom-molded reusable plugs: Since these earplugs are specifically designed for an individual’s ear canal, they offer better sound protection than one-size-fits-all foam plugs. Watch this video to see how ear impressions are made to create custom-molded earplugs.
- Canal caps: These devices are just what they sound like – caps to block sound from entering the ear canal. They’re typically attached to a flexible metal or plastic band that is worn behind the neck, allowing for quick and easy insertion into the ears when needed.
- Earmuffs: These devices look like large headphones and completely cover the outer ear.
- Digital hearing protection: These devices are popular options for hunters, recreational shooters, and law enforcement officers. Unlike the standard hearing protection options we already mentioned, these devices block out harmful loud noises but still allow you to hear lower decibel noise levels. One advantage of professional hearing protection is that these digital devices can be custom-sized to your ears. This allows for a comfortable fit and the ultimate hearing protection.
Get professional hearing protection from audiologists in Mesa and Scottsdale, AZ
At Advanced Hearing Group, our mission is to promote hearing health for local Arizona clients in Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and surrounding areas. What that means, though, depends on the individual.
Many of our clients come to us because they already have hearing loss from one cause or another. Some have temporary hearing loss from an illness or other health related condition. Others have permanent hearing loss and need hearing aids or other devices in order to be able to hear better.
It’s really rewarding, though, when we have the opportunity to help people prevent hearing issues. This is especially true with noise-induced hearing loss since it is completely avoidable simply by following some healthy habits. Our audiologists work closely with each individual to educate them on the dangers of noise exposure and the need for professional hearing protection. Then, we work together to find the best possible solution based on that individual’s noise exposure levels and environment.
Schedule an appointment with our Mesa or Scottsdale audiologists today to find YOUR best professional hearing protection option!
Read the full story about 3M’s ear plug lawsuit and settlement here.
