Music clubs are beginning to reopen in New Orleans and South Louisiana. The pandemic has kept us away from loud venues for a while, so remember to protect your hearing.
Volumes that are above 85 decibels (dBA) can cause hearing loss — or other hearing problems, like tinnitus (a ringing sound in your ears that won’t go away). The louder a sound is, and the longer you listen to it, the more it can damage your hearing.
If you are a regular concertgoer or if you work in an industry that exposes you to loud noises, you should be careful to protect your hearing by wearing ear plugs or ear muffs. Also, remember to get a hearing test every year. The audiologists at CNC Hearing and Balance Center are available to evaluate your hearing and recommend a hearing device, if needed. In fact, our audiologists can custom-fit ear plugs to protect your ears from loud noises.
Some common conditions that are prone to loud noises include live music concerts, construction sites, motorcycle racing, vehicles with sirens and the use of some lawn equipment. Listening to very loud music through earbuds or headphones is another common way to damage one’s hearing. Children who play in school bands can be exposed to high decibel sounds, depending on which instruments they sit near or play.
Sounds at or below 70 A-weighted decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for hearing loss to happen. Noise-induced hearing loss is usually gradual, as it damages the tiny hairs in your ear that help you hear. Once those fibers are significantly damaged, they do not recover and the hearing loss process has begun. You cannot recover that hearing capability.
Don’t take your hearing for granted. Call CNC Hearing and Balance Center to schedule your annual hearing evaluation at our offices in New Orleans, Marrero or Mandeville. 504-934-8320.
