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PLUGS … PLUGS… PLUGS!!!
By Dr. Deborah Dempesy
To understand the importance of ear protection we need to know a few facts about hearing loss. A small part of our hearing problems are controlled by our family genetics. BUT there is a large part of hearing loss that is avoidable which YOU can control!
Prevalence of Hearing Loss
People with hearing loss are often embarrassed because they think that they are different or that they have a rare condition. The Better Hearing Institute (Sergei Kochin PhD, Washington DC 2010), estimated that 31.5 million people report a hearing difficulty; that is around 10% of the U.S. population. So if you have a hearing loss, understand that you are not alone. The number of people with hearing loss by age is provided in the graph below.
Did You Know?
Three in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss, one in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59) have a hearing problem, one in 14 Generation Xers (ages 29-40) already have hearing loss, and 1.4 million children (18 or younger) have hearing problems. Hearing loss is the #1 birth defect in the U.S.
Common Myths
Hearing loss affects only “Old People” and is merely a sign of aging. Actually it is the reverse of what most people think. The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18-44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groups.
If I had a hearing loss my family doctor would have told me.
Not true! Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical exam. Since most people with hearing impairment hear well in a quiet environment, like a doctor’s office, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training, and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be difficult for your doctor to even realize that you have a hearing problem.
This is a Noisy World! What are Decibels?
The average human ear can hear from 0 dBHL (decibels Hearing Level) to 80 dBHL comfortably. Whispered speech is 40dBHL and average speech is 50-65 dBHL. Loud damaging sounds such as lawn mowers, food processors, blenders, loud music begin at 80dBHL. This level is significant enough to cause hearing loss and destroy the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. If it “hurts” your ears or you have “ringing” (tinnitus) or you feel ”dullness” in your ears after being around loud noise, this is causing damage to your ears!
What can we do about it?
Custom made noise ear plugs, musician ear plugs, and swim plugs or water plugs. Ear protection is made from soft comfortable plastics. Soft plastics form a better “seal” in the ear (better protection) and are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. HOWEVER, our body chemicals will eventually break down the plastic and the ear protection will be less and less.
If you have any type of ear protection – it’s important to “verify” the fit to your ear – to make sure that you are getting enough protection. This is easily done in 10-15 minutes in the office. This should be done at least every year or two. The more you wear your ear protection the more frequently you need to verify its effectiveness in your ears.
Dr. Deborah Dempesy
Dr. Dempesy obtained her Masters in Audiology at Northwestern University in Evanston IL in 1982. She received her Doctorate in Audiology at the Salus University (previously known as The Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Audiology) in Pennsylvania in 2007. Dr. Dempesy worked with developmentally delayed hearing-impaired children in the Chicago area for two years from 1980-1982, moved back to her home state of Massachusetts and was Clinical Director of Audiology at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital for 14 years. She consulted, performing research with manufacturers of hearing devices and volunteered on the Massachusetts Infant Hearing Screening Task Force until a law was passed that required all infants to have their hearing screened before discharge from the hospital or birthing clinic.
Dr. Dempesy has been a board member of the Massachusetts Academy of Audiology, volunteering her time to continue quality education of audiologists in the Massachusetts area.
Recently Dr. Dempesy worked for a major hearing device manufacturer, providing training and education on new technology to audiologists in the New England area. The combination of these experiences gives her an exceptionally well-rounded perspective that she passes on to her patients.
In addition, Dr. Dempesy is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Tinnitus Association, Educational Audiology Association and the Aural Rehabilitation Association. She is licensed to practice as an audiologist in the state of Massachusetts.
Personally, Dr. Dempesy’s immediate family consists of her partner and 23 year old daughter. In her free time, Dr. Dempesy loves to ocean kayak, run, rock climb, hike, read, watch movies and spend time with her sisters, brother and parents in western Massachusetts.
All Ears Hearing Center, Inc.
59 Industrial Park
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.allearshearing.net
(508) 747-4055 (800) 649-4054 (617) 510-5254
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