What Hearing Protection Is Available?
Center For Hearing • December 15, 2023
About 18% of adults aged 20–69 have speech frequency hearing loss from exposure to loud noises for five years or more at work. Once you’ve damaged your hearing, you can’t get it back. Therefore, using the right type of protection for the environment you’re in is essential.
Types of Hearing Protection
Several studies show hearing protection devices are effective at protecting hearing from damage-related hearing loss when used properly. There are different types available for various settings; it’s helpful to know which to come prepared with.
Hearing protection devices:
- Sleeping earplugs: Sleeping earplugs are made from foam, silicone or wax and are safe for extended wear. They’re intended for use to block out ambient noise while sleeping, promoting better sleep by eliminating loud distractions.
- Silicone earplugs: Silicone earplugs are reusable and durable. They’re worn at the entrance of the ear canal and are moldable to fit your ear. Since they’re waterproof, they’re typically used for activities like swimming.
- Earmuffs: Earmuffs are worn over the ears, covering them completely. They’re easy to take on and off and are ideal for workplaces such as construction, landscaping or gardening sites.
- Earplugs: Custom molded earplugs are great for those regularly exposed to loud noises, such as musicians or concertgoers. They’re secure and comfortable and designed to preserve sound quality at places like The London Club while protecting against damaging frequencies. A hearing specialist can assist with creating custom earplugs.
- Electronic hearing protection: Electronic hearing protection is usually worn like earmuffs or earbuds and allows low-level sound to travel through but still protects against sudden loud noises. This type of hearing protection is common for firearms users, such as military personnel or target shooters.
- Noise-canceling headphones: Noise-canceling headphones are great for everyday continuous background noises such as airplanes or lawnmowers. They don’t protect against sudden high-frequency sounds and should not be used for such.
- Foam earplugs: Foam earplugs are affordable, portable and provide everyday noise reduction. They are worn by applying them as deep into the ear as comfort will allow and can be used in various noisy situations.
Your hearing specialist can help answer any questions you have about the right type of hearing protection for your activity. When used appropriately, you can ward off hearing loss caused by damage to important inner ear hair cells and preserve your hearing for as long as possible.
In addition to protecting your hearing, it’s important to get your hearing checked regularly if you’re experiencing any form of hearing loss, as prevention can help protect your remaining hearing. To speak with a hearing specialist or schedule a hearing test, contact Center For Hearing.
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Hearing technology has come a long way over the years; however, one aspect of hearing loss that many hearing aids have difficulty addressing is trouble understanding speech in noise. Fortunately, some of today’s state-of-the-art devices can solve this problem utilizing deep neural networks (DNN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Sensorineural hearing loss causes difficulty understanding speech in background noise. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical energy, which are then interpreted by the brain. This causes the quality and quantity of the signal sent from the ears to the brain to diminish over time, resulting in the brain expending more energy and effort to make sense of it. DNNs may help improve the transmission of the neural code, making hearing easier on the brain. [1] It’s important to know what DNNs are to understand how they can help. DNNs are a subset of AI. They rapidly analyze large data sets so that they can teach hearing aids and other technological devices how to respond to data like a human would, all while verifying accuracy and making corrections. DNNs are beneficial in hearing technology because they can help with speech enhancement. DNNs can be applied as “time-frequency masks,” meaning select sounds—like speech—are allowed while other sounds are suppressed. DNNs can also identify and separate multiple voices, selecting a primary voice to emphasize and secondary voices to suppress. This feature can help hearing device wearers in a variety of settings. For example, at a restaurant or party, the hearing device can emphasize a conversation partner, allow other nearby voices at a reduced volume and suppress background noises such as dishes clinking. Schedule an appointment to talk to Center for Hearing about our vast state-of-the-art hearing solutions today— (239) 434-0086. [1] Published by Douglas L. Beck. (2021, January 15). Deep neural networks in hearing devices. Retrieved April 2, 2021 from https://www.hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/deep-neural-networks
A Boston biotech startup is attempting to develop the first gene therapy treatment for hearing loss. If successful, it promises to offer new hope to the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer from gene-based hearing loss—a number that includes more than 4,000 newborns. The timing may not be ideal, but biotech companies have been largely immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. Developing new drugs takes years, so these companies are better able to weather storms. And the efforts of biotechnology companies that are focusing on tools to prevent and treat potentially fatal health threats has resulted in soaring stock values for many of these companies, even in the face of the current crisis. Akouos, the Boston startup, was founded in 2016. Its goal is to develop the first gene therapy to treat hearing loss and is targeting a specific form of deafness that results from mutations in a single gene. They are experimenting with adeno-associated viruses, using them as vectors to deliver DNA that encodes a functioning gene in certain target cells. Around 7,000 people are afflicted with this type of genetic hearing loss. Adeno-associated viruses are considered viable candidates because they don’t usually cause disease and can be customized to treat a variety of genetic conditions. The company has partnered with two influential organizations: Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, a Swiss manufacturing company that holds contracts with various pharmaceutical makers. Manny Simons, Akouos’ co-founder and chief executive, holds a degree in neuroscience from Harvard College, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His desire to help those with hearing loss stems from his passion for playing the piano. “It’s easy to take hearing for granted,” said in a Boston Globe interview. “Maybe because music has been important to me, it’s something that I take a little less for granted.” [1] [1] Saltzman, J. (2020, June 22). Akouos, a startup developing a gene therapy for hearing loss, raises IPO value to $125 million - The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/business/ipo-upped-akouos-boston-startup-working-gene-therapy-hearing-loss/
