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Human hearing evolved in a much quieter world than the one most of us live in today. While our ears have protection mechanisms to protect against loud transients - brief bursts of high volume - nature has not prepared us for the continual din of modern life. Hearing loss, therefore, is a growing problem. There is currently no cure for loss - but it can be prevented. Find out how - and practice safe listening. Hearing - the basics Hearing Loss: Dr. Timothy Hain, who runs this site, is a professor at Northeastern University. Ear Protection For most of us, cheap foam ear plugs easily obtained at pharmacies or hardware stores can be used in daily situations - riding the subway, working with power tools, etc. Foam plugs tend to block different parts of the audio frequency spectrum unevenly. Therefore, for playing or listening to music, you might want to consider specialty ear-plugs. These need to be fitted by a professional, since it requires making a mold or cast of your ear and then having the plugs made specifically for your ears. For more information and how to find a dealer near you, check out these sites of the three more prominent makers of “musician's pugs”. |
