KHAS-TV
Noise pollution
Hearing loss occurring at younger ages
Most people do not realize how easy it can be to damage hearing
By Ginger ten Bensel
KHAS-TVUSA
HASTINGS, Neb. -- Noise pollution - it seems to be everywhere and it is becoming a serious concern. From your home stereo to your lawn mower we are surrounded by noise.
This time of year new sounds filter though the air - the sounds of autumn.But then there are those sounds that thunder year round.
"I can hear his stereo thumping when he pulls into the driveway.Then I know he is here for work and I can beat him to the back door," said Jose Gama's boss Beth Lobner.
But now after 10 years of cranking the stereo 24-year-old Jose Gama is paying the price.
"I notice I am losing my hearing over time," Gama said."I am going deaf, I guess."
Surprisingly enough, experts said that Jose Gama is not alone.More and more teens are being diagnosed with a hearing loss than ever before.
"Even middle school and high school age are starting the beginning of hearing loss in that generation already," said Audiologist Gary Wyeno."20 to 30 years ago that type of loss would not show up until the 3rd or 4th decade - you know 30 and 40 year olds."
Experts said that being exposed to 85 decibels of sound or more may cause a hearing loss.To give you an idea, the sound of a lawn mower is 90 decibels and the sound of a firecracker is 150 decibels which is just as loud as an airplane taking off.Experts said that $30 million people suffer from hearing loss in the United States and noise pollution is the number one reason.
"We live in a very noisy world.So many times we are exposed to a daily noise - even transportation and aircraft, if it is flying low enough, are loud enough to be potentially damaging," Wyeno said.
"If the doctor tells me to turn it down I will stop cold turkey.Probably.I hope I will," said Gama.
But Gama continues to play his music loud just like many young people who do not realize the damage just 2 seconds can cause.