The Risks
Are your earplugs really protecting you from hearing loss and other serious conditions?
You may think that because you wear earplugs, you’re effectively protecting yourself from hearing damage and loss.
But the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that only 60% of workers using hearing protection are adequately protected against hearing loss, with many staff not fitting their protection correctly, exposing them to excessive noise that can lead to permanent irreversible health conditions including deafness, tinnitus, and dementia.
Too much or too little hearing protection also has serious consequences and risks, including not being able to hear warning sounds in the workplace and damage from excessive noise.
It may not be life threatening or hurt but hearing loss due to exposure to excessive persistent noise is increasing. It happens gradually over time almost unnoticeably until the irreversible damage is done and your ability to hear is permanently impaired.
And if you work with noise or sound or in a particularly loud environment, your risks are far higher.
Despite using earplugs, if they are not fitted correctly, have degraded over time, or are simply not designed for the job you do, then you are not protected as you should be.
Find out if your earplugs are giving you the protection you need now by taking the world’s first and only scientifically validated online earplug test. It takes less than 10 minutes, doesn’t require any special equipment, and can be done anywhere. At just £4.95 (including a free retest if your earplugs aren’t fitted correctly or fail the first time around) it’s the best preventative investment you can make into your hearing health.
If you’re an employer, contact us now to discuss providing your staff with access to the test.
As well as permanent and irreversible hearing loss, hearing impairment can lead to other serious conditions, including:
Tinnitus
Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss (though not always) and prolonged exposure to noise is one of the primary triggers.
It is estimated that approximately 10% of the population suffer from some form of tinnitus with 1% finding it seriously troublesome to the extent that it affects their day-to-day lives.
It can take many forms from buzzing or ringing in the head or ears to sounding like voices or music. People who suffer with it often hear noises when there is no actual sound, and this can vary in volume and frequency.
For more information visit the British Tinnitus Association.
Dementia
There is now overwhelming scientific evidence that untreated hearing loss contributes to the onset of dementia, the permanent and irreversible loss of cognitive functions including the ability to think clearly, remember, and reason.
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 55 million people around the world suffer from the condition, with almost 10 million new cases reported every year. In the UK, according to the NHS, more than 850,000 people have dementia, with the numbers increasing as people live longer.
A study recently published in The Lancet states that acting on hearing loss in mid-life may be the largest single controllable factor in the development of dementia.
Take action now to protect yourself.
Depression and isolation
A recent study by University of Manchester researchers has confirmed that hearing loss contributes significantly to depression in older people. Hearing impaired people are also known to suffer from feelings of isolation and withdrawal.
Hearing aids, the only solution to Noise Induced Hearing Loss, are expensive, need to be replaced every five years or so, and don’t return your hearing to normal.
The simple Earplugtest tells you whether you’re effectively protected against hearing loss and related conditions such as depression.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss is permanent and irreversible and is scientifically proven to contribute to other serious health conditions. Protect your hearing and reduce your risks by taking the world’s first and only scientifically validated online earplug test now.
In less than 10 minutes you’ll know whether your earplugs are providing the protection you need.