Photo credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
This report on Entrepreneur.com discusses Baltimore audiologist Dr. Emily Taylor. Dr. Taylor became a Tik-Tok star with her catchy nom de plume, Dr Ear Wax, and uses Tik-Tok to teach the importance of auditory health. Not only is she an audiologist, but she also suffers from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) due to noise exposure at concerts when she was younger.
The only minor correction I would make to the article is to Dr. Taylor’s statement that “[n]oise-induced hearing loss in most cases is completely preventable.” According to the CDC, however, noise-induced hearing lose is entirely preventable, not just in most cases. In fact, noise-induced hearing loss is the only form of hearing loss that is entirely preventable.
CDC states unequivocally, “[w]hile noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable, once acquired, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.”
So remember: if it sounds loud, it’s too loud and your auditory health is at risk.
Turn down the volume if you can, leave the noisy environment if you can’t, and use hearing protection–or lose your hearing.
