High-decibel auto races are just one of many contributors to hearing loss.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said being exposed to sound levels above 70 decibels -- a hair dryer, vacuum cleaner or gas lawn mower --can damage hearing. So can shooting a gun and noise from four-wheelers, snowblowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers and chainsaws.

The inner ear is lined with tiny hairs that are not replaced once they are permanently damaged. In addition, a loss of hearing is normally very gradual; it may take place over several decades and not be immediately evident.

There are different types of hearing loss. Often the first to be affected are high tones, consonants such as p, s, f, t and d, as well as sh, ch, h and soft c. When that happens, only parts of words are heard, and they become hard to understand.

Mid-tones include sounds created with the tongue and the base of the throat -- ka, la, rr. When people can't hear mid-tones, they simply say they can't hear the other person at all. But if the speaker raises his or her voice, the impaired listener hears it as a shout.

To protect yourself, use earplugs when you know you'll be in a noisy environment.

For occasional use, buy throw-away earplugs sold at most hardware stores. Most are made of soft foam to roll down or crunch down, and, once placed in each ear, they expand to the shape of the ear. For more regular use, invest in an earmuff-type device.

Do not use cotton because it is not a noise protector.

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