Safeguard Your Hearing, Decibel by Decibel

Picture a world of silence or sounds apparently so distant about be indistinct or in need of repeating, be it babbling brook, song, or, for that matter, the human voice. That's what some 1.1 billion teenagers and youths worldwide face simply by plugging in the earbuds of their smartphones, iPods, and so on and turning up the volume. Contribute to that such noise-filled locations as performances, bars, restaurants, and sporting events, and you see where I'm going with this.

These are the conclusions of the World Health Organization which just recently analyzed information from numerous studies conducted in mid- to high-income countries. The conclusion: almost 50 % of 12- to 35-year-olds "are exposed to hazardous levels of sound from using personal audio devices, and around 40 % are exposed to potentially destructive levels of noise at home entertainment locations.".

So how loud is too loud? Sound levels are determined in something called decibels, dB for short, and:.

1. Routine direct exposure of more than one minute at or above 110 decibels risks permanent hearing loss.

2. No more than 15 minutes of vulnerable direct exposure at or above 100 decibels is advised.

3. Extended exposure to any sound at or above 85 decibels can cause steady hearing loss.

Utilize this National Institute of Health's "It's a Noisy World" guide to keep you in the understand:

• 140-165 ~ Firecracker, shotgun firing
• 140 ~ Jet taking off
• 120 ~ Ambulance siren
• 110 ~ Rock concert, chamber orchestra
• 105 ~ Personal stereo at optimal level
• 100 ~ Woodshop, snowmobile.
• 90 ~ Power mower
• 85 ~ Rush hour, school cafeteria.
• 75 ~ Dishwasher
• 60 ~ Regular conversation.
• 40 ~ Fridge
• 30 ~ Whisper

Know, too, for example, that a jackhammer will hit you with 130 decibels, while some MP3 gamers set at maximum volume provide 110 dB. When it comes to motorbikes whipping by, they sound off at 90 dB, while blow dryers, mixers, and food processors can be found in at in between 80 to 90 dB.

States the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, if you have to raise your voice to be heard, as is the case in lots of dining establishments, concerts, and bars, you're risking trouble. Very same thing if you can't hear someone who's simply 3 feet away from you.

And have no doubt: This is major company. Worldwide, over 5 % of us-some 360 million-suffer from moderate to extensive hearing loss currently. So, to ensure that you and your children are never ever counted amongst them, make sure to:

• Reject the volume of stereos and audio gadgets
• Tune in for no greater than one hour a day
• Wear well-fitting ear plugs when visiting noisy venues
• Unplug every so commonly to offer ears a break

Simply puts, teach your children to be safe, not sorry. As WHO's Dr. Etienne Krug puts it: "As they go about their everyday lives doing what they delight in, more and more young individuals are placing themselves at danger of hearing loss. They ought to realize that when you lose your hearing, it won't come back ... ".

Enough stated

Furthermore, there are many symptoms that accompany these, most of which have to do with failure in communications, sounding in the ear, or even ear pain. With nearly any disease or condition that may cause hearing loss, you are really likely to see an otolaryngologist, which is the technical name for an ear, nose, and throat doctor. It is critical that you see an ear, nose, and throat physician quickly if you are experiencing any discomfort in your ear. Pain in the ear might also be an indicator of an ear infection, a condition that needs to be looked at by a medical professional before it advances to a more agonizing and dangerous state. In many cases, an ear condition can be cleared by simple ear drops and an oral medication.