Now Hear This

Experts Suggest Ways to Protect Your Hearing At Any Age

By Barry Levine

Hearing loss used to be part of the caricature of an older person. Cupping your ear and uttering “Ay?” immediately depicted one as over the hill. But as hearing loss is increasingly understood as a potential problem for all ages, this caricature seems destined for its own retirement.

Hearing loss reaches across all age groups, affecting about 30 million Americans, according to the Better Hearing Institute. About 54 percent of Americans under 65 have some hearing loss, the Institute reports, with about 14 percent of those 45 to 64 years old and about 5 percent of those 18 to 44. Among children, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 5 percent in the U.S. have some hearing loss, totaling about one million children.

TYPES AND CAUSES
For most people, hearing loss is a natural process that happens as they age, a condition known as “presbycusis.” It is caused by disorders of the inner ear or auditory nerve, possibly caused by aging or, in some cases, by other causes relating to blood supply, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.

There is also noise-induced hearing loss, caused by too much exposure to loud noise. Construction workers, musicians, airport workers and the like are most likely to have noise-induced hearing loss. If the loud noise exposure results in an ongoing ringing or roaring in the ears, it is called “tinnitus.”

Finally, one can suffer hearing loss because of a virus, bacteria, head or ear trauma, heart conditions or reactions to certain medicines.

There are two main kinds of hearing loss:
• Conductive loss happens because of a mechanical problem like fluid in the ear. This can prevent the bones in the ear from conducting sound or the eardrum from vibrating correctly.
• Nerve loss involves, of course, damage of some sort to the nerves.

When conductive loss occurs, there is a possibility of reversal through treatment. When nerve loss occurs, generally there is not.

For children, the most common cause of temporary hearing loss is an ear infection, which can cause fluid to stay in the ear longer than it should and therefore cause conductive problems. Any fluid in a child’s ear that lasts for more than eight weeks can be a concern.

SYMPTOMS
If you suspect hearing loss in yourself or someone you know, the Better Hearing Institute notes that possible signs could include:
• A need for frequent repetition
• A feeling that others mumble frequently
• Frequently misunderstanding others
• Reading lips, or straining to hear, during normal conversations
• A difficulty in hearing in noisy situations, such as restaurants or on phones
• Turning TV volume up high
• Finding yourself nodding your head in agreement, even when you’re not sure what was said
• Ringing or roaring in your ears

If hearing loss is left untreated, the consequences can be irritability, depression, social loneliness and, possibly, risks to personal safety. Some hearing loss can be kept from worsening if it is treated in time.

PREVENTING HEARING LOSS
What can we do to prevent hearing loss? The number one preventable cause of hearing loss is exposure to very loud noise. Always wear ear plugs when participating
in a loud activity, with loud being 80 decibels or greater. Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noise, even with earplugs.

Avoid drugs that have “ototoxic” side effects — meaning that they can cause hearing impairment. According to The Center for Hearing Loss in Stewartsville, Pa., there are more than 600 prescription and non-prescription drugs that can cause hearing loss in some people, and it advises patients to ask their doctor about the possible side effects from each drug they are taking.

If you have the kind of ears that seem to produce a lot of earwax, you may need to get them cleaned by a medical professional. Cotton swabs may make the problem worse.

Never put anything into your ear canal. Some health professionals caution about cotton swabs, noting that they could possibly damage eardrums if misused.

Have annual ear and hearing exams by ear-nose-throat specialists.

Newborn children should have their hearing tested every few months for the first year.

Children should be vaccinated for basic childhood diseases, such as mumps, which can cause hearing loss.

For children, the number one cause of acquired hearing loss is “otitis media,” or middle ear infection. Symptoms include ear pain, fussiness, ear-tugging and inattentiveness. When small children and babies have colds, fevers or sore throats, they should always be seen by a doctor.

Check with your doctor before flying when you have a cold or are congested, as it might be best for you to take a prescription medicine to protect the ears from air pressure changes while flying.

Any prolonged exposure to noises over 80 decibels can cause hearing loss. Here are the usual decibel peaks of common noises:
Rock concerts or firecrackers —140 decibels
Snowmobile —120 decibels
Chainsaw — 100 decibels
Wood shop — 100 decibels
Lawnmower, motorcycle — 90 decibels
City traffic noise — 80 decibels
Normal conversation — 60 decibels
Refrigerator humming — 40 decibels
Whispered voice — 20 decibels

THE LOUDNESS OF EVERYDAY LIFE
As one might expect, the boom in iPods and similar portable digital music players and the popularity of loud music, especially among younger listeners, is a cause for concern. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than five million teenagers show signs of hearing loss, but many don’t realize the loss until it is too late.

Even 15 minutes of exposure to loud noise can cause at least temporary hearing loss. Earbuds, frequently used with iPods and similar portable players, have been
controversial because of the potential ear damage.

“My advice is that the volume should not be so loud that someone next to you can hear it,” says Dr. Robert Woods, director of Speech and Hearing Associates in Westfield and other towns. “You should be able to hear the person next to you talking,” even with your ear buds on and music playing.

Overexposure to loud music is not restricted to the iPod set. “We’re seeing early signs of hearing loss” in Baby Boomers, Dr. Woods notes.

Some people are more susceptible to hearing loss from prolonged exposure to loud levels, he said. “If your ears ring after a loud concert — temporary ‘tinnitus’— then that means you’re at greatest risk,” Dr. Woods says.

As constantly measuring your or your child’s surroundings with a decibel meter is not practical, what guide can one use? One measure: if you can hear normal conversation above the sounds, then the level is fine. Normal conversation is about 60 decibels; if you cannot hear it, it is because the interfering sound is louder, meaning it is near or above the danger zone of 80 decibels.

So, if you or your child cannot give up your iPod, what can you do?

The “60 percent/60 minute rule.” According to hearing specialists, it is best to use iPods and similar personal music players for no more than about 60 minutes per day, and at levels below 60 percent of maximum volume.

Noise-canceling headphones quiet background noise, so that users don’t feel the need to raise the volume.

Custom ear plugs, which are more comfortable, are used by many musicians to avoid potential hearing loss from prolonged exposure to loud music. They are fitted for each person, and can provide up to 27 db of hearing protection.

If you are a parent, you may want to consider getting a pair for each teenager in the house.