Everything has a national day, week or month now so it would be fair to say we get fed up of them all and view them with some disdain. October is the national month of protecting your hearing and this is one event not be viewed with any disdain. Protecting your hearing is\u00a0important<\/b>\u00a0and absolutely essential to every day life. If you\u2019re a regular here, you\u2019ll know that protecting your hearing is something very close to our hearts and we won\u2019t stop shouting about it until everyone feels the same way we do.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s not until you stop and really think about the part hearing plays in your life that you realise how important it is. Being able to hear properly is essential to your physical and emotional health which inevitably leads to a better quality of life. Being able to hear, whether that is in the form of laughter, music or conversation creates memories that we can hold dearly for a lifetime.<\/p>\n
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The only form of hearing loss that is preventable is noise-induced and that is not a fact to be taken lightly. It only takes a noise over 85dB to cause damage to your hearing. Noises that regularly reach over 85dB are a food blender, lawn mower and car wash. The important thing to remember about noise induced hearing loss is that it is not just the loudness of the noise, but also the length of time you have been exposed to the noise. There are some free apps that you can download to a smartphone which can measure the level of noise around you to help you manage the time you are spending around loud noises.<\/p>\n
When using heavy machinery, attending a loud concert or fireworks display it is advisable to use ear protection such as ear plugs. It is a scary thought that your food blender can reach such high levels of noise but as long as you are not using the blender for hours at a time, you should be fine. If you are ever in any doubt about how to protect your hearing, it is always best to be cautious and ask for advice or wear protection.<\/p>\n