Whistle While You Work? Maybe Not

               Every day Americans head off to work to clock in at some very risky occupations.  Firefighting, storm chasing, smoke jumping, refereeing peewee soccer, and mowing the lawn are a few.  A recent study found that coaches and referees who use whistles are more likely to suffer from symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss than people in the general population. Regular exposure, even briefly, to sounds above 85 decibels can lead to permanent hearing loss. Nearly half of the referees who participated in the survey reported ringing in their ears after a game, which is a symptom of damage to sensitive inner ear cells that can lead to irreversible damage. “During fast paced games or rival matches my ears would hurt from the whistle,” says one Highlands Ranch coach. That’s a warning that the sound is too loud and potentially harmful.

               Your kids were right all along. Chores are bad for their health.  Many teens find themselves on lawnmower detail at home or take lawn jobs during the summer to earn extra money.  A lawnmower emits 90 decibels of noise.  That’s not bad compared to a jet engine which emits 150 decibels.  Still, prolonged and repeated exposure can cause permanent hearing loss. Power tools, video games, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and MP3 players are other common household items that pack a wallop.  “It really doesn’t take much to accumulate a decibel load,” says composer and music producer Janis Page.   “Add traffic, planes, sirens, and other environmental sounds to the offending noise source and it really adds up.”  If you want to measure the noise around you yourself, there is a free app for android and iPhones called SPL Meter.

               “Most parents don’t realize the decibels their kids are exposed to each day,” says Tobey Stein of the Douglas County Parenting Coalition, “And hearing protection is a topic many people don’t know much about. I used to think I was the cool mom because I took my kid to hear his favorite rock bands with the amps cranked up.”  While researching the topic of hearing protection, she went to her local electronics store to check out headphones for kids and teens.  “The salesmen there could talk about sound balance and other features of their products but when I asked them about safety, they looked at me like I had just landed from outer space,” Stein recalls.
   

               Fortunately, hearing loss is very preventable.  “The very best headphones are the ones that aren’t anywhere near your ears,” says Stein. Still, some sound products for kids and teens are much safer than others. “Don’t be fooled,” says Claudette Anderson of Prescriptions For Success, “Just because an MP3 player has fuzzy bunnies on it, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for kids.” Technology has made hearing protection cool. There are some good high fidelity music earplugs on the market for very little money. They dial down the decibels at concerts or clubs without distorting the sound.  “Girls will think the guy with the ear gear is with the band so it has added advantages,” laughs Stein.