Could it be that your job is damaging your hearing? This is referred to as occupational hearing loss and it is very common. Many jobs expose workers to repeated loud noise that will cost them their hearing without the right precautions in place. Consider a few facts you need to know regarding occupational hearing loss and how it might factor into your job.
How Common is Occupational Hearing Loss?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates four million people in the U.S. work at jobs that expose them to damaging loud noise. It’s a problem most industries face but tends to be more common in:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Entertainment
The CDC goes on to explain that a carpenter who is just 25 could have the hearing of a 50-year old due to onsite hearing loss.
How Will Occupational Hearing Loss Happen?
An individual diagnosed with this form of hearing loss is exposed to loud noise repeatedly at work that damages the very sensitive mechanisms of the ears. Think about what it would be like to listen to a jackhammer every morning, only this one isn’t on the street outside your window. It sits just one meter away from you all day. The noise level of a jackhammer at that distance is around 120 dB.
The measurement of decibels considers more than just how loud something is, too. Decibels also factor in sound pressure and intensity. In the case of the ear-damaging jackhammer, the real problem is vibrations. Sound enters the ear in waves that vibrate and anything over the 80 dB has the potential to cause damage. If you are standing near the person using the jackhammer, you’ll probably have some temporary hearing loss. The person operating that jackhammer, though, will develop permanent hearing damage after constant exposure to this high decibel sound.
This type of acoustic trauma isn’t limited to excessive exposure, either. A onetime loud noise can do just as much damage. Consider a firefighter standing next to a building that explodes. This person might have permanent hearing loss even though there isn’t constant exposure to sounds at that decibel level. The intense vibration created by the explosion is all it takes to reduce hearing capacity.
Can You Tell if You Have Occupational Hearing Loss?
Unfortunately, the main symptom of this problem is the hearing loss itself. This presents workers will a real problem because the damage happens without them even realizing it. By the time they suffer hearing loss, it might be too late to take steps to protect their ears. If you start to hear even occasional ringing in your ears, especially after work, then it’s time to find ear protection such as ear plugs or muffs to use while on the job.
If you think you are at risk for occupational hearing loss, schedule an appointment for a hearing test. This is a regular requirement in some industries where they expect workers to have annual exams and hearing tests to ensure they are not having a problem. In fact, it is common requirement for bartenders and servers who work in clubs where ear protection interferes with the job.
What Should You Do if You Have Occupational Hearing Loss
If you do think you have hearing issues related to work, take immediate measures to protect your ears. For some employees, it will mean changing jobs. Occupational hearing loss is progressive in most cases. You can limit the damage by avoiding loud noise in the future.
The next step is to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. If the hearing loss is conductive, meaning the nerves in the inner ear are intact, then wearing hearing aids will allow you to hear once again.
The best tool at your disposal when it comes to occupational hearing loss is prevention. If your job exposes you to loud noise, wear ear protection and take precautions at home, as well. Don’t leave headphones on for long periods of time and protect your ears during recreational activities like shooting at the gun range. The things you do now will matter later in life when hearing naturally declines.