In case you thought you didn’t, having a hearing support group is important. Great article here on hearing support groups. Support groups can offer many benefits to those with hearing loss. The article covers the top 4 reasons you might want a hearing support group.

1. You find a community of peers going through the same thing
2. Help you stay up to date with hearing technology. Hear word of mouth on the latest rom your peer group
3. Meet experts. Speakers from industry and providers will attend, very often with excellent insights
4. Social. A place to make friends and meet people with similar ailments.

Meeting and joining a support group is not strange, depressing or awkward but a great opportunity to meet others with hearing loss and a place to share experiences and learnings, both good and bad. Not sure where to start. Let us know if you know of any support groups to share.

A new hearing study that was done by Ghent University in Belgium has found that listening to even 1 hour of music on personal music players like the Apple iPod can cause long term hearing loss. According to the study, this is because your hearing has a temporary change in sensitivity making you think the music isn’t as loud as what it actually is.

The study involved two groups of people of similar age where one group was exposed to varying volumes of rock and pop music for periods of at least an hour. The second  control group,  did not listen to music at all during the study.  Both groups underwent hearing tests before and after the study in which the group exposed to the music was found to show signs of hearing loss.

Research shows that a significant number of people who use personal music devices, tend to have the volume too loud reaching more than 85db which is loud enough over time to cause permanent hearing loss. This is a real concern considering the huge demand of these devices particularly in younger generations.

The only thing that is constant is noise. it is all around us, most of the time.

Noise Pollution

Noise is not good, it interferes in the following ways:

• Noise increases blood pressure and the louder the noise the higher the increase.
• Noise intensifies the effects of drugs, alcohol, aging and lethal carbon monoxide.
• Noise alters the heartbeat itself, and not for the better, by the way.
• Noise increases breathing rate, sometimes good, sometimes not so much.
• Noise disturbs digestion.
• Noise can cause upset stomach, ulcers, acid reflux and other stomach ailments.
• Noise can lead to pre-mature childbirth.
• Noise contributes to insomnia, even when the noise has stopped.
• Noise contributes to irritability, impatience and other blood-pressure-boosting emotions.

Noise Sources

Usually its on-demand, most of the time you are paying for it. Movies, music players, games, clubs and it goes on. At home its even becoming available in high def. Lets not talk about motor bikes and modified exhausts. Why? It adds richness to life.

Noise damage

Here are some of the noise levels you might encounter.

The bad news is also that the effects of noise are cumulative. They start to add up over time. You can’t always go back.

It is too late?

Here’s what you can do:

• Increase your awareness of the noise around you, i.e. listen.
• Protect what you got. Sound levels below 80dBs are considered safe. No damage.
• Unplug daily. Regularly, too. If you’re an IPod addict, listen at normal, human levels for no more than 90 minutes a pop. Then unplug and give your ears time to heal themselves as best they can.
• Consider purchasing noise- cancelling headphones. These headphones are ideal when listening to music in the presence of background noise. Studies have shown the more background noise that surrounds you the higher you will turn your music up. If you can block out the background noise with your headphones, you will be less likely to increase the volume. A worthy investment – great sound quality, great hearing protection.
• Be aware of sounds in the workplace.
• Monitor recreational sound and use less of it. Recreational sound is noise you can eliminate or reduce. MP3 players and car radios are a few examples.
• Cover your ears, wear protective gear
• See a hearing professional

Get pro active about the noise you are exposed to and protect your ears….

A Senate Committee has recommended that additional noise safety regulations be created, specifically around recreational noise, and about time too. With the current pace and noise at live concerts and music venues, hearing loss will be rife, for those affected later in life. The Senate has found that 1/6 Australians suffer some degree of hearing loss and that could rise to 1/4 by the year 2050. The most common of these causes are age, and yes, loud music.

The most common cause of non age related hearing loss per the Senate findings were as a result of ongoing exposure to loud noise, and that this exposure occurred from personal music players (for example an Ipod or similar) and from from music venues. Remember the ringing in your ears after the last time you were in a loud pub.

If the Senate recommendations are adopted, music venues may have to provide warning signs about the sound levels of their music and hand out ear plugs to patrons for their own protection. Or, I guess just play the music a little softer. To ensure national hearing care targeted at young people, alos handing out ear plugs.

The Senate Committee estimated the cost of this hearing loss to Australia in heath care costs and lost wages to be $11 billion.

If you are concerned about your hearing, try our free online hearing test.

You can read the original article on the ABC website.

Testing your hearing – Don’t delay

Hearing loss is a common condition but many people try to ignore they are having a hearing problem and most will try to avoid having a hearing test.  But is it time you checked your hearing?

It is anticipated that as the baby boomers age, hearing loss will continue to climb in this generation.  As more people are affected with hearing loss more awareness will be made to this growing problem.  Still many of those suffering from hearing loss frequently try to ignore it completely even when friends and family voice their concerns. (more…)