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How can I protect my hearing?

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING:
   
   Hearing allows you to interact with the world around you. As a child, you learn to speak by listening to and imitating the voices of others. Babies who are deaf have a hard time learning to speak clearly and adults who develop a hearing loss over time, gradually experience increased difficulty in communicating with those around them.



2. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF NOISE?
   
   Too much noise can cause lasting damage to your hearing and next to age it is the most common cause of permanent hearing loss and can therefore usually not be corrected surgically or medically.
   
   Frequent exposure to loud or moderately loud noise over a long period of time can damage the fine hair cells of the inner ear. Cells and nerves in the inner ear are destroyed by continuous or repeated exposure to loud sounds. If enough cells are destroyed, hearing is permanently damaged.
   
   Both the amount of noise and the length of time you are exposed to the noise determine its potential to damage your hearing. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds louder than 80 decibels, are considered to be potentially hazardous.



3. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS?
   
   Although noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational illnesses, it is often ignored because there are no visible effects. A noise-induced hearing loss usually develops over a long period of time, and is very rarely associated with any pain. The symptoms are usually feelings of pressure or fullness in the ears, speech sounds muffled, and a ringing sound in the ears, usually noticed when in a quiet place. These symptoms can last for up to several days after the exposure to noise ends.
   
   People often assume that if the symptoms go away, their hearing has recovered back to normal. This is not true. Even if no more symptoms occur, some of the cells in the inner ear may have been destroyed or damaged by the exposure to noise. You will develop a permanent hearing loss if the noise exposure is repeated and more cells are destroyed.
   
   The first signs of a permanent noise-induced hearing loss are:
   • not hearing high-pitched sounds or
   • not understanding speech when in a crowd or an area with a lot of background noise, such as a restaurant.
   If the exposure to noise is continued, hearing will decline further. This results in a progressive loss of communication, socialization, and responsiveness to the environment.



4. HOW CAN YOU DECIDE WHICH NOISES ARE TOO LOUD?
   
   The following signs should be a warning that the noise around you is too loud:
   • If you have to shout to be heard above the noise.
   • If you can't understand someone who is speaking to you from less than 1m away.
   • Speech around you sounds muffled or dull after leaving a noise area
   • You have pain or ringing on your ears (tinnitus) after exposure to noise.


5. HOW CAN I PREVENT NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS?
   
   
   
   The key word in dealing with noise is
   

   PREVENTION!!!

   
   
   
   We want to eliminate unwanted noise when possible. When noise cannot be eliminated, we want to keep it as low as possible. Here are some things to do:
   • Reduce your exposure to noise.
   • Develop the habit of wearing EARPLUGS when you know you will be exposed to noise.
   • Have your hearing checked. Persons at risk for hearing loss should have their hearing tested every year.
   You are at risk if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at work or play…



6. VUVUZELAS AND THEIR EFFECT ON YOUR HEARING:
   
   
   Researchers have produced evidence
   that the sound levels inside stadiums
   like at the 2010 Soccer World Cup
   provide a serious risk for permanent,
   noise-induced hearing loss.
   
   
   
   The following results were found in a study requested by the South African Association for Audiologists and conducted by Francois Malherbe, a professional acoustics consultant:
   • A small vuvuzela causes a sound pressure level of 99, 9 dBA, and the maximum exposure time, is 15 minutes before damage is caused.
   • A medium vuvuzela causes a sound pressure level of 105,5 dBA, and the maximum exposure time is 4 minutes before damage is caused.
   • A large vuvuzela causes a sound pressure level of 114,9 dBA, and the maximum exposure time is 28 seconds before damage is caused.
   Research conducted by Dr De Wet Swannepoel and Dr James Hall also indicated that peak noise exposures during a soccer match where Vuvuzelas were present may reach levels of up to 140-144dB. They also found that participants in their studying that were blowing the Vuvuzelas during the match experienced the most exposure to noise.
   
   The South African standards for occupational noise stipulates that workers that are exposed to noise levels of 85dB and above are required to wear hearing protectors. Based on these standards as well as the research findings, it is clearly indicated that spectators at the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be exposed to noise levels that will cause damage to their hearing and that they should therefore wear hearing protectors for the duration of the match if they wish to protect their hearing for the future.