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May 31, 2005
Everyday noise creates serious hearing loss
Noise you encounter in your everyday life could eventually add up to serious hearing loss. Ambulances, bus stops and construction sites are some of the worst culprits for hearing loss.
For example, an ambulance comes in at around 100 decibels. Experts say anything higher than 85 decibels can be harmful.
Standing at a bus stop everyday or walking by a construction site can cause immediate problems. But the real damage happens over time.
"The loud levels can give you a headache, increase irritability, raise blood pressure," said audiologist Pam Mason.
"Over time, you lose the ability to hear the high pitches, the high frequency sounds, and those are the sounds that are the distinctive features of speech."
Experts suggest plugging your ears with your fingers as the first step to protecting.
From NBC11
Posted by 4HL on May 31, 2005 6:18 PM
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