Noise and Health
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NIHL is 100 percent preventable. All individuals should understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health in everyday life. To protect your hearing:
* Know which noises can cause damage (those at or above 85 decibels).
* Wear earplugs or other hearing protective devices when involved in a loud activity (special earplugs and earmuffs are available at hardware and sporting goods stores).
* Be alert to hazardous noise in the environment.
* Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own.
* Make family, friends, and colleagues aware of the hazards of noise.
* If you suspect hearing loss, have a medical examination by an otolaryngologist (a physician who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck) and a hearing test by an audiologist (a health professional trained to measure and help individuals deal with hearing loss).
Source: US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
An extreme noise, like the firing of a shotgun experienced at close range, can permanently
damage your hearing in an instant. This is known as noise-