Dangerous Decibels

Headphone users, listen up!

(if you still can)

Starting young
"... over the last 10
years, the percentage
of 2nd graders with
hearing loss has
increased 2.8 times;
hearing loss in 8th
graders has increased
over 4 times."

Approximately 36 million Americans are

affected by hearing loss.
50 million have tinnitus: Ringing, buzzing,
hissing or roaring sounds in the ears/ head
40 million Americans have chronic Tinnitus
an early indicator of hearing loss.
5.2 million 6-19 year olds have hearing
loss directly related to noise exposure.
Hearing loss can be from a one time
exposure or over time.

What is sound?

Healthy Stereocilia

Severely Damaged Stereocilia

Inner Ear
Hair Cell

How loud is it?

How loud is too loud?

How can we protect our ears

from loud sounds?

Turn it Down

Walk Away

Protect Your Ears

Noise-induced Hearing Loss is

PREVENTABLE

Sound damage

What happens if we dont protect

our ears from loud sounds?

Signs of hearing loss

Frequently ask people to repeat
what they said
Turn one ear toward the
speaker
Feel that people do not speak
clearly (speakers mumble)
Can hear, but cannot
understand all words in
conversations

Other signs

Turn up the volume on TV or radio

Watch peoples faces (lip-read)
Trouble hearing on the telephone
Difficulty hearing in groups or when there
is background noise

Consequences of hearing loss

Misunderstandings at
work, home, school,
social settings
Frustration, fatigue
Avoid social functions
Feel left-out
Impacts relationships

When you lose your

eyesight, you lose
contact with things.
When you lose your
hearing, you lose
contact with people.
Helen Keller (18801968)

What are three ways we can

protect our ears from loud
sounds?
Turn it down
Walk away
Protect your ears