Hearing plays an essential role in communication, speech and language development, and learning. Even a small amount of hearing loss can have profound, negative effects on speech, language comprehension, communication, classroom learning, and social development.

Hearing loss caused by exposure to loud sound is preventable. To reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, adults and children can do the following:

Understand that noise-induced hearing loss can lead to communication difficulties, learning difficulties, pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), distorted or muffled hearing, and an inability to hear some environmental sounds and warning signals Identify sources of loud sounds (such as gas-powered lawnmowers, snowmobiles, power tools, gunfire, or music) that can contribute to hearing loss and try to reduce exposure Adopt behaviors to protect hearing: Avoid or limit exposure to excessively loud sounds Turn down the volume of music systems Move away from the source of loud sounds when possible Use hearing protection devices when it is not feasible to avoid exposure to loud sounds or reduce them to a safe level Seek a hearing evaluation by a licensed audiologist or other qualified professional, especially if there is concern about potential hearing loss

For more information on preventing noise-induced hearing loss, visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/how_do_i_prevent_hearing_loss.html