Stars, Stripes and Silence
See how we’re helping service members with tinnitus and hearing loss, plus tips on hearing protection for people with high-noise hobbies or work environments.
Hutchinson, Kansas was home to perhaps the most quiet 4th of July celebration in the Midwest this year, as a group of veterans and volunteers gathered 650 feet below ground at the Strataca Salt Mine.
This special event was sponsored by the salt mine and two nonprofit organizations, Passageways and the Wounded Warrior Project. Their goal was to provide a calm and comfortable environment for veterans who may be more sensitive to loud noises like
fireworks. And it worked — veterans who attended enjoyed the peace and quiet, as well as activities and meals provided by volunteers.
Our audiologists in Kansas and Missouri have gathered some key information about hearing loss from military, occupational and recreational sources to help you take steps to protect your hearing in high-decibel situations. We have tips for everyone, from service members to NASCAR fans to construction workers and many more.
Hearing loss and tinnitus in military veterans and service members
It comes as no surprise that veterans face a significantly higher prevalence of hearing impairment (6.5%) compared to non-veterans (2.7%). Many service members are exposed to loud noises from a variety of sources during their military service, and it’s not uncommon for veterans to continue to work in noisy occupations even after completing their service.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “Hearing problems — including tinnitus, which is a perceived ringing or other type of noise in the ears — are by far the most prevalent service-connected disability among American Veterans.”1 More than 1.3 million veterans receive disability compensation for hearing loss, and more than 2.3 million receive compensation for tinnitus.2
Tinnitus in particular is also associated with other problems related to blast injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What you can do
If you’re dealing with hearing problems or tinnitus, don’t wait to get a first or second opinion and get established with quality care. Your best bet is an audiology team that has all the resources to help you, both in diagnosing the problem and providing the interventions available to treat the problem.
Our team of licensed, doctoral-level audiologists are here to help you with evaluating and treating your issues and helping you identify ways you can prevent further problems in the future.
Treatments for hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing challenges
While most types of hearing loss can’t be reversed, hearing aids can significantly improve the quality of life and ability to hear and process sounds. New therapies for tinnitus, like the Lenire system, as well as tools to improve auditory processing, like Lace AI Pro, are having a significant positive impact on those who live with these challenges.
Military veterans may have access to the VA health system, which has great technology and services for people experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus or related conditions. However, if you do not have access to a nearby VA center, or just need some quick maintenance or repair for your hearing devices, Associated Audiologists is happy to work with service members and veterans, whether you’re service-connected (have a documented disability that entitles you to VA services) or not.
We can help someone who has a VA-issued hearing aid, such as nursing home residents who have difficulty traveling, with maintenance and follow-up care on an affordable, private pay basis.
Hearing care for people in high-noise occupations
Military service members are not the only ones who deal with workplace exposure to loud noises. Those who work in fields like construction, industry, aviation, mechanics, law enforcement and farming are often at risk of hearing loss from occupational exposure.
These industries are known to involve exposure to high noise levels due to machinery and work processes, implying a substantial risk for occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Occupational hearing loss is a significant health concern and is often due to sustained exposure to harmful noise levels in the workplace. This form of hearing loss is preventable but, once incurred, is permanent and potentially debilitating.
Workplace safety measures can help to prevent and manage noise-induced hearing loss. But ultimately, it is up to you to be proactive and protective of your hearing. Effective hearing conservation programs and the consistent use of hearing protection, like earplugs or earmuffs, are essential preventive strategies in these high-risk professions.
Most indoor environments have fairly stringent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on permissible noise exposure levels. Routine hearing tests for employees in these sectors can also contribute significantly to the prevention of occupational hearing loss.
But workers in primarily outdoor environments, such as construction and farming, may have fewer OSHA regulations and thus, a higher risk for damage to their hearing.
All workers in loud environments, whether inside or out, should be educated on the risks associated with high noise levels and trained in proper use of hearing protective devices and other preventive measures. This proactive approach can help protect workers’ hearing health and improve overall safety and productivity in these sectors.
Risks of hearing loss from recreational activities
Some recreational activities are a lot of fun, but also carry a greater risk of hearing loss.
These can include:
- Motor sports, like riding ATVs or motorcycles or attending NASCAR races.
- Hunting or shooting sports.
- Using power tools for woodworking, metalworking or other crafting hobbies.
- Performing or listening to music, especially amplified music like rock concerts.
- Setting off fireworks.
Even everyday activities like mowing the lawn or using a weed whacker can be loud enough to damage your ears.
In these situations, we recommend always using hearing protection such as over-the-ear headphones, earplugs or even specialized in-ear molds that are designed for use in these settings.
How loud is too loud?
Both the level of noise and the length of time you listen to the noise can put you at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds that are louder than 85 dB, such as a lawn mower, a gunshot blast, or fireworks, can cause permanent hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels also can damage the hearing system.
In many cases, simple over-the-counter earplugs or earmuffs that can be purchased at drugstores, hardware stores, or sports stores may prevent hearing damage. Consider custom earplugs if you are frequently exposed to loud noises on the job. If you are an avid hunter or a musician, be sure to talk with an audiologist about these options, including specialized hearing protection devices.
Watch Dr. David Paul explain how to correctly use ear protection during fireworks and other loud environments:
A good rule of thumb is: if you have to raise your voice to be heard, you may be in an environment where noise protection is necessary.
Protection now pays off later
It can be hard to convince people, especially when they’re young, that wearing hearing protection is not only helpful, but necessary to protect their hearing for life. But this kind of hearing damage from loud sounds can be cumulative, like radiation, and you may not see the impact of that for a long time.
One of our audiologists shared their perspective on patients who may not realize the importance of protecting their hearing: “I see the other side of this every day. I might see a 60-year-old who has the ears of an 85-year-old, so that compels me to talk with my patients in their 30s, 40s or 50s about protecting their hearing. It’s an investment in your future self that will really pay off down the road.”
If you’re on the fence about whether all this prevention is necessary, try talking to someone you know who struggles with hearing loss. Chances are, they would say if they could go back, they would have done all they could to prevent it.
And if hearing problems or tinnitus are bothering you, you don’t have to just live with it. We can help!
At Associated Audiologists, all our doctors are ready to assist with preventing hearing loss. We can provide a comprehensive hearing evaluation and recommend a plan of care that’s just right for you.
Finally, as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this year, we want to say a special thanks to our veterans and active-duty service members for helping to keep us safe. We appreciate you!
Schedule an appointment with a doctoral-level audiologist.
1 https://www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm
2 https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2020_compensation.pdf
