Columbia Hearing Center

Noise-induced hearing loss affects about 15 percent of Americans.

Prolonged exposure to overly loud noise or brief exposure to an extremely loud noise may damage the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss and the loss may be permanent.

The World Health Assembly vowed to ‘intensify action to prevent deafness and hearing loss," by pushing government to impose safety and accessibility measures.

Here's a Better Hearing & Speech Month healthy hearing tip: Relationships are built around successful communication. Does someone in your family have hearing loss? Get your family member’s attention before you start speaking with him or her. Also, make sure he/she can see your face when you are communicating to make understanding easier. Lori Rakita, Au.D., Phonak Senior Manager of Clinical Research

Here’s a Better Hearing & Speech Month healthy hearing tip. Hearing loss can have a pervasive impact on your communication, quality of life and overall wellness. Almost 50 million Americans have hearing loss that can be treated. Ensure that you have healthy hearing by having it tested every 1-3 years. Christine Jones, Au.D., Phonak Vice President of Audiologist

How common are noise induced hearing loss in adults?

Here’s a Better Hearing & Speech Month healthy hearing tip. Summertime fun can get loud: sporting events, concerts, fireworks, etc. Ear defenders are available in adult and pediatric sizes, and they are an easy and affordable way to protect your family’s hearing. Elizabeth Stewart, Au.D., Ph.D., Phonak Research Audiologist

Here’s a Better Hearing & Speech Month healthy hearing tip. Bring earplugs to the movie theater! While Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires hearing protection in work environments of 85 dBA (about the level of a vacuum or lawn mower), there are no such regulations for movie theaters. Some movies can measure well above 85 dBA. Being exposed to those higher levels even just for a couple of hours could potentially impact hearing. Lisa Standaert, Au.D., Phonak Research Audiologist

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month. Here's a healthy hearing tip: If you can’t hear the world around you when you’re listening to earbuds/music, you may be listening too loud Nicole Klutz, Au.D., Phonak Audiology Manager

You may not realize it, but there are a lot of sounds that go with the smells of a kitchen.

Deafness knows no bounds, and Johanna Lucht, a deaf engineer working at NASA, proves that determination leads to success, especially with the right support and a bit of self-advocacy.