Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

1. Get a baseline hearing test.

The last time most adults had their hearing checked was in grade school. If that’s true for you, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Adults should get their hearing tested at least once a year after the age of 21. A baseline test will show you where your hearing is at that point. That way, when you’re older, hearing health provider can better understand how much it has changed and provide proper treatment.

If you do not have a hearing loss, you should continue to get tested every 10 years until you turn 50, and every 3 years after that. About 30% of people over age 65 have some type of hearing loss, but younger people can experience it too. About 14% of people between 45 and 64 have it, as do about 8 million people between ages 18 and 44. If you’re concerned about your hearing, call your doctor and ask for a screening.

2. Wear protective hearing gear.

Hearing loss is the #1 sensory disability in the world, and the World Health Organization estimates that 16 percent of hearing loss worldwide is attributable to occupational noise exposure. Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can occur from exposure to loud sound. The critical factors are the noise level, measured in decibels (dB), and the duration or how long the sound is heard. As the sound level increases, the length of time that a person safely can listen to the sound decreases. A one-time exposure to an intense, “impulse” sound – like gunfire – or repeated exposures to loud sounds 85 dBA and greater – like working around machinery noise all day – has the potential to rob people of precious hearing or cause permanent ringing in the ears. It is important to wear proper protective hearing gear and wear it correctly to protect your hearing in any of these environments listed below:

Rock concerts or any type of loud performance
Construction sites
Noisy workplaces
Airports or train and bus stations
While lawn mowing or leaf blowing
Auto racing
Hunting or shooting

3. Monitor the volume of your devices.

While you are watching TV or using mobile devices, keep the volume at a comfortable level. It should be loud enough that you do not need to strain to hear, but not so loud that when you leave the room, you can still hear it from another part of your home. Your ears adapt to higher volume settings over time meaning that you can damage your hearing even if the intensity doesn’t seem uncomfortable to your ears

4. Custom Hearing Protection

Custom ear molds are a great way to protect your hearing from loud sounds at work or at play. Musicians, stock car racers and even some professional football teams use custom hearing protection with an acoustical chamber which blocks most noise, while still allowing the wearer to understand speech and other sounds they want to hear. If you often listen to music on earphones using a portable music or video device, it’s a good idea to have custom earphone molds made. There are relatively inexpensive custom ear molds that conform to the unique shape of your ear canal and attach to the earphone’s wires. You will find the sound truly superior, as the custom ear molds will block outside noise, allowing for better quality listening.

Visit Us at New Leaf Hearing Clinic

At New Leaf Hearing Clinic, we provide comprehensive hearing health services, from custom hearing protection to hearing tests. Your hearing is not a renewable resource, and in the words of Joni Mitchell, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone…” Take the steps to protect your hearing today – whether it’s with custom protection or an annual hearing test. We look forward to hearing from you!