Over 36 million Americans

Suffer from Hearing Loss!

That is over 4 times the amount of people living in New York City!

Over 18 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss are

younger than 65.

3 Types of Hearing Loss• Sensorineural Hearing Loss

o Hearing loss caused by aging, illness, and excessive exposure to noise (noise-induced hearing loss).

• Conductive Hearing Loss o Hearing loss occurs when sound waves are prevented from

reaching the inner ear.

• Mixed Hearing Loss o Hearing loss caused by a combination of both

sensorineural and conductive hearing losses.

Noise-Induced Hearing Lossor NIHL is on the rise in America.Our ears are exposed to higher levels of noise more today than ever before. This hearing loss is:

Permanent 100% Preventable

Can occur at any age!

How We Hear: Outer EarThe outermost part of the ear is called the pinna. The pinna acts

like a funnel directing sound waves into the ear canal.

The sound waves then travel through the ear canal to the ear

drum.

The sound waves vibrate the ear drum and those vibrations are transmitted to the middle

ear.

How We Hear: Middle EarThe middle ear is made up of the hammer, anvil, and stirrup bones.

These three bones are the smallest in the body and are collectively

known as the ossicles.

The ossicles amplify and transfer the sound vibrations from the ear

drum to the inner ear. hammer

anvil

stirrup

How We Hear: Inner Ear

The inner ear is made up of the semicircular canals and the

cochlea.

Each part of the inner ear is very different in form and function to the

human body.

semicircular canals

cochlea

Inner Ear: Semicircular Canals

The semicircular canals are the portion of the ear that helps detect

movement and maintain balance.

The semicircular canals are filled with fluid, and as we move, it is that

fluid that allows us to detect the movement and maintain our

balance.

semicircular canals

Inner Ear: The CochleaThe cochlea houses the organ of

Corti.

As sound vibrations move through the cochlea, they vibrate the microscopic hair cells found

within the organ of Corti.

The vibrations of these hair cells trigger the electrical impulses sent

to the brain from the auditory nerve, allowing us to hear.

From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the Organ of Corti: A Review. Hearing Research, 22 (1986) 117-146 Elsevier

cochlea

auditory nerve

NIHL (Noise-Induced Hearing Loss) Hearing loss as a result of prolonged or sudden exposure to loud noise.

When our ears are exposed to levels of noise over 85 dB,

the tiny hair cells in our cochlea can become disorganized and

damaged from too much and too harsh of vibrations.

Once the hair cells break, they will NEVER grow back, this

causes hearing loss.

From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the Organ of Corti: A Review. Hearing Research, 22 (1986) 117-146 Elsevier

• Muffled hearing or ringing in the ears after you leave a noisy environment.

o This is temporary noise-induced hearing loss and is a sign that some damage has been caused to the hair cells in

your ears.• Trouble hearing certain consonants such as “s,” “sh,” and “t.”• Difficulty hearing when background noise is present, such as

in a restaurant.• A constant or intermittent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your

ear.o This is called tinnitus.

o Often a symptom accompanying hearing loss.

If you think you have a hearing loss, visit an audiologist.

Signs of NIHL

A state licensed health-care professional that holds either a doctoral degree or a master’s degree in

audiology from an accredited university.

• Audiologists perform any of the following functions:o prescribe and fit hearing aidso assist in cochlear implant programso perform ear or hearing-related surgical monitoringo design and implement hearing conservation programs and

newborn hearing screening programso provide hearing rehabilitation training such as

• auditory training• speech reading• listening skills improvement

An Audiologist is…

• 30 dB Whisper• 60 dB Normal conversation or a

dishwasher• 70 dB A vacuum

Cleaner• 80 dB Alarm Clock

• 90 dB A hair dryer, or lawn mower

• 100 dB MP3 players at full volume

• 110 dB Concerts and sporting events

• 130 dB Ambulance

Noise levels or loudness are measured in decibels (dB).Any loud noise over 85dB is considered loud enough to cause NIHL.

Levels of Noise.

3 Ways to Protect Your Hearing

Walk Away

• If the noise is too loud, you don’t have to be near it, avoid it walk away.

• Moving back 10 to 15 feet from the noise can reduce the intensity that is going into your ears.

• Avoiding loud sounds can be a highly effective approach for protecting your hearing.o Be aware of how long you have been in a noisy

environment, exposure time also plays a role in NIHL.

Turn It Down

• TVs, car stereos, and MP3 players are often culprits of dangerously high noises.

• Most volume controls do not have a safety point for when the (dB) level is too high.

• Turning down the volume will reduce prolonged exposure to harmful decibels.o Try to keep the volume at 50%.o When listening to anything with ear buds or ear phones: if

someone next to you can hear what you are hearing, it is probably too loud.

Wear Ear Protection

• If you know you are going to be around noise over 85 dB, the best solution is to wear ear protection.

• Generic earplugs – Must be pushed far in the ear for the best seal.

• Custom earplugs (made to fit your ear) See your audiologist for these, similar to what musicians and

pilots wear.• Earmuffs- must cover the full ear NOT FASHION EARMUFFS Look for the NRR rating to know

the approximate decibel reduction the ear protection provides.

If you think you might have a hearing loss. Visit

www.HowsYourHearing.orgto find an audiologist in your

local area and set up an appointment for a hearing

screening.