Hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears) are extremely common problems in the United States. Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of Americans report some degree of hearing loss. Of adults 65 or older in the United States, about 12 percent of men and nearly 14 percent of women are affected by tinnitus.

Some hearing loss cannot be avoided. About two out of every 1,000 children born in the U.S. are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Of those children who are born with hearing loss, about one-half have a genetic cause for their loss. Of the rest, about one-half of them have hearing loss due to maternal infection (such as human herpes virus 5 infection), and of the remaining one-half, a cause is never determined.

Adults also can develop hearing loss as a side effect of various treatments, such as chemotherapy or certain high dose IV antibiotics. Both children and adults can experience hearing loss with chronic ear infections or certain uncommon medical conditions, such as Menieres or acoustic neuromas.

The majority of people, however, have preventable hearing loss that is secondary to noise exposure. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that approximately 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds at work or in leisure activities.

In view of the overwhelming numbers of people with noise-induced hearing loss, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have established workplace guidelines for exposure to noise. Workers should not be exposed to more than 80-85 decibels (dB) of constant noise without having regular hearing checks, and they should not be exposed to more than 90 dB of constant noise on average without wearing hearing protection.

What few people realize is how damaging commonly experienced noises around the home can be. A standard lawnmower can run at 65-95 dB, an electric drill averages 95 dB, and a snow blower or power saw averages 105–110 dB. MP3 players can reach levels of 120-135 dB, and a handgun or rifle hits 160-170 dB. At 110 dB, the maximum exposure time before damage can occur is one minute and 29 seconds, and at 140 dB, permanent damage can occur with a single exposure.

The majority of hearing loss is caused by noise exposure; therefore, it is critical that individuals take measures to protect themselves from loud noises. I counsel patients that they should wear hearing protection around anything that is as loud as a lawnmower or louder. Inexpensive, but effective, earplugs and over-the-ear muffs are available at many standard shopping centers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, as well as many sporting goods stores. For typical exposures, such as lawnmowers and saws, I recommend the over-the-ear muffs as they are less likely to cause irritation of the ear canals, and are easier to use properly. I recommend that patients avoid using earbud headphones for longer than an hour at a time. During longer use, the ears become acclimated to the sound, and the volume on a portable music unit tends to be increased. While various devices, such as MP3 players, will function differently, keeping volumes at 50 percent or lower and being able to hear surrounding conversation are good ways to make sure that noise exposure is lower. I also recommend that patients use earplugs when attending loud concerts or car racing events. If you look carefully, you will find that many performers and event personnel wear them.

Anyone who is experiencing hearing loss or persistent tinnitus should consider obtaining an audiogram and evaluation. Appointments with an audiologist for hearing tests can be made by calling Licking Memorial Audiology at (220) 564-4275. The office is located at 88 McMillen Drive in Newark.