National Safe Work Month is an initiative that joins forces to raise health and safety awareness to build safer and healthier workplaces.
At Beyond Hearing we are passionate about hearing and good communication.
To support the campaign and to promote healthy hearing and awareness of the hazards of noise - be it at work, in household activities, or recreational, we are offering a 2nd pair of any Custom Made Ear Plugs with $40 off for the months of October and November 2023.
Check the article below for some interesting facts.
Hearing plays an essential role in communication, speech and language development, learning, and social life. Even a small amount of hearing loss can have profound and negative effects on our quality of life. (2)
Therefore, PREVENTION is better than Hearing Loss.
Moreover, It is easy, if we understand some simple rules, adopt some smart actions, and wear proper ear protection - earplugs (good), earmuffs (better), and custom earplugs (the best).
Did you know that:
. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) can result from a one-time exposure to a very loud sound or from over an extended period. It can be at work, at home, or during a recreational activity.
. NIHL is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable.
. Sound is measured by Decibels (dB), and it is not like normal numbers. On this scale, an increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of sound energy. This means that every 3 dB increase in noise level can cause the same damage in half the time.
. Unlike bird and amphibian hearing hair cells, human hearing hair cells don’t grow back. They are gone for good!
. NIHL can lead to communication difficulties, learning difficulties, pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), distorted or muffled hearing, and an inability to hear some environmental sounds and warning signals.
. In addition to noise, hazardous chemicals known as ototoxic substances and hand-arm vibration also contribute to hearing loss.
. Persistent noise stress can increase the risk of fatigue and cardiovascular disorders including high blood pressure and heart disease.
A good rule of thumb is:
. if you have to raise your voice to speak and be heard, the environment sound might be too loud and damage your hearing;
. If you can’t reduce the noise or protect yourself from it, move away from it.
. Seek hearing evaluation by a licensed audiologist or other qualified professional, especially if there is concern about potential hearing loss.
Figure 1: Common noise sources, their sound level, and time limit.
Source: Hearing Australia, adapted from Safe Work Australia
Quick Statistics
In Australia:
. about 3.6 million people have some level of hearing loss
. more than 1.3 million people live with a hearing condition that could have been prevented
. more than 1 in 3 Australians have noise-related ear damage. (3)
Figure 2: Typical audiogram showing a noise-induced hearing loss.
Good News
. Researchers are exploring new treatments for hearing loss and also looking at lessening the damage to sensory hair cells upon exposure to noise.
. Administrative noise control measures reduce the amount of noise to which a
Figure 3: ear hair cells under a microscope. person is exposed by reducing the time they are
exposed to it.
. As of December 2019, approximately 736,900 cochlear implants have been implanted worldwide.
Armed with information you are encouraged to adopt healthy hearing habits.
Keep your workplace safe and your hearing healthy.
Prevent noise-induced hearing loss with our comfortable and effective custom earplugs or the universal fit.
Industrial, Concert & Musician, Hearing protection, In-ear monitors, Motorsport, Shooting, Sleeping, Swimming, Universal fit earplugs.
REFERENCES:
NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Australia Government - Department of Health and Age Care
Safe Work Australia
AIOH - Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
Hearing Australia