Hearing Conservation
![A worker on a noisy construction site wearing hearing protection.](https://coloradoaudiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Apex-Audiology-conserve-hearing.jpg)
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including the following:
- Advanced Age: This is the most common cause of hearing loss. Researchers don’t fully understand why hearing declines with age. They speculate that it could be that lifetime exposure to noise and other damaging factors slowly wear down the ears’ delicate mechanics. Your genes are also part of the mix.
- Noise: Exposure to loud noise can cause hearing loss, especially if your exposure is prolonged or repeated.
- Illness: Illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes put ears at risk by interfering with the ears’ blood supply.
Infection: Infection or ear wax can block ear canals and lessen hearing. - Trauma: Certain types of trauma, especially a skull fracture or punctured eardrum, put ears at serious risk for hearing loss.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Hearing Conservation
- Know which noises can cause damage (those at or above 85 decibels).
- Wear earplugs or other protective devices when involved in a loud activity (activity-specific earplugs and earmuffs are available at hardware and sporting goods stores).
- If you can’t reduce the noise or protect your ears from it, move away from it.
- Be alert to hazardous noises in the environment.
- Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own.
- Make family, friends, and colleagues aware of the hazards of noise.
- Have your hearing tested ASAP if you think you might have hearing loss.
Whether you experience NIHL or encounter a totally different cause of hearing loss, an audiologist can provide the help you need to resolve the matter. To learn more about hearing conservation, schedule a consultation with Apex Audiology today if you live near Limon, Pueblo, or Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dr. William F. Herholtz can conduct a simple hearing test, increase your understanding of your hearing loss, and offer solutions for treatment. To get started, please call us at 719-247-9000 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!
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