{"id":1422,"date":"2024-01-11T16:33:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T23:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/?p=1422"},"modified":"2024-01-11T16:34:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T23:34:00","slug":"what-hearing-protection-is-available-and-how-do-you-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/what-hearing-protection-is-available-and-how-do-you-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Hearing Protection Is Available and How Do You Use It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It is estimated that approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">18% of adults aged 20\u201369<\/a> have speech frequency hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud noises at work. And once your <a href=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/audiologist\/hearing-loss-testing\/\">hearing is damaged<\/a>, you can\u2019t get it back. Hence, it\u2019s important to know and understand what hearing protection may be available to you and use it appropriately to prevent irreversible hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Understanding Hearing Protection<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Forms-of-Hearing-Protection-1280x674.jpg\" alt=\"Forms of hearing protection\" class=\"wp-image-1425\" width=\"591\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Forms-of-Hearing-Protection-1280x674.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Forms-of-Hearing-Protection.jpg 1410w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Evidence from numerous studies suggests that when used correctly<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34770206\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">, hearing protection devices can effectively guard against<\/a> noise damage-related hearing loss. There are several different types of hearing protection devices tailored for distinct settings. Here&#8217;s a breakdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Sleeping Earplugs: Designed from materials like foam, silicone or wax, sleeping earplugs are safe for long-term use. They&#8217;re designed to block out ambient noise during sleep, thus eliminating loud distractions for a more restful night.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Silicone Earplugs: These reusable and durable earplugs are worn at the entrance of the ear canal and can be molded to fit your ear. Since they&#8217;re waterproof, they&#8217;re typically used for activities such as swimming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earmuffs: Earmuffs cover the ears entirely and are easy to put on and remove. They&#8217;re ideal for loud workplaces like construction sites, landscaping or gardening areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Custom Molded Earplugs: Perfect for individuals regularly exposed to loud noises, such as musicians or concert attendees. These earplugs are secure, comfortable and designed to maintain sound quality while protecting against damaging frequencies. A hearing specialist can assist in creating custom earplugs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electronic Hearing Protection: Worn like earmuffs or earbuds, electronic hearing protection allows low-level sounds to pass through while still offering protection against sudden loud noises. This type of hearing protection is common among military personnel or target shooters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noise-Canceling Headphones: Ideal for places with continuous background noises like airplanes or lawnmowers. These headphones aren&#8217;t suitable for sudden high-frequency sounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foam Earplugs: Affordable and portable, foam earplugs offer everyday noise reduction. Inserted as deep into the ear as comfort allows, they can be used in various noisy situations and can be found at local sporting goods stores such as Bob Ward\u2019s Sports and Outdoors. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>Consulting a Hearing Specialist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re unsure, a hearing specialist can guide you in choosing the right type of hearing protection for your needs. Proper use can help prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/audiologist\/sudden-hearing-loss\/\">hearing loss<\/a> caused by damage to the inner ear hair cells, thereby preserving your hearing for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to safeguarding your hearing, regular check-ups are crucial if you&#8217;re experiencing any form of hearing loss. Early detection can help protect your remaining hearing. To consult with a hearing specialist or schedule a hearing test, contact <span class=\"company-name \">Western Montana Hearing and Speech<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/the-connection-between-loud-noise-exposure-and-hypertension\/\" class=\"related-post\">The Connection Between Loud Noise Exposure and Hypertension<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/fall-hearing-aid-care-tips-for-the-changing-season\/\" class=\"related-post\">Fall Hearing Aid Care: Tips for the Changing Season<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/the-importance-of-custom-earplugs-for-protecting-your-hearing\/\" class=\"related-post\">The Importance of Custom Earplugs for Protecting Your Hearing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is estimated that approximately 18% of adults aged 20\u201369 have speech frequency hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud noises at work. And once your hearing is damaged, you can\u2019t get it back. Hence, it\u2019s important to know and understand what hearing protection may be available to you and use it appropriately to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":""},"categories":[9,8,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1422"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1427,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422\/revisions\/1427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}