Have you ever experienced trouble with hearing following a loud evening of live music? Perhaps you work in a hectic work environment that is often noisy and is contributing to hearing loss. Alternatively, maybe you were exposed to a loud noise that has now caused one or both of your ears trouble with hearing? If any of these circumstances sounds like you, it is possible you have hearing loss that is noise-induced.
Hearing loss affects all ages; in fact, as stated by the National Institute on Deafness, close to 15 percent of Americans that range from age 20 – 69 currently have hearing loss that may have resulted in ongoing exposure to noisy work environments and/or participating in leisure activities.
The origin of this cause may seem easy, but there are actually several misunderstandings about noise-induced hearing loss. Let’s take a look at some of the common misconceptions and set them straight:
Misconception: Noise-induced hearing loss is witnessed immediately. Sure, people can experience immediate temporary hearing loss following a loud show, but an ear that has been damaged isn’t always noticeable for quite some time. In most cases, noise-induced hearing loss takes place as a result of regular, ongoing exposure to loud noise and it isn’t even typically discovered until a loved one identifies the obvious change in the hearing of their family member/spouse.
Misconception: This type of hearing loss isn’t permanent. In some circumstances, noise-induced hearing loss can dissipate with time, but a lot of cases result in permanent hearing loss.
It’s a good idea to first rest your ears for at least 16 hours to determine whether they have recovered. If you are still experiencing symptoms following this time, we highly encourage you to visit an audiologist for a thorough hearing test.
Misconception: Noise-induced hearing loss only affects you if you are exposed to loud sounds regularly. Contrary to many beliefs, one single exposure to an explosion, gunshot, balloon pop, loud concert or other disruptive noises, can all lead to noise-induced hearing loss. For your safety and peace of mind, it is very critical that you have the proper protection in place if you plan to be in a situation where you’ll be exposed to loud noise, even if it is just for a short period of time.
Misconception: Loud music is the only contributing source to noise-induced hearing loss. Actually, your occupation may be just as dangerous as your interests when it comes to hearing loss. Industrial noise is a primary cause of noise-induced hearing loss. A recent study by the United States Center for Disease Control revealed that miners most commonly experience this type of hearing loss, due to acoustic distress from regular noise exposure underground.
Misconception: Noise-induced hearing loss is not avoidable. This form of hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that is avoidable. Be sure that you wear the proper ear protection if you expect to be in a position where you’ll be exposed to loud noises, even if it is for a short time period.
Je, umewahi kuwa na tatizo la kusikia baada ya kusikiliza muziki wenye sauti kubwa? Labda unafanya kazi katika mazingira ya kazi yenye msukosuko ambayo mara nyingi huwa na kelele na huchangia upotezaji wa kusikia. Au labda umesikia kelele kubwa ambayo sasa imesababisha moja au masikio yako yote mawili kuwa na shida ya kusikia? Ikiwa kuna mojawapo ya mambo haya ambayo yanafanana na yako, inawezekana kwamba una upotezaji wa kusikia unaosababishwa na kelele. Kwa kweli, kama ilivyoelezwa na Taasisi ya Kitaifa ya Kiziwi, karibu asilimia 15 ya Wamarekani ambao wanatofautiana kutoka umri wa miaka 20 hadi 69 kwa sasa wana upotezaji wa kusikia ambao unaweza kuwa umesababisha mfiduo wa kuendelea kwa mazingira ya kazi yenye kelele na au kushiriki katika shughuli za burudani. Huenda ikaonekana kwamba chanzo cha tatizo hilo ni rahisi kujua, lakini kwa kweli kuna misingi kadhaa isiyoeleweka kuhusu kupoteza uwezo wa kusikia kwa sababu ya kelele. Hebu tuangalie baadhi ya dhana zisizo za kawaida na kuziweka sawa: Dhana zisizo za kweli: Kupoteza kusikia kunakosababishwa na kelele huonekana mara moja. Bila shaka, watu wanaweza kupata upotezaji wa kusikia wa muda mfupi baada ya maonyesho ya sauti kubwa, lakini sikio ambalo limeharibiwa si la kawaida kuonekana kwa muda mrefu. Katika kesi nyingi, hasara ya kusikia inayosababishwa na kelele hufanyika kama matokeo ya mfiduo wa kawaida, unaoendelea kwa kelele kubwa na kwa kawaida haijagunduliwa mpaka mtu mpendwa atambue mabadiliko ya wazi katika kusikia kwa mwanachama wa familia yao au mwenzi. Dhana potofu: Aina hii ya upotezaji wa kusikia si ya kudumu. Katika hali fulani, hasara ya kusikia inayosababishwa na kelele inaweza kutoweka kwa muda, lakini katika visa vingi husababisha hasara ya kusikia ya kudumu. Ni bora kwanza kupumzika masikio yako kwa angalau masaa 16 ili kuamua kama wamepona. Ikiwa bado una dalili baada ya kipindi hiki, tunakuhimiza sana kumtembelea mtaalamu wa kusikia kwa mtihani kamili wa kusikia. Uongo: Kupoteza kusikia kwa sababu ya kelele kunakuathiri tu ikiwa unakabiliwa na sauti kubwa kwa ukawaida. Kinyume na imani nyingi, mfiduo mmoja wa mlipuko, risasi, puto la puto, tamasha la sauti kubwa au kelele nyingine za kuvuruga, zote zinaweza kusababisha upotezaji wa kusikia unaosababishwa na kelele. Kwa usalama wako na amani ya akili, ni muhimu sana kuwa na ulinzi sahihi mahali ikiwa unapanga kuwa katika hali ambapo utafunuliwa kwa kelele kubwa, hata ikiwa ni kwa muda mfupi tu. Maoni yasiyo sahihi: Muziki wenye sauti kubwa ndio chanzo pekee cha kupoteza uwezo wa kusikia unaosababishwa na kelele. Kwa kweli, kazi yako yaweza kuwa hatari kama vile mapendezi yako yanapohusu kupoteza kusikia. Kelele ya viwanda ndiyo kisababishi kikuu cha kupoteza uwezo wa kusikia kwa sababu ya kelele. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na Kituo cha Udhibiti wa Magonjwa cha Marekani ulifunua kwamba wachimbaji wa madini mara nyingi hupata aina hii ya upotezaji wa kusikia, kwa sababu ya shida ya sauti kutokana na mfiduo wa kawaida wa kelele chini ya ardhi. Wazo lisilo la kweli: Kupoteza uwezo wa kusikia kunakosababishwa na kelele haiwezekani. Aina hii ya upotezaji wa kusikia ndiyo aina pekee ya upotezaji wa kusikia ambao unaweza kuepukwa. Hakikisha kwamba wewe kuvaa ulinzi sahihi sikio kama wewe kutarajia kuwa katika nafasi ambapo wewe itakuwa wazi kwa kelele kubwa, hata kama ni kwa muda mfupi.