The ability to hear different sounds is more than just a sense - it's a gateway into understanding more about the world around you. Unfortunately, in the midst of discovering your favorite tunes, new neighborhoods, and exploring vast cities, there are so many factors that threaten the very health of your hearing. Whether young or old, hearing loss can be damaging at any age. To protect your ears from all the sounds they encounter, it is important to know how to take care of them and what to avoid, with help from Audiology Unlimited.

If you take just one look around the city, you'll notice that there are all sorts of booming noises that may affect your ability to hear properly. In fact, many people ignore these very same noises because they encounter them on a daily basis, and feel that none have affected their day-to-day lives significantly. The expert audiologists at Audiology Unlimited urge you to pay closer attention before telltale ear infections and other symptoms lead to hearing loss.

As a preventative measure, here are five sounds that if you encounter regularly, may cause long-term hearing loss:

• Busy Streets – 70 decibels
• Heavy Truck Traffic – 90 decibels
• Jack Hammers – 96 decibels
• Electric Guitars (6” away on maximum volume) – 110 decibels
• Airports – 140 decibels

Anything 150 decibels or more is damaging to your hearing. Remember that long-term exposure to any one of these noises can lead to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss. While there is no cure for this type of hearing loss, luckily you can do something about it before it happens. For more information on ear protection, visit Audiology Unlimited online.