It’s Loud Out There: Hearing Health Across the Lifespan
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The world is on the verge of a hearing loss epidemic. Some 360 million people live with disabling hearing loss worldwide and that number is growing. Young and older people are at risk. One in three older adults has hearing loss, and 1.1 billion young people are at risk for hearing loss around the world. Loud noises can cause permanent hearing loss. In addition to loud noises, the daily sounds of life play a role in the decline of the world’s hearing health: lawn mowers, recreational vehicles, power tools, and music are some of the culprits. Other causes of hearing loss include aging, and certain pharmaceuticals.
While hearing loss is largely preventable, nearly 70 percent of people never or seldom use noise protection. People with hearing loss often are unaware they have a problem. One in four adults in the U.S. who reported “excellent to good” hearing already have hearing damage.
Health professionals recommend avoiding loud noises, wearing hearing protection, and turning the volume down on loud music. Hearing health checks also should be part of routine health screenings.
Watch this session of Public Health Grand Rounds as experts discuss the problem of hearing loss, its causes, prevention strategies, and public health solutions. Learn about World Hearing Day, and the need for a global public health approach to overcome barriers to hearing loss.
Discover how hearing loss in the US is growing and how it affects young and older people alike. Protect your hearing with these tips and resources in an increasingly noisy world from Dr. John Iskander and Dr. William Murphy in this session of Beyond the Data. Visit Dangerousdecibels.org to learn how to protect your hearing. Discover “How loud is too loud?””
- John Eichwald, MA
- Lead Health Scientist, Office of Science
National Center for Environmental Health, CDC
"Hearing Loss: Poorly Recognized but Often Preventable"
- Deanna Meinke, PhD
- Professor of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences,
University of Northern Colorado
Co-Director, Dangerous Decibels®
"Child and Adolescent Hearing Health"
- William Murphy, PhD
- Research Physicist, Hearing Loss Prevention Team
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC
"Hearing Health Among Adults"
- Shelly Chadha, MBBS, PhD
- Technical Officer, Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss
World Health Organization
"Hearing Health Across the Lifespan"
- John Iskander, MD, MPH
- Scientific Director
- Phoebe Thorpe, MD, MPH
- Deputy Scientific Director
- Susan Laird, MSN, RN
- Communications Director
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- Presentation Slide Deck [4.2MB, 76 pages, HTML]
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
- World Health Organization 2007. International classification of functioning, disability and health : children & youth version : ICF-CY.
CDC Course Code: PHGR10
CPE UAN: 0387-0000-17-020-H04-P
For more information, see Grand Rounds Continuing Education.
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