Stock car races. The greatest increase occurs for people 45 to 64 years old. This is almost 20 years younger than we would expect.
Noise exposure appears to be the culprit.
The 4th of July is a perfect time to avert this completely preventable hearing loss. We hope this campaign will help make workers, employers, and others realize that hearing loss is not an inevitable consequence of earning a living. Workers, employers, health professionals, teachers, parents, children, unions, industry, and the general public need to know that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Hearing can be saved by using hearing protection devices in the workplace and at home. Exposure to harmful sounds causes damage to the sensitive hair cells of the inner ear, eventually affecting the nerve of hearing.