1 year, 6 months ago
via health-qna.com
When should I wear earplugs?
What is considered too loud when wearing earplugs? Are earplugs better than headphones? Can earplugs hurt] my inner ear? How safe are earplugs? Will earplugs save my hearing? Is there any statistical data showing that earplugs preserve my hearing into old age?
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M$1 Answer
Ear plugs are rated to a certain decibel level (meaning they will protect your ears up to that decibel level.) A decibel is a measurement of sound volume. The protection level varies between varieties of ear plugs.
Earplugs are superior to headphones in that even the best headphones allow some sound waves to sneak in. Earplugs fit completely inside your outer ear canals, completely padding them.
Earplugs usually cannot hurt you (unless of course you jam them in too far.) However, you should not put them in your ears immediately after showering or swimming due to a risk of swimmer’s ear.
If you already have evidence of hearing damage (difficulty understanding conversations, turning speaker volumes up louder than others do, buzzing or ringing in your ears), earplugs cannot reverse the damage. They will, however, prevent further damage caused by high decibel levels.
I could not find statistical data showing that earplugs will preserve your hearing into old age, but I did read this on irulen.com
-quote
Experts have noted that hearing loss is becoming more common in children; they predict these children will have the hearing capacity of a 60 year old by the age of 30. This spate is not down (due {sic}) to diseases or a virus but the rising exposure to high volumes of noise.
-endquote
Given that hearing loss only gets worse with old age and given that the hearing loss is directly attributed to overexposure to loud sounds, it can be concluded that wearing ear plugs will help preserve your hearing into old age.
Earplugs are superior to headphones in that even the best headphones allow some sound waves to sneak in. Earplugs fit completely inside your outer ear canals, completely padding them.
Earplugs usually cannot hurt you (unless of course you jam them in too far.) However, you should not put them in your ears immediately after showering or swimming due to a risk of swimmer’s ear.
If you already have evidence of hearing damage (difficulty understanding conversations, turning speaker volumes up louder than others do, buzzing or ringing in your ears), earplugs cannot reverse the damage. They will, however, prevent further damage caused by high decibel levels.
I could not find statistical data showing that earplugs will preserve your hearing into old age, but I did read this on irulen.com
-quote
Experts have noted that hearing loss is becoming more common in children; they predict these children will have the hearing capacity of a 60 year old by the age of 30. This spate is not down (due {sic}) to diseases or a virus but the rising exposure to high volumes of noise.
-endquote
Given that hearing loss only gets worse with old age and given that the hearing loss is directly attributed to overexposure to loud sounds, it can be concluded that wearing ear plugs will help preserve your hearing into old age.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Hi, @malindalou! I agree with you on all points! Looking after one's hearing and protecting the ears in noisy work environment is essential. To add a point, I hear that the U.S. Army is now rejecting recruits because of hearing loss due to listening to music too loudly! Great answer! Thanks!