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Over 36 million Americans Suffer from Hearing
Loss!
That is over 4 times the amount of people living
in New York City!
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• Over 18 million Americans who suffer from hearing
  loss are younger than 65.
• Over 5 million children and young adults under
  the age of 18 suffer from
• Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

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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!

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How We Hear Outer Ear

• The 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 the
  vibrations are transmitted to the middle ear.

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How We Hear Middle Ear

• The 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.
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• The ossicles amplify and transfer the sound
  vibrations from the ear drum to the inner ear.

stirrup
anvil
hammer
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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
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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
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Inner Ear The Cochlea

• The 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.

auditory nerve
cochlea
From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the
Organ of Corti A Review. Hearing Research, 22
(1986) 117-146 Elsevier
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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. To treat NIHL visit an audiologist.

From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the
Organ of Corti A Review. Hearing Research, 22
(1986) 117-146 Elsevier
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Noise levels or loudness are measured in decibels
(dB).
Any loud noise over 85dB is considered loud
enough to cause NIHL.

• 90 dB A hair dryer, or lawn mower
• 100 dB MP3 players at full volume
• 110 dB Concerts and sporting events
• 130 dB Ambulance

• 30 dB Whisper
• 60 dB Normal conversation or a dishwasher
• 70 dB A vacuum Cleaner
• 80 dB Alarm Clock

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Levels of Noise.
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An Audiologist Is

• A state licensed health-care professional that
  holds either a doctoral degree or a masters
  degree in audiology from an accredited
  university.
• Audiologists perform any of the following
  functions
• prescribe and fit hearing aids
• assist in cochlear implant programs
• perform ear or hearing-related surgical
  monitoring
• design and implement hearing conservation
  programs and newborn hearing screening programs
• provide hearing rehabilitation training such as
• auditory training
• speech reading
• listening skills improvement

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• You can protect your hearing and
• enjoy the things you do every day!

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3 Ways to Protect Your Hearing
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Walk Away

• If the noise is too loud, you dont 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.
• Be aware of how long you have been in a noisy
  environment, exposure time also plays a role in
  NIHL.

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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.
• Keep the volume at 50.
• When listening to anything with ear buds or ear
  phones if someone next to you can hear what you
  are hearing,
• the volume is probably too loud.

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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.
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• If you think you might have a hearing loss, visit
  www.HowsYourHearing.org
• to find an audiologist in your local area and set
  up an appointment for a hearing screening.