hearing loss advocacy

[zinzan]

Okay...questions du jour, folks. Since the introduction of my HAs to my life last month, "healthier hearing" is probably much more noticeable to me than it might have been in the past...I have often thought about it however. I'm probably more aware of folks with iPods blasting loud enough that I can hear them several feet away, or volume levels of music in stores, or those booming and vibrating cars that you always seem to get stuck waiting next to at the traffic light. Or maybe that's just me?

As someone affected by hearing loss, do you tend to take more notice of hearing-related issues more than others who aren't as affected might? Do you speak up about the concerns? Do others pay attention to your concerns?


I had an interesting experience last year at a local self-serve car wash. Up here in the frozen north (aka Canada), the individual bays have pull-down doors to keep the heat in. At this particular car wash, those doors are operated by a compressed air-based system with a push button. Pushing DOWN (or UP) results in a rapid blast of air released from a compressor right above your head at an extremely high-pitched and loud level. I complained to the owner that it could cause hearing damage (it's that loud and powerful), but he didn't seem to care much and walked away. Should I just be letting events like that go, or making more of a statement to help others?:confused:

[jay_man2]

Some things are what they are. As you identify them, just develop a way to protect your hearing. Sounds like you need to keep a set of ear plugs or muffs in the car, and put them on before you start the carwash.

I wear Bose noise-canceling headphones when I'm mowing the grass, using a leaf blower, etc.

[Lucille]

Should I just be letting events like that go, or making more of a statement to help others?:confused:

I think sometimes you will get the reaction you got, but sometimes people might not be aware of the damage that is happening.
I think info statements would be good if you think that the time and place are such that the beneficiary will listen and understand. Especially kids, they may pay no mind at first but maybe after a while they might change their behavior a little.
I think industrial noise pollution is taken care of by worker's comp or lawsuits and when an employer sees that the noise is expensive he may provide protection.

[zinzan]

Here in Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act outlines requirements on hearing protection, but they pertain to employees, not customers. In the example I mentioned (and perhaps it was a lousy example...just something I thought of while typing), the owner runs the place himself.

[Confused]

I know I am not alone in complaining about the volume in the cinemas. In all of the many ones around me, there is not one that my husband (perfect hearing), friends and I do not have to cover our ears in........especially during the action scenes and the advertising.

We stopped going.

I was going to do a bit of investigating and write an article about it, even thought of contacting one of the TV programs over here since I know a few people in the business. Unfortunately my hearing aid died and things have been put on hold until I can hear properly again.

If I go through with this, I will be asking for you help ;)

[Hask12]

Don't take this the wrong way but I have a problem with those that think they know what's best for others. You already took your action regarding movie volume, you stopped going. There are thing you can do for yourself to further reduce the volume, such as wearing ear plugs, sound suppressing devices, etc.
but to decide what is best for other, well I would have to draw a line there.

[Lucille]

Don't take this the wrong way but I have a problem with those that think they know what's best for others. You already took your action regarding movie volume, you stopped going. There are thing you can do for yourself to further reduce the volume, such as wearing ear plugs, sound suppressing devices, etc.
but to decide what is best for other, well I would have to draw a line there.

I respectfully disagree. Providing people with information only gives others a choice, it is not a mandate.

But there may be some who are unaware of the possibilities of damage. I see no harm in presenting info in an article.

[Hask12]

To educate is one thing. It then allows people to make a decision. But the comment was to contact people she knew in the business. This sounds like a means of control, and not allowing each individual to choose.

[Lucille]

I see your point Hask. Perhaps I misread, I thought there was going to be a contact of a TV station; and that the poster knew people in the media biz.

Even a TV show that might start off with a point of view allows people a decision.

[Hask12]

Like I said I have no problem if people can choose on their own. Movies are very loud I don't really know why. Unfortunately, loud doesn't mean anything to me. I still can't understand what's being said. It often amazes me after a movie comes out on DVD with closed caption, just how much I misinterpreted or misunderstood what I was actually seeing at the theater. It will be nice when closed caption theaters become more universal.

[Confused]

To educate is one thing. It then allows people to make a decision. But the comment was to contact people she knew in the business. This sounds like a means of control, and not allowing each individual to choose.

I could not figure out what you were talking about in your other post Hask, so I ignored you. Wow, I do not know how it came across as controlling people! I still do not understand how you thought I would do that, but it is the furthest thing from my mind!!!

I am interested in finding out if the decibel level in most cinemas might/can damage your hearing. There have been many studies here, some saying that the volume in cinemas will not damage your ears (I would doubt that). In the UK they are not supposed to go over 85 decibels, in the EU the figure is 80. From what I have read so far, they go way above 85 to the point where it is considered very dangerous for children.

A friend took a meter into a cinema near here after we had talked about the noise level. It was not a professional meter, so it is not accurate, but it reached 98 often which is thought to cause hearing damage after 15 minutes. This is the grey area - those loud sounds do not last for 15minutes in a movie, so this is why some people do not believe damage will be done. There is conflicting evidence especially when it comes to the young.

Sorry for mix-up. I tend to type too fast and do not re-read and it sometimes comes out jumbled. The above will probably be jumbled as well...I am in a hurry!

[zinzan]

We brought in a meter to test the sound level of the bells in our school (same bell/buzzer system for both scheduled bells and fire alarm). In one section it hit 119dB, which was nuts. Ended up having to put in a work order to have the volume reduced on the unit, but I'm not convinced the powers that be really took it all that seriously.

[Neilk]

I could not figure out what you were talking about in your other post Hask, so I ignored you. Wow, I do not know how it came across as controlling people! I still do not understand how you thought I would do that, but it is the furthest thing from my mind!!!

I am interested in finding out if the decibel level in most cinemas might/can damage your hearing. There have been many studies here, some saying that the volume in cinemas will not damage your ears (I would doubt that). In the UK they are not supposed to go over 85 decibels, in the EU the figure is 80. From what I have read so far, they go way above 85 to the point where it is considered very dangerous for children.

A friend took a meter into a cinema near here after we had talked about the noise level. It was not a professional meter, so it is not accurate, but it reached 98 often which is thought to cause hearing damage after 15 minutes. This is the grey area - those loud sounds do not last for 15minutes in a movie, so this is why some people do not believe damage will be done. There is conflicting evidence especially when it comes to the young.

Sorry for mix-up. I tend to type too fast and do not re-read and it sometimes comes out jumbled. The above will probably be jumbled as well...I am in a hurry!

I fully agree with you on this. There does need to be some manner of control whether people like it or not. The movie theater is an open venue to the public. People do not go to them anticipating physical damage. Nor are most people educated enough to realize that they will be physically damaged by volume that is over a safe level. We know better because we are already damaged. I'm sure we'd all like to see more activity on this board, more posting. But its a hell of a way to get it, to bring more people in here by damaging folks hearing without their knowledge. If I correctly understand what you are saying, movie theater volume should be controlled, or at the least people made aware that theaters may exceed the prescribed volume levels and damage their hearing permanently.

[Shi-Ku Chishiki]

Hask12 said in part..

Don't take this the wrong way but I have a problem with those that think they know what's best for others.. but to decide what is best for other, well I would have to draw a line there.

To quote you, ie: "Don't take this the wrong way but.."

Let's see if I get this right. You're driving down the road and seem to be the only one around. All at once, as you round a curve, you see someone standing on the rail edge of the approaching bridge. :confused: It's quite obvious they're looking to jump off and in most likely kill themselves in doing so. :eek:

To quote you again, ie: You "have a problem with those that think they know what's best for others.. but to decide what is best for other, well I would have to draw a line there." Seeing you know it would be best for that person NOT to jump..."

Yeah, you're right. Might as well just pass them by even though you "know what's best for them". :rolleyes: My question is..

"Would you wave as you go by!?

Shi-Ku Chishiki ShiKu.Chishiki@Gmail.com

[Neilk]

Hahahaha Shi-Ku, very good. How about just give them the extra push they need :D

Control and limitation of freedoms is one thing, but protecting those that are unaware from someone's dangerous actions are something else. Yeah, it sounds better blasting out loud, so what if it destroys the hearing of everyone who paid money to enjoy it. Rock concerts sounded best blasting out as loud as can be too ... now there's a whole bunch of half deaf people walking around as a result. But hey, it makes those of us wearing hearing aids blend in more, right? And maybe it will bring down the prices as more people will continually need them as concert venues and movie theaters will continue to blast out loud and not be controlled and continue damaging more poeples hearing. Makes sense when you look at it that way.

[Hask12]

If I still lived in NYC my response to the guy on the bridge would have been "JUMP" but I guess that would be controlling. I would be willing to post a sign at the ticket window at the movie theatre saying like "Movies have a tendency to be loud. Be advised that loud noise could cause permanent damage to a person's hearing." Then the person can make their own decision. Keep in mind that a hammer hitting a nail comes in at over a 100db so you're going to need a lot of signs. And a lot of signs have a tendency to be ignored.