Cochlear : Everyday noises could be damaging our hearing

Everyday noises such as lawn mowers, noisy restaurants, passing garbage trucks and even our daily train travel could be making us deaf - but there's a general lack of awareness of the impact of such noises, a new Cochlear Newspoll survey1 has shown. On the eve of Hearing Awareness Week (24-30 August), hearing health professionals are alerting Australians to the dangers of noise-induced hearing loss.

"Noise is a leading cause of hearing loss, however, it can be avoided. But unless Australians become more aware of what constitutes a dangerous noise level, and how they can protect themselves, exposure to everyday noises, not age, will be the leading cause of hearing loss in the near future," says leading Australian hearing and speech expert Professor Richard Dowell.

According to the latest Cochlear Newspoll survey, while one in two adults aged 18-64 (51 per cent) say they think about the impact an activity can have on their hearing, less than a quarter (23 per cent) believe their hearing is being adversely affected by the activities they do. This is highest among men and those aged under 50.

And while almost three quarters of respondents (71 per cent) identified going to a nightclub as potentially damaging to hearing, the majority believe that many everyday activities we take for granted aren't so harmful.

For example, less than half (42 per cent) of respondents recognised that regularly mowing the lawn could contribute to a hearing impairment, while around one third (34 per cent) thought attending a sporting event could be having an impact. And there's even less awareness of other noises we take for granted, such as eating in a crowded restaurant (16 per cent of respondents identified this as being harmful to hearing), passing a garbage truck (11 per cent), travelling by train regularly (16 per cent), and hearing a car horn (17 per cent).

"There seems to be a belief that if you don't do something very often, such as going to live music events, mowing the lawn or attending a sporting event, it won't damage your hearing in the long run. However, no matter how seldom you participate in an activity, there is still the very real possibility that it is causing you permanent damage, so you should always take steps to protect your hearing," says Professor Dowell.

Sound volume is measured in decibels (dB), and hearing loss can be a result of both length of exposure to a noise and volume of sound. Noises higher than 70dB are considered loud, and the level at which noise can cause permanent hearing loss begins at about 85dB, typical of a hairdryer, food processor or kitchen blender.

"Unfortunately our ears do not 'get used to' the noises we are exposed to on a daily basis, as much as we like to tell ourselves that. Permanent hearing loss can be gradual and painless, so you could have already experienced it and not be aware yet," Professor Dowell says.

Excessive noise damages our hearing by wreaking havoc on the tiny hair cells in the cochlea, deep inside your ear. These hair cells are responsible for sensing sound and sending signals to your brain. When your hair cells are damaged, this means you won't be able to hear all of the sounds happening around you. And once your hair cells are damaged, they cannot be repaired or replaced.

"Usually, sensitivity to high-frequency sounds is first to go, followed by an inability to hear the frequencies of speech," Professor Dowell says. "While there is no definite cure for noise-induced hearing loss, there are various solutions which could help people struggling with a hearing impairment, such as hearing aids and cochlear and bone conduction implant systems."

Professor Dowell urges Australians to get their hearing checked during Hearing Awareness Week.

"If you are experiencing any signs of hearing loss, such as subdued or distorted hearing, difficulty in hearing the ringing of an alarm clock or telephone, difficulty in hearing the TV at lower volumes, problems hearing over mobile phones, or misunderstanding group conversations, then it's important to consult an audiologist or ear nose and throat specialist," Professor Dowell says.

However, Australians appear reticent to get their hearing checked. The Cochlear Newspoll survey also found that a third of people aged 18-64 have never had their hearing tested, a worrying statistic considering previous Cochlear Newspoll statistics2 showing that one in five Australians has a hearing problem.

Only about 40 per cent of adults aged under 65 have had their hearing tested in the last five years, with men and older adults more likely to have had their hearing tested. One third of respondents have never had their hearing tested.

Decibel measurement of some everyday sounds that could be damaging your hearing:

• Vacuum cleaner - 70dB
• Washing machine - 75dB
• Blender/food processor - 80-90dB
• Heavy city traffic - 85dB
• Hairdryer - 85dB
• Lawnmower - 90dB
• Personal stereo system at maximum level - 105dB
• Chainsaw, rock concert - 110dB
• Car horn - 110dB
• Ambulance siren - 120dB

There is no definite cure for noise-induced hearing loss. But there are some tips to help protect your ears from damage:

• Avoid exposure to loud noises, or reduce the amount of time spent in these environments.
• Wear hearing protection when mowing the lawn or using other noisy equipment (particularly if you're going to be around sounds louder than 85dB for a long period of time).
• Use noise-cancelling earplugs when travelling on trains or planes.
• Cover your ears when emergency vehicles pass in the street.
• Consider mobile apps that can detect high decibel sounds that could be damaging your hearing.
• If you're attending a concert, stand away from amplifiers and speakers.
• Consider wearing hearing protection when you know you're going to be around loud sounds.

Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of more than 2,700 people who deliver the gift of sound to the hearing impaired in over 100 countries. Its vision is to connect people, young and old, to a world of sound by offering life enhancing hearing solutions. Cochlear's promise of "Hear now. And always" embodies the company's commitment to providing its recipients with the best possible hearing performance today and for the rest of their lives. For over 30 years Cochlear has helped more than a quarter of a million people either hear for the first time or reconnect them to their families, friends, workplaces and communities.

Lisa Llewellyn

Llewellyn Communications

T: (02) 9970 5312

M: 0419 401 362

E: lisa@llewcom.com.au

Sarah Watson

Llewellyn Communications

T: (02) 9970 6266

M: 0401 433 828

E: sarah@llewcom.com.au