May is Better Hearing Month
Did you know that approximately 36 million Americans suffer from hearing loss? It's a more serious problem than many realize. But May is Better Hearing Month and we want to do our part to promote better hearing health.
Most people think that hearing loss only really happens to old people but more than half of the people with hearing loss are under the age of 65. Not only that but it is the 3rd most common health problem in the United States. There are various factors that can cause hearing loss, including:
- Exposure to excessive loud noise
- Illness or certain medications
- Harm of the inner ear or ear drum from contact w/ a foreign object (i.e. cotton swabs, fingers, bugs)
- Ear infections, trauma or ear disease
It is extremely important to take precautions and do what you can to prevent hearing loss because there are certain things that are completely in your control:
- Wear hearing protection when around sounds louder than 85 decibels.
- Turn down the volume when listening to anything with headphones.
- Do not put anything in your ear!
May is Better Hearing Month, so make a promise to yourself that, from now on, you'll take better care of your ears.