APRIL 1998

FREE HEARING SCREENINGS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ON APRIL 29

TWIN CITIES METRO AREA
Edina
Allied Hearing Services 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
6600 France Ave. S., Ste. 164
929-0501
Contact: Charlie Stone

Forest Lake
East Central Audiology 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (preferably by appt.)
1068 South Lake St., Ste. 108
464-8486
Contact: Julie Perreault

Minneapolis
Allied Hearing Services 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (preferably by appt.)
84 South 9th St.
332-4337
Contact: Jerri McMahon

Minnetonka
Allied Hearing Services Noon-5 p.m. (by appt. only)
17705 W. Hutchins Dr.
470-9063
Contact: Jim Pehringer

Roseville
Audiology Associates Hearing Care, Ltd. 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
1835 County Road C West, Ste. 80
638-9981
Contact: Ann Napp

St. Paul
Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Central Medical Building
393 N. Dunlap, Ste. 600
645-0691
Contact: Blake Strand

Woodbury
Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Valley Creek Professional Building
8360 City Center Dr., Ste. 140
702-0750
Contact: Blake Strand

Wyoming
Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center 9 a.m.-Noon
5200 Fairview Blvd.
982-7651
Contact: Lynne Hawley

DULUTH AREA
St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic Health Systems 8 a.m.-Noon
400 E. Third St.
Duluth, MN 55805
218/725-3420
Contact: Michelle Foss

ROCHESTER AREA
Olmsted Medical Center 1-5 p.m.
210 9th St. SE
Rochester, MN 55904
507/288-3443
Contact: Mary Meier

ST. CLOUD AREA
St. Cloud State University 8 a.m.-Noon
Department of Communication Disorders
Education Building, Room A216
720 S. 4th Ave.
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
320/255-2092
Contact: Dr. Margery Whites

BACKGROUNDER

THE PROBLEM Hearing loss afflicts approximately 28 million people in the United States. Of those, 10 million have a hearing loss attributable to exposure to loud sounds commonly called noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL is permanent it cannot be cured.

In 1990, the National Institutes of Health convened a conference on noise and hearing loss. Among their findings, the panel concluded that sounds of sufficient intensity and duration will damage the ear and result in temporary or permanent hearing loss at any age. Sound levels of less than 75 dB(A) are unlikely to cause permanent hearing loss, while sounds levels above 85 dB(A) with exposures of eight hours per day will produce permanent hearing loss after many years.1

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workers to wear hearing protection if they are exposed for eight hours to a noise level of 85 dB(A) or greater. However, many nonoccupational activities also produce noise levels that are considered hazardous (greater than 90 dB), such as listening to amplified music; hunting and target shooting; and using power tools, lawn-care equipment and motorized sports vehicles. No regulations exist for exposures to these recreational noises.

Most of us start off in life with hearing so incredibly keen that we can distinguish more than 350,000 different sounds. However, we slowly lose that acute hearing over the years — as early as the age of 10 — as our ears are exposed to loud sounds.

The maximum recommended time for unprotected ears per day at 90 dB is eight hours. For every five dB increase in volume, the maximum recommended exposure time is cut in half.

95 dB = 4 hours
100 dB = 2 hours
110 dB = 30 minutes
120 dB = 7.5 minutes

THE SOLUTION Education is critical. Because hearing loss is painless, most people don’t even realize they’re damaging their hearing. The Sight & Hearing Association’s goal is to educate Minnesotans on the importance of protecting this precious sense.

This education starts with school-age children. In 1994, the Sight & Hearing Association developed an interdisciplinary hearing conservation curriculum aimed at educating elementary-school children about their hearing. Know Noise® teaches kids about the importance of conserving their hearing and how to deal with others who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

SHA also is working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to add a hearing conservation component to its firearms safety training course for teen-agers who want to obtain a hunting license.

In addition, statewide media campaigns, such as International Noise Awareness Day, aim to educate adults in Minnesota about the dangers of noise to hearing and health.

So, what can you do to protect yourself from unwanted sound? The Sight & Hearing Association, and other experts, suggest:

1. Avoid noise Give your ears a rest. In general, it’s a good idea to divide noisy chores, such as yard work or home repair projects, into small jobs. For instance, do four hours’ worth of yard work in two two-hour, or four one-hour sessions. And give your ears a break between noisy activities.

Buy quieter products. The amount of noise an appliance or toy generates can vary widely among similar products. So, if possible, do a sound test before you buy. If a product is too loud at arm’s length, try to find a quieter one, especially if it’s a toy. Held to a child’s ear, it will be even louder.

2. Turn down the volume Don’t try to drown out background sounds. Radios, TVs and stereos shouldn’t be used in this manner. For example, turning up the car radio in traffic only adds to the noise form the cars around you.

Keep the number of noises to a minimum. Don’t operate a multitude of kitchen appliances all at once, and resist the temptation to blast the stereo or television while mowing or vacuuming, for example.

3. Wear hearing protection Use hearing protectors. Most ear plugs or earmuffs can reduce the noise level you hear by 20 to 30 dB. Ear plugs cost about $2 and are available at drug stores, super stores (like Target and Wal-Mart), sporting goods stores and hardware stores. Ear plugs are recommended when riding a snowmobile; using a chain saw, lawn mower or leaf blower; commuting in a noisy bus, plane or train; or when attending concerts. (Contrary to what most people believe, ear plugs will not change the quality of the music only its loudness.) Metallica, AC/DC, The Who and Counting Crows are all examples of hard-rock groups with members who wear hearing protection on stage.

Finally, you should have a professional hearing evaluation if you suffer ringing in the ears for more than a few hours or if you notice any of these warning signs of hearing loss: