Many people do not realize how prominent hearing loss is. People experience hearing loss every day, but what does that mean? Hearing loss is when your ability to hear is reduced. A hearing loss makes it more difficult for you to hear speech and other sounds. The most common causes of hearing loss are noise and ageing. Hearing loss can range from something very subtle and temporary, to sudden and permanent. Hearing loss isn’t the same for everyone. For instance, the decline in our ability to hear certain pitches may differ from one person to another. When hearing loss occurs, many individuals turn to medication, wax removal, and even surgery as possible remedies. The truth is, majority of hearing loss cannot be treated by any of these methods. This is because most hearing loss is considered sensory, meaning sounds heard are transmitted or perceived by the senses. When this occurs, nerves in our inner ears can no longer process sounds like they did before and unfortunately makes hearing loss permanent. Sensory loss can be caused by genetic defects and medical conditions, but is mostly a result of excess noise exposure. In general, being exposed to loud environments over a long period of time can increase the timeframe in which we lose our hearing. OSHA and other occupational associations have worked to develop noise regulations for work environments in an effort to reduce the amount of occupational hearing loss.
Typically, in an occupational situation where excessive noise is a possible concern, an employer may choose have an Acoustical Consultant, like our trained professionals at Memtech Acoustical, come on site to perform various noise studies throughout their facility to determine if their levels of exposure meet acceptable noise requirements for their environments. In the instance there are problem areas, the consultants at Memtech provide full turn-key recommendations for employers to take corrective action(s) without delay.
Does your work environment present areas of concern? Schedule your noise study today!