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If you work in a noisy environment, then you should begin taking steps to protect your hearing from being damaged permanently. Occupational hearing loss occurs over time and can sometimes go unrecognized for a long period until it is too late. Learning to identify the signs of occupational hearing loss, how to prevent it and the hearing aids you can use if you suffer hearing loss in this manner will be discussed here.

Have you gotten used to the noise?

One of the major signs that you are suffering from occupational hearing loss is the feeling that you have gotten used to the noise at your place of work. If you think you have gotten used to the noise at your workplace, you may have hearing loss. The human ear does not adjust to noise, the only way to get used to high levels of noise is to literally become deaf to it.

How can you protect your hearing in a noisy environment?

Earmuffs are the best choice for protecting your hearing if you work in an extremely noisy environment. Earmuffs must be worn properly in order to effectively protect your hearing. Here are some tips to help you.

1. Make sure that your ear muffs cover your ears completely. If you wear a hard hat at work, be sure that the cuffs aren't resting on any part of the hat that could break the seal and let noise in.
2. The cuffs of earmuffs should be replaced if they have become hard or if they have cracked.
3. Always check the tension of the headband. If the headband becomes too loose them you must replace the entire earmuff.
4. Clean your earmuffs with a gentle liquid soap and water, avoid using alcohol or solvents to clean your earmuffs.

What if you have already suffered occupational hearing loss?

Earmuffs can still curtail further hearing loss even if you have already lost some of your hearing. Do not assume that too much damage has already been done. There are also several hearing aids on the market that can assist you whether the damage has occurred in both ears or in one ear. Your doctor will help you to choose a hearing aid that can be used with ear muffs. Ask your doctor about a contra lateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid, if you have only suffered hearing loss in one ear. A CROS hearing aid will pick up sound from your damaged ear and send it to your good ear helping you to hear even better.

Protecting your hearing or using hearing aids to correct hearing loss is essential if you want to continue leading a normal life, while also excelling at your employment. Talk to an expert today for more information, like those at Audiologists Northwest.