Noisy Now, Silent Later

Too much noise can damage your hearing. An excessively loud noise such as an explosion or a gunshot can damage your hearing instantly. More commonly, hearing damage occurs over a period of time by steady exposure to noise, such as noise caused by machinery.

These are some signs of hearing loss:

• Decreased hearing when you leave your workplace, gradually returning to near-normal
• Inability to hear high-pitched or soft sounds
• Ringing in the ears

Here are some ways to protect your hearing:

• As much as possible, remove yourself from noisy areas.
• Wear the hearing protection recommended for your job. For many work situations, this will mean disposable foam earplugs.
• For greater noise hazards, earmuffs are used. These cover the outer ear and are often worn in conjunction with earplugs.

Noise-induced hearing loss occurs gradually, but it is permanent. Hearing loss is a lonely disability which isolates you from family, friends and co-workers. The time to protect your hearing is now!