All About Bluetooth Hearing Aids
Do you remember the hearing aids your parents or grandparents used to
The Most Common Workplace Injury in the US is Hearing Loss
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hearing loss is reported as the most common workplace injury. An article ran by USA Today pointed out that around 22 million people in the United States work force are exposed to hazardous levels of noise in the workplace on an annual basis.
Contrary to popular belief, people exposed to long-term, moderate noise are more likely to suffer from hearing loss in comparison to those who work in a severely noisy environment. How is this possible? Some believe that safety regulations in regards to hearing protection are long outdated and should be revised. In most cases, many employers and employees are unaware of the causations of noise induced hearing loss. Let’s look at what everyone should know about hearing loss and the work place.
Noise Exposure in the Workplace
Statistically, the Department of Labor found that over $240 million is spent annually to compensate employees suffering from noise induce hearing loss. Ironically enough, many people who work in acutely loud environments are more likely to use hearing protection thus preserving their hearing. It’s a more commonly enforced practice and companies who are aware of these working conditions are more likely to provide hearing protection for their employees.
Those in moderately noisy environments may be cautioned to use hearing protection but are less likely to feel it necessary. Because these precautions aren’t taken as seriously in these scenarios, many of these workers are more prone to the gradual development of hearing loss. A detail that many people overlook is that constant and continuous exposure to sounds over long periods of time can damage hearing at any volume. It can actually do more damage to hearing in comparison to sudden, loud noises in the long run. Unfortunately because we are more tolerant of moderate, constant sounds we are less aware of the damage we are doing to our ears.
Protecting Hearing on the Job
To bring awareness and combat these statistics, the Department of Labor launched the “Hear and Now” campaign to find more innovative ways to bring awareness to workplace hearing hazards. It also calls for better technology to combat hearing loss and protect hearing health. Technology for suitable hearing protection is widely available on the market. Many forms of earplugs and ear protection have features that filter or cancel noise while still being able to hear music and voices. Now it’s a matter of implementing the use of hearing protection.
One issue that may be important to address is the outdated regulations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The current regulations do not reflect the current knowledge of hearing damage causations. Therefore it isn’t a requirement for industries that operate under the specified acute noise levels to use hearing protection. By making it a NIOSH requirement, industries across the country will have to reassess their work environments. While this can be a bit troublesome initially, the long-term outcomes will benefit all.
Industry requirements could change how people look at their workplace. But the most important place to start is for employer and employee to be aware of their environments and how it can affect their hearing health. Perhaps the easiest way to prevent the rise of hearing loss injury in the work force is to simply educate methods hearing protection. For example, a quiet desk job can lend itself to one listening to music all day via one’s earbuds. But depending on the volume, longevity of constant music entertainment during a 40-hour workweek, hearing loss is still a strong possibility if one isn’t careful.
In the end it’s up to us to take care of our own health. Industry requirements may force employers to implement safety regulations. But through education of how we can take care of our ears, we can prevent the rise of hearing loss in the workplace.
If you are concerned about your hearing health, please contact us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services for a consultation and hearing test.
