Tips for Hearing Well at Work and Play

Disclosure:  This conversation has been sponsored by HealthInnovations.  I am passionate about hearing health, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  Some links included are affiliate, and noted when used.  

Before my life as a work at home mom I was an educator. I taught for 4 years as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I enjoyed helping my students meet their academic goals, but my passions was always in hearing and hearing aid education. I guess it was the scientist in me, a part of me filling that other career goal of working in the medial field. I for one believe in hearing education. Not just for students or adults that have hearing loss, but for the general population to prevent it. Nearly 48 million, yes million, people are affected by hearing loss nationwide.

That number is growing worldwide due to an aging population and persistent exposure to loud sounds.  According to the World Health Organization nearly 1.1 billion young adults are at risk for hearing loss.  The biggest contributing factor being ear buds or in-ear headphones.  Though it is not only music lovers that at risk.  Many working professionals are exposed to hazardous noise including: military, public safety, construction, and agriculture.  Don’t wait to seek treatment, use these tips for hearing well.  These can easily apply to children in school environments as well.  Remember you are the best advocate for yourself!

Tips to improve communication at work and at play:

• Request a meeting agenda ahead of time to assist in following the discussion. Partner with a colleague to get a meeting recap or notes.
• Position yourself at the table so you can see coworkers’ faces and watch lips to help enhance speech understanding.
• Don’t be afraid to politely interrupt discussion to ask for clarification.   Nodding your head along to a conversation you can’t follow isn’t helpful to anyone.
• If recommended, consider wearing hearing aids.  Digital hearing aids have many great features that assist with different listening environments.  They can amplify softer sounds and dim louder and ambient noises.
• Adjust your work environment to put your best ear forward, especially helpful in a cubical setting so you can hear co-workers approach.

Helpful tips for preventing hearing loss:

• Ear muffs or custom ear plugs are a must for people consistently exposed to noise while on the job (machinery, music, alarms, etc.)
• Protect your ears during leisure activities as well (concerts, sporting events…)  Hearing protection is essential to preventing long term hearing damage.  You know that ringing you get in your ears after a night at an awesome concert.  That’s tinitus, damage to tiny hairs in your ear, prolonged exposure can cause permanent damage and hearing loss.
• Limit your exposure to loud sounds (concerts, lawn mower, machinery) to no more than 20 minutes at a time and follow the 60/60 rule.  In-ear headphones or earbuds should be worn no more than 60 minutes at a time and at 60 percent of the device’s maximum volume.
• Start young, protect little ears and opt for over the ear headphones (affiliate link) with a built-in volume limiter.

Preserving hearing health is essential for the younger generation and those in the work force.  Studies have shown that employees with hearing loss often earn less, but hearing aid use can greatly increase earning potential.  Following these tips will help people maintain their hearing health.