The 60/60 Rule will Protect Your Child

This post is brought to you by Health Innovations

Did you know that 48 million people are affected by hearing loss?  I remember when I was a kid and my music would be too loud, my parents would always tell me it was going to make me go deaf.  ‘Yeah, whatever, mom’.  Now I’m the mom catching myself saying the same thing.  And it’s true.

Anytime my husband gets into my daughter’s car, as soon as he starts it the music is blaring.  We have both told her how bad it is for her hearing to listen to the music that loud but usually we focus on the fact it’s dangerously distracting.  After reading about a recent study that shows how many people suffer hearing loss due to being exposed to extremely loud noises, I’m even more concerned about her music habits.  We are making this an educational lessons for all of us.

According to a 2013 survey 30% of employees in the workforce state they believe they suffer some sort of hearing loss, although they have yet to seek treatment.  I’m actually surprised that number is not higher.  I know both of my parents have hearing loss and neither have gone to see a doctor for it.  I think many people just assume it comes with aging or worry the treatment is too expensive.

About 22 million employees nationwide are exposed to hazardous noise levels on the job, according to a recent report from the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA).

My kids use their headphones daily.  For Christmas they asked for the popular Beats in various colors.  Many teens are seen wearing them around their necks while walking to school or even hanging out outside with friends.  I knew it was important to stress to my children the level of their music be reasonable but I never knew that it was important to limit the amount of time they wear their headphones.  I’m loving this 60/60 rule!

Here are tips to improve communications at work place and at play:

• Before a meeting, request an agenda that will make it easier to follow the discussion. Ask for a meeting recap or partner with co-workers to share notes.
• Select a place at the table that enables you to see coworkers’ faces and watch lips to help enhance speech understanding.
• Rather than nodding along to a conversation you can’t follow, politely stop the discussion and ask the speaker to rephrase what was said.
• If recommended, consider wearing hearing aids, which help people hear soft sounds and keep loud noises at a comfortable level.

To help prevent hearing loss, here are some helpful tips:

• For people consistently exposed to noise, especially while on the job, consider options such as ear muffs or custom earplugs that offer significant protection.
• When attending sports events or music concerts, use ear protection such as inexpensive ear plugs that are available at pharmacies and other retail stores.
• Limit exposure to loud sounds – including music, lawn mowers and motorcycles – to no more than 20 minutes at a time.
• Follow the 60/60 rule: use earbuds for no more than 60 minutes at a time and at 60 percent of the device’s maximum volume.

Do you suffer from hearing loss?  Are you taking steps to protect your children’s hearing?

For more information about hearing loss prevention and treatment, visit hihealthinnovations.com.