Why do people wear ear defenders

Still not convinced that using ear protection is essential? Here are three reasons why ear protection really is necessary. The fact is that hearing is fragile - the inner ear is an amazing system but also an extremely fragile one. However, if you damage your hearing when in your younger years when old age hits and your hearing declines in quality, you may struggle to hear at all.

If you wear ear protection, you are decreasing the chance of this happening by preventing loud noise from entering your ears. While you may realize hearing loss can be caused by loud noises, you may not be familiar with tinnitus — or a ringing-in-the-ears sensation. This condition is equally as detrimental as hearing loss is to your quality of life. Have you ever had a fly buzzing next to your ear?

Or the ringing of a bell right next to you and all you could hear for a few minutes was ringing? To avoid this, you need to be wearing ear protection.

This is not true. This can include things such as hair dryers and washing machines. If you are out for a walk, it could be something like heavy traffic. You can never be sure that your hearing is not at risk unless you are wearing hearing protection. We mentioned the arm forces, but other occupations are also at risk.

These include musicians, construction workers, those exposed to industrial machinery or heavy traffic. How long you can be exposed without damaging hearing depends on how loud the noise is. For example a rock musician puts their hearing at risk when playing for more than 15 minutes a day with unprotected ears. The safest option is to get into the habit of wearing ear defenders and play it safe.

Many household appliances from hairdryers to leaf blowers or lawn mowers, reach dangerously high decibel levels. Health and safety regulations put the onus on your employer to look after your hearing health. If you work with machinery such as in a factory or construction site then your employer may stipulate you must wear ear defenders.

In most cases, wearing sufficient ear protection is a great way to help prevent the effects of hearing loss. Consider the following four reasons why ear protection can help prevent hearing loss. Ears are constructed from very delicate parts that play small, but important roles in hearing. Sounds are collected in the outer ear, then funneled into your eardrum. When the waves reach the eardrum, it vibrates and sends sounds into the middle section of your ear.