/ 202 wellness / feeling great
By Connie Short , Arizona Relay Service
The Sounds of Summer Recognizing Hearing Loss
Ah , the sounds of summer – the splashing in the pool , the sizzle of the barbecue and the boom of fireworks . While summer is one of the most carefree times of the year , it is also perhaps the most detrimental to your hearing .
From the loud noises of outdoor celebrations , to ear infections caused by excess water in the ear canal , there are many environmental factors that can affect your ability to hear . And while the majority of problems can be avoided through proper prevention , such as ear plugs , disinfecting drops and regular check-ups with a physician , chances are you have been exposed to some levels of dangerous noise .
In fact , according to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing ( ACDHH ), there are thousands of individuals in Arizona living with hearing loss and they don ’ t even know it .
Not recognizing your own degree of hearing loss can be harmful for a number of reasons . It can be easy to brush off fading hearing until it interferes with day-to-day activities , but you can actually put yourself more at risk by not addressing hearing loss early on . For example , it is easy to expose yourself to further damage by being less sensitive to harmful volume levels .
Since not all sounds register the same way in the ear , hearing loss can be tricky to identify . As someone working with technology designed specifically for the deaf , hard of hearing or those who have difficult speaking , I have seen how different one ’ s perception of their own abilities can vary from what is being communicated .
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