Startling announcement about noise causing permanent deafness

Research shows that 53% of people lose their hearing despite not being exposed to loud sounds at work but because of noise.

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The noise of modern life causes permanent hearing damage for many adults in the United States.

Until now, researchers have hypothesized that work-related noise is the culprit for hearing loss. However, up to 53% of people with hearing loss are not exposed to loud noises at work, according to research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Instead, their hearing loss appears to have been caused by exposure to loud noise at home (through headphones) or in the surrounding environment.

Ambient noise can also cause hearing loss.

Many people with hearing loss don't even know they have it. One in four people who believe their hearing is good or excellent actually have hearing damage, the CDC reports.

"About 20 million Americans have hearing loss due to the sounds of everyday activities in their homes and communities," CDC Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a press conference.

“People may not realise that the types of noise they are exposed to can cause permanent damage. The louder the noise and the more you are exposed to it, the greater your risk of hearing loss.”

According to the CDC, hearing loss is the third most common chronic problem in the United States. Approximately 40 million Americans aged 20-69 have hearing loss in one or both ears that is related to noise exposure.

Loud noise causes hearing loss by permanently damaging the hair cells in the inner ear when exposed to sound waves. The ability to hear sounds and noise is based on the signals that the hair cells send to the brain.

Hearing damage can occur when we are exposed to sounds above 85 decibels (dB) for a period of time.

- Traffic noise in a car is 80 dB.

- Leaf or dust blowers operate at 90 dB and can cause hearing damage after 2 hours of exposure.

- A live sporting event generates 100 dB of noise and causes hearing damage after 14 minutes of exposure.

- A rock concert produces 110 dB of sound that causes hearing damage within 2 minutes.

- A loud siren produces 120 dB causing hearing damage within 1 minute.

To see how harmful these noises are, CDC researchers analyzed more than 3,500 hearing tests conducted on participants in a 2012 national health and nutrition survey.

They found that one in five people who did not work in a noisy environment had hearing damage from other noises in their living environment. The damage was shown by a marked decline in the ability to hear sounds, appearing as early as age 20.

People are more likely to lose their hearing as they age. About 19% of young adults ages 20-29 have hearing loss, and that number increases to 27% of adults ages 50-59. That’s why the CDC recommends that everyone get their hearing checked regularly.

Work-related hearing loss remains a problem. New research shows that nearly one-third of people who work in noisy environments have hearing loss in one or both ears, notes Dr. Anne Schuchat.

To prevent hearing damage, you should:

- Regular hearing check.

- Avoid noisy places when possible.

- Protect your hearing with earplugs, earmuffs or noise-canceling headphones.

- Turn down the volume when watching TV or listening to music, especially if you use headphones.

According to VNN