A new review of existing employer hearing protection programs seems to indicate that there is little evidence to support the workplace programs. That doesn’t mean that workers don’t wear earplugs and other hearing protection devices, but the study reviewers indicate that they may not always be effective.

Review lead author Jos Verbeek indicated that in terms of the big hearing wellness picture, “We still rely too much on hearing protection, which is not sufficient.” In an article published by Health Behavior News Service, a Colorado audiologist agrees, saying that hearing loss is a very common workplace injury and itís very invisible, saying it takes a while for it to get bad enough for people to pay attention.

Reasons cited that hearing loss protection programs may not work include people not wearing earplugs when they are supposed to, and being exposed to excessive noise levels as a result. Also, low-quality earplugs that are designed as a “one-size-fits-all” may not work properly for everyone. Further, proper use of earplugs requires simple training, because proper use consists of more than just sticking them in your ears.

The overall best solution to protecting hearing wellness is to reduce exposure to loud or extended noise, which may not always be feasible due to expenses — especially in today’s tough economy. However, the study authors recommend some less-costly measures such as enclosures around noisy machinery and simply soundproofing noisy workrooms.

Ultimately, people must take personal responsibility of ensuring hearing health. Taking hearing wellness supplements like ProHieran can also help provide hearing wellness as well as promote overall cellular health.

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It covers frequently asked questions like “May an employer request medical information about an applicant’s hearing impairment that is obvious or that the applicant has disclosed?” as well as important information about accommodations for people with hearing disabilities.

Know your rights, at EEOC.gov’s Questions and Answers about Deafness and Hearing Impairments in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Among the professions with high or extended noise levels are industrial workers, farmers, motorcyclists, farmers, pilots, dentists, musicians, and professional athletes. Where hearing is involved, not all hobbies or activities are created equal either. Avocations like sporting clays or dirt biking can also cause permanent hearing loss.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set regulatory standards to help protect individuals against the effects of noise exposure on the job. Determining these levels is based on a number of factors, including frequency, duration, and octave band sound pressure in decibels. When employees are subjected to sound exceeded the limits as specified, OSHA requires feasible administrative or engineering controls to be utilized, and if such controls don’t reduce the sound levels to appropriate levels, than personal protective hearing equipment should be utilized. A majority of companies today have instituted so-called “hearing conservation programs” where hearing wellness is monitored and the hearing of employees is maintained to the greatest extent possible.

However, if you are self-employed or don’t work for a company that is governed by OSHA standards, then ultimately ensuring your hearing wellness falls to you. One of the greatest concerns about hearing loss is that it can sneak up on you. While exposure to extreme loud noises (like a rock concert) may leave you with a temporary hearing loss that generally returns in a short time, hearing loss on the job may occur gradually so that employees are not even aware of it initially. Over time, the loss of hearing becomes more pronounced, and is often irreversible.

Depending on your job, you may want to ask your employer about what type of hearing wellness plan is utilized at work. You should also take steps to keeping your hearing on track by choosing to utilize hearing protection if you feel it is warranted. Also consider whether taking an all-natural supplement like ProHieran for hearing wellness is beneficial for you and your lifestyle.

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If you work in an environment that has any amount of ambient noise like fingers on keyboards or loud phone conversations you are likely listening to your music at a much higher volume than you realize.

For example, if your work environment noise level is at a constant 80dB and you are listening to music on your headphones, in order to overcome that level of ambient noise you will have to turn your headphone above 80dB. And that’s a real concern because 90dB of sustained noise may result in hearing loss.

Also, after a long day a work most of us love to relax on our drive home while listening to some music, but the typical city noise level inside of a car is 85dB, which is just under the level of possible hearing damage.

The take home message here is that you must be aware of the level of noise around you because it plays a role in the volume of your own noise intake, whether it’s a portable music player or a cell phone. If you are serious about maintaining your hearing wellness you may want to consider our hearing supplement, PROHIERAN. It’s an all natural way of protecting your ears.

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