Things you Should Know About Hearing Protection

Hearing protection is critical to saving your hearing. Even when you’re doing all you need to do; it might not be enough. The good news is that Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center is here to educate you on the things you should know about hearing protection to better protect your hearing for the future. Our advanced hearing clinics near Naples and Estero provide you with custom hearing protection and ear impressions to help save your hearing. Our goal is to help you improve your quality of life and boost your hearing health.

Why & How Hearing Loss Can Occur

Hearing loss doesn’t usually happen overnight. It’s a cumulative injury that most commonly stems from not using hearing protection and layering the damage over a period. When you’re exposed to loud noises, your cochlea’s nerve cells deteriorate and cannot correctly send electrical signals to your brain.

Who Needs Hearing Protection?

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recommends that anyone who is regularly exposed to noise that equals or exceeds 85 decibels or higher for eight hours should wear hearing protection. If you’re exposed to any single impulse noise level that exceeds 140 decibels, your hearing is in danger. Even if you’re exposed to a high level of decibels for one day, it’s important to wear hearing protection.

Wearing the Wrong Type of Ear Protection

It’s essential to wear the correct type of ear protection to protect your hearing. The two standard categories of ear protection include earmuffs and earplugs. Earplugs are small enough to fit into your ear canal. Earmuffs mute external sounds by covering your ears. It’s essential to wear earplugs when you’re in a setting with constant loud noise. When loud sounds are intermittent, earmuffs are proper ear protection. Many people also choose electronic hearing protection to help eliminate as much sound as possible. Electronic ear protection is a popular choice with hunters.

How Your Anatomy Can Affect Your Hearing Protection

Your anatomy can affect your hearing protection. You may not have the same size ear canal as the person standing next to you. Disposable hearing protection is not commonly customized to the fit of your ear canal. You may have difficulty fitting earplugs in your ear, leaving them susceptible to hearing loss. If you work in a constant noisy setting, custom hearing protection is the best answer to protect your hearing. One of the many services we provide to our patients is custom ear protection so your ears are protected and comfortable in any setting.

How to Reduce Chances of Occupational Hearing Loss

There are multiple options to help reduce chances of occupational hearing loss, including:

• Properly maintain and lubricate equipment
• Build sound barriers to reduce noise
• Wear the correct noise-reducing PPE
• Limit individual time around the source of noise
• Take breaks away from the noise

Contact Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center

If you suspect you may have hearing loss, we provide routine ear exams and hearing aid services. We’re committed to offering the most innovative and effective hearing aid technology. We’ll help determine if you need hearing protection for your lifestyle. To meet your needs, we have multiple hearing clinic locations; one in Estero, FL, and two in Naples, FL. Contact us today for more information and to make an appointment.