According to the WHO statistics, that despite the fact that noise-induced hearing loss has seen a steady decrease in the industrial area, there is an overall increase in the incidence of NIHL. This calls in for a need to recognize the excessive noises as the leading cause of auditory impairment in the world. This contradiction is highly because irrespective of the legislation, cheap and inferior products are provided to the employees, and also because the other workplaces have no such legal bounds.

There is somehow a little legislation which helps to protect the general public from the excessive noises outside the working area, but they are not enough. This group of general public is therefore highly affected and experiences a dramatic increase in NILH. There is only a portion of public who understands and are aware of what damage the exposure to sound above 85 decibels can do. These sound waves damage the delicate hair cells lining the walls of cochlea, and responsible for sending signals to the brain via the auditory nerve.

The more an individual is exposed to the loud noise, the more extensive is the damage. The human body is incapable of regenerating hair cells, and hence, due to constant exposure, it might also lead to degrees of permanent damage.

It is important to note that while an average conversation produces around 50–60 dB, a rock concert, and the car stereos and other portable devices duplicating the voice quality is 130+dB. Therefore, it is quite evident that it is not only the industrial work that can damage the human ear but also the self-induced activities. It is hence essential that this “Walkman Generation” too, starts protecting their ears by the use of custom-fit hearing protection.

Many of us even confuse earmuff as hearing protection devices. While they serve the purpose of keeping the ears warm during cold seasons, they do not block any sound. To save oneself from NILH, professional hearing protection, which would exclude the entry of the sound complete, is essential. These devices are specially moulded such that it fits comfortably to the contours of the outer ear. The earbuds that most of the youth uses is built on a similar principle, the only difference being that it prevents the sound from escaping. Such accessories have also been accounted to be one of the most prominent cause of increasing incidence of NIHL among the young people.

Such youth can yet save themselves from the noise by simply lowering down the volume or wearing earplug during a concert. But the real issue comes when there are people exposed to such high volumes for more than eight hours a day. These people can only be saved through custom fit hearing protection. However, thinking practically, the need of the hour is a device which while protecting the wearer from the excessive noise, does not obstruct their ability to communicate.

The professional hearing protection devices are usually made of soft silicone and are suitable to be worn under helmets. These devices are custom made, keeping in mind the comfort of fit so that they can be used for longer hours. An average custom-made hearing protection comes with a 12-month performance guarantee, and hence is an affordable way of keeping your ears safe.

Your hearing ability is too precious to lose it to carelessness! Act responsibly today, and save it with the help of professional hearing protection.