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From Lumberjacks to Landscapers: 8 Jobs That Cause Hearing Loss

by Alexandra Kilpatrick

Hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression and certain jobs put your ears more at risk than others. Protect your ears on the job while you can, because hearing can’t often be restored.

“One exposure to a single sound could permanently damage hearing,” Dr. Stefanie Wolf, clinical audiologist at Audiology of Nassau County, explained to Medical Daily. “People who use drills should definitely be protected and tested by their employer or a contracted company. They should supply them with proper protective gear that can safely and perfectly seal in the acoustics while allowing them to still hear commands.”

Wolf’s mother worked as a clinical audiologist and she saw decades of progress in the technology of hearing aids. However, she believes that hearing loss treatment should be treated as a process rather than a product. Hearing loss sufferers shouldn’t simply jump to the conclusion that hearing aids are a quick fix.

There are two types of hearing loss, congenital in which one is born with hearing loss due to a genetic or developmental problem during pregnancy and gradual hearing loss, an avoidable condition caused from short-term or long-term damage.

About 48 percent of adults in the United States report some degree of hearing loss, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Noise measured in decibels can evaluate how loud or damaging something can be to your ears. For example, a noise between 70 and 90 decibels can cause slow but increased hearing damage, while one single loud noise at 150 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage.

“Look at singers,” Wolf commented to Medical Daily. “Beyoncé, for example. She always has special ear protection on that blocks out the background noise. They’re expensive, but they’re worth it because they work.”

These eight jobs cause the worst hearing damage over time. If you fall under any of these titles, make sure you receive ear protection from your employer.

Carpenters, EMTs, lumberjacks, musicians and air traffic controllers work in environments that cause 110 to 140 decibels of noise, while garbage men, construction workers and landscapers are exposed to 85 to 100 decibels of noise on a daily basis.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hearing loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!

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