By Mary Ann Reynolds
There are no guarantees in life that say that you will have perfect health. For many, the aging process is painful as body parts become weaker and bodily systems begin to function less. One of the most commonly affected areas from the aging process is the loss in your hearing. Experts now consider 25% of the population between 65 - 75 have mild hearing loss while 75% over age 75 are hearing impaired.
What is the driver behind these numbers? The most common reason for hearing loss is long exposures to loud noises such as music or something as simple as a weed eater. This type of hearing damage is often referred to as noise-induced hearing loss or NIHL. Studies reveal that these long-time exposures may not have any effect until the aging process begins. Therefore, what you are doing now to your ears can negatively impact your health in the future.
Results of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Your hearing is vital to many of your daily functions. It is our primary form of communication in the world. We also consider our hearing to be one of our biggest contributors to the pleasures in life such as beautiful sounds of nature and hearing our children playing and laughing. One reason, however, why we are not paying attention is because it can be a subtle process. Government officials have published studies that reveal that sound decibels above 75 dBs can result in hearing loss. This could be as simple as cranking up your favorite song or from common yard tools such as a lawn mower.
As a result, the government has deployed workplace regulations through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect and educate employees. For example, regulations permit employees to work for extended periods of time in work zones that have a noise level above 90 dBs. While on the other hand, in work zones where employers know that the sound level will exceed 100 dBs, workers are required to wear hearing protection.
Employers understand the importance of abiding OSHA's guidelines, not because it is a government regulation, but simply for the fact that they want to provide a safe working environment.
How do I know if I have Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
Being exposed to loud sounds can cause trauma to your hearing. In most cases you may just experience a slight ringing in your ears. However, lengthy exposure to loud noises greater than 75 dBs is the main contributor. If over time you experience muffled hearing, it is a good sign of hearing loss. This deterioration of hearing can also be caused by quick impulse sounds such as air horns.
Other side effects that may be a result of symptoms that you have been affected by NIHL include health changes. You may notice that you are becoming frequently dizzy; you could be more susceptible to vertigo which is a sense of equilibrium loss. You could even develop high blood pressure as a symptom.
Solutions do exist in special devices called hearing aids. With early detection tests, a hearing aid can be used to further protect you from hearing loss. You should first seek advice from a medical professional and should never attempt to diagnose yourself. There are doctors that specialize in NIHL conditions and can customize treatment options for you. Sometimes options can be prescribed medications while most times a hearing aid will do the job.
Maryann Reynolds is an expert in many fields and writes articles from her own research and experience. She is no longer embarrassed by her hearing loss because now she lives comfortably and hears clearly with her Beltone hearing aids. Please follow her along on her journey by checking out her new site that is helping people find the best deals on hearing aids by visiting http://www.beltonehearingaids.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MaryAnn_Reynolds
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