I am a mascot for protecting your hearing health. I'm 5'10 and have excellent hearing. I enjoy going to concerts, listening to music, listening to my television spot and MTV. Most of all, I really enjoy sharing with teens about how they can protect their ears from noise-induced damage through smart listening habits.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
Heard of it? It's definitely not something you want. It's irreversible, usually painless, and can happen to anyone at any age. The damage is cumulative, so while initial symptoms may be temporary, hearing loss and related problems - such as ringing in your ears - can become permanent with enough recurring exposure, and that's not cool. The really good news? It's HOW you listen that counts! I'm definitely not telling you to pull the plug on the music you love. I just want you to rock smart now so that you can enjoy a lifetime of listening to great sounds. You can prevent NIHL by controlling the volume and your exposure to loud sound.
Dude, are you losing it?
If you notice any of the following symptoms after listening to extreme sounds like cranked up stereos, MP3 players, or rockin' loud concerts, your ears may be over-exposed and potentially damaged: Voices suddenly sound muffled and are hard to understand. You experience ringing, buzzing or fluttering in one or both ears - a condition known as tinnitus, which can often accompany hearing damage.
Your ears hurt after being in a loud place.
Your hearing is suddenly super-sensitive. These are all signs that you may have damaged your hearing.
What can you do to listen longer?
Limit your exposure to sounds of 85dB (decibels) or louder. Check out my sound chart
on the left side of my page. Wear ear plugs if you can't turn down the sound.
How do you know if you're in the danger zone?
An easy rule of thumb - if you need to shout to be heard, your hearing is likely in the danger zone somewhere above 85dB. If your ears are stuck in the danger zone longer than the guidelines recommend (see pie chart in my pictures) be sure to tone down the sound with earplugs or earmuffs. Also take 15-minute "quiet" breaks every few hours to give your ears a rest. If you play a musical instrument, avoid practicing at "concert levels." Put a reasonable amount of space between you and your amps.
Get all the facts that you need and want to know about your hearing and enter to win a cool prize at www.earbud.org
Who I'd like to meet: Someone with a beautiful voice
I'd also like to meet people who really love great music as well as be able to rock out with a rock star or two or three...
Did I just meet one of the members of ZZ Top?
The House Ear Institute (HEI)is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in Los Angeles, CA, dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. Internationally recognized in the science and medical communities, HEI continues to help millions of people who are impacted by hearing loss or have an interest in better hearing health. For more information contact info@hei.org or write to House Ear Institute 2100 W. 3rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90057
