Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is an increasingly prevalent disorder that results from exposure to high-intensity sounds, especially over a long period of time. NIHL is a preventable hearing disorder that affects people of all ages and demographics.
According to a position statement released by the American Academy of Audiology in 2003, the average, otherwise healthy, person will have essentially normal hearing at least up to age 60 if his or her ears are not exposed to high noise levels. Unfortunately, around 30 million adults in the United States are exposed to hazardous sound levels in the workplace. Among these 30 million people, one in four will acquire a permanent hearing loss as result of their occupation. Even though NIHL primarily affects the adult working population, NIHL can be identified in the adolescent and young adult population as well. The incidence of NIHL in young adults is not surprising, due to the popularity of portable music devices (Walkmans and iPods), concerts, and nightclubs within this population.
The good news is that NIHL can easily be prevented through the use of some of the most simple, widely available and economical tools. This includes but is not limited to hearing protection (i.e. earplugs and earmuffs), education, and hearing conservation programs.
Hearing protection is noise reduction devices that still allow users to hear normal conversation and voice, including warning signals, with normal noise rating of around 55 decibels (dB), but block out hazardous noise with too high ratings of above 86 dB.
Now there are several custom hearing protection in the market. Some of them are SonoCostum protection devices from Sonomax, that are made from cured silicone that are custom fit on the spot. These devices are fit in less than 15 minutes and last up to 3 years at a cost which is typically less than half the cost of foam plugs.
