Archive for the ‘hearing damage’ Category

A friend forwarded us the SmartMoney.com article “10 Things Movie Theaters Won’t Tell You.” The list contains some interesting information — theaters prefer that you don’t come to a movie on opening night, and concessions usually account for about 25 percent of a theater’s revenue, for example. But what’s most applicable to our Hearing Aid Blog came in at number nine on the list: “Going to the movies could be hazardous to your hearing.”

The article states that decibel levels are different at every movie theater, but the loud special effects of some action films can be as dangerous to your hearing as sounds at a loud rock concert. According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, this can possibly contribute to hearing loss.

In the article, the director of public education for the Center for Hearing and Communication says that they have received complaints about movie theater noise levels. What’s more is that people who have complained to the movie theater, says the director, “have been met with resistance.”

Even though movie theaters may not be cooperative in keeping sound levels to safe levels, there’s something you can do to help prevent hearing loss. The article notes that you can purchase a sound level meter, which will measure the decibels around you.

Protecting yourself from hearing loss is very important. Exposure to loud noises, whether it’s from a loud concert or MP3 player, can potentially cause lasting damage. If you are currently suffering from hearing loss and have questions about hearing aids, contact us at Hearing Aid Express — we’ll be happy to help you. We carry a wide selection of hearing aids from Starkey, Unitron, ReSound and more.

There’s a great article in last week’s New York Daily News that talks about how iPods and loud music are causing hearing damage — and younger people are exposed to this problem much earlier.

As a Dr. Ellen Finkelstein, a board certified audiologist quoted in the article, notes, how long young people are exposed to loud noises from cell phones and iPods plays a big part in hearing damage. Not just the decibel level is to blame here.

Over 85 decibels, sounds are considered dangerous, and those exposed may suffer permanent hearing loss over time. Though it may be hard to imagine how loud 85 decibels is, it’s a fact that the new iPods are capable of producing sounds as loud as 130 decibels. That’s quite a bit more than 85, and, as the article points out, the battery allows people to listen continuously — much longer than Walkmans allowed.

Dr. Finkelstein also mentions in the article that they “usually see hearing loss initially in the higher frequency ranges.”

So what to do about hearing damage and hearing loss from loud music and iPods? For some, the simple advice may be tough to follow: if it’s too loud, turn it down.

Do You Have Hearing Damage?

If you suspect or know that you have hearing damage, Hearing Aid Express is proud to offer free hearing evaluations. There is no obligation to buy hearing aids with this offer. And if you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids, our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you.

We carry an impressive selection of hearing aids at our stores, which are conveniently located in Austin, Dallas and Houston. From Starkey hearing aids to Unitron hearing aids, to ReSound hearing aids, we will likely have something for you. We also now feature a new tinnitus treatment.

Stop by one of our hearing aid stores, or contact us online.