Everyday sounds of traffic roaring, leaf blowers whining, jackhammers thudding and airplanes rumbling are more than background noise. When loud enough and sustained over time, these sounds can cause permanent hearing damage. Noise-related hearing loss can affect people at any age, so it’s important to get in the habit of safeguarding your hearing.
The sound of development
As greater Billings continues to expand, increased noise goes along with growth. Avoiding prolonged noise exposure and preserving your hearing are part of taking care of your overall health, according to Tracy Hayden, audiologist and owner of Big Sky Audiology in Billings. “Gradual hearing loss starts off as a small snowball that can eventually cause or contribute to other health problems like stress-related illnesses, hypertension, sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating and lost productivity,” she said.
Cover your ears
Keep ear protection handy in your car or purse so you can use it anytime, Hayden advised. Use ear plugs or noise-reducing earmuffs when you’re around loud machinery, near a construction site or in heavy traffic. Even better, Big Sky Audiology can mold specialty ear plugs to help mitigate the risks of excess noise.
Use caution when drowning out sound
If you tend to slap on headphones and crank up the music in a noisy atmosphere, you could be accelerating hearing loss. “I would caution people who use headphones and music as protection. In reality, listening to music too loud can be more dangerous than noise pollution,” Hayden said. Be conscious of how loud your music is, and moderate the sound level.
Choose seats that save your ears
For concerts or sporting events where sound can reach ear-damaging levels, choose seats that are away from speakers and bring ear protection, Hayden recommended. “That doesn’t necessarily mean heading up to the nosebleeds,” she said. “There are seats on the lower levels that are off to the side and better for people who are concerned about their hearing.”
Look for quieter machines
If you’re buying new power tools, toys or recreational vehicles, look for quieter models. “With some tools, noise is inevitable,” Hayden said. “Always use ear protection, either muffs or plugs. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re using them correctly.”
Keeping equipment like lawn mowers, leaf blowers and trimmers lubricated and maintained also helps reduce noise. “Routine maintenance on motorized equipment lessens the potential for extra loud noises,” Hayden said.
Check your phone
You can install an app on your phone that monitors sound and shows the decibel levels. “Monitoring how loud the world is can be super helpful, because most people don’t have a clear idea of how much noise is too much,” Hayden said.
Find quiet space and time
In our noisy world, a regular dose of silence can help preserve your hearing and ease stress. “People should do everything in their power to find some quiet time for themselves,” said Hayden. “Find a space where you can enjoy silence. You’re exposed to a lot of sound during the day, and a couple of minutes of quiet is healthy and rejuvenating.”
Address hearing loss today
Inner ear hair cells damaged by overexposure to noise can’t regenerate, Hayden said. “Early intervention is always best.” If you feel like you might have hearing loss, get your hearing tested right away.
“We help clients from ages 9 to 90+ every step of the way,” Hayden said. “We’ll do a hearing evaluation and offer some answers, a plan, and hopefully, peace of mind.” Call Big Sky Audiology at 406.656.2003 to schedule a hearing test. Walk-in appointments are also available at their Billings office at 111 S. 24th Street W., Unit 7.
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