Prevention Through Protection

Protect your ears. Turn down the sound!

What can you do to help prevent your hearing loss?

• Wear earplugs when using loud tools, household equipment, farm and lawn machinery, and when participating in noisy recreational activities.
• Pay attention to the sounds around you and turn down the volume whenever possible.
• Avoid or limit time spent in noisy sports events, rock concerts and night clubs.
• Pick up a pair of free earplugs (donated by 3M) at either of our offices during regular business hours.
• Learn how loud is too loud. Noise Is All Around Us posters, available at CBHC for a $2.00 donation, demonstrate how even common household items such as hair dryers can cause damage to hearing with prolonged exposure.
• Encourage your friends and family to protect their hearing.

Noise-induced hearing loss, though preventable, is permanent.

Useful Resources

Noise Poster

Safe Sound Levels for Music Devices

Sound and Hearing - Apple iPod

Hearing Education & Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.)

CDC - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Hearing Conservation Program for students

Age appropriate education program on hearing conservation for 3 different age levels: grades 1-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. Each program is presented in a multimedia format by a certified educational audiologist. Call Kim Loftus at 269.343.2601 to schedule a presentation.

In today's society, we are bombarded by noise- vacuum cleaners, city traffic, machinery, electronic games, and aircraft noise are just a few examples of the daily assault to our ears.

Noise-induced hearing loss, though preventable, is permanent.

There is a great need, and opportunity, for prevention as there is no other such program in the state and Michigan has the seventh largest hearing-impaired population in the United States.

The intensity of a sound is measured in decibels (dB). In general, the louder the sound, the less time it takes for hearing loss to occur. Prolonged exposure to noise above 85dB will harm hearing.

The ultimate goal of generating public awareness about hearing loss prevention is to reduce the prevalence of noise- induced hearing loss among children and adults.

Our founders knew in 1942, as we do today, that it is worth the effort to spare every person possible the debilitating consequences of hearing loss (including communication difficulties, isolation, frustration, depression, or tinnitus). Notwithstanding are the financial savings to society when someone is a fully functioning member of the community without the limiting effects of hearing loss.

We know prevention programs work.

In 2006 more than 650 students participated in classroom presentations on preventing hearing loss. Post tests were administered to 95 high school students three months following the classroom presentation. The data shows that the students remain very knowledgeable about key messages in the presentation and are actively protecting their hearing: 

• 93% realize that loud noise damages hearing.
• 98% know that they can prevent hearing loss.
• 96% know that earplugs are one way to protect ears from noise damage.
• 56% are continuing to take steps to protect their hearing.

Also we continue to partner with the Kalamazoo Speedway to promote the use of earplugs at the racetrack during the racing season, and give out earplugs at health fairs throughout the year.

Our focus during the 2006-2007 school year is to reach high school and college age students in order to increase their awareness of noise-induced hearing loss and influence them to engage in safe hearing behaviors.

Funding provided by Greater Kalamazoo United Way