What to know
- Noise is all around us — at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Noise is a significant source of hearing loss.
- Prevention and early detection of hearing loss due to noise are important.
- Recognize signs of hearing loss and get your hearing tested if you are at risk.
Overview
Hearing loss can occur:
- in children and affect communication, language, and social skills.
- in occupational settings and result in permanent injury for workers.
- due to loud noise near the ear or repeated exposure to loud noise.
Exposure to loud noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by participating in activities that produce harmful sound levels or by repeated exposures to loud sounds.
Some examples of noisy activities include:
- Watching summer fireworks on the 4th of July
- Mowing the lawn
- Using power tools
- Watching a sports game and cheering on your favorite team
- Attending a concert
Recognize early signs of noise-induced hearing loss and take steps to protect your hearing.
Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health