Mainers are at risk for developing hearing loss as they get older, both as a normal condition of aging and as a consequence of our noisy worksites and recreational activities. Experts say it’s essential to protect your ears against loud environments and to seek help promptly when you sense your hearing may be changing.
Top 10 tips to help protect your hearing from the National Health Service. Our friends across the pond in the United Kingdom offer up sound advice. The key to keeping your hearing healthy is knowing how much loud sound you’re exposed to. A “noise diet” can protect your hearing from future problems. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hearing-problems/Pages/tips-to-protect-hearing.aspx
Signs of hearing loss from the Better Hearing Institute. The signs of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or early signs of hearing loss can be significant and come about suddenly. Either way, there are common indications and hearing impaired signs. http://www.betterhearing.org/hearingpedia/signs-hearing-loss
Occupational Noise Exposure from the big dogs at Occupational Safety and Health Administration. For employers large and small, as well as for the workers they value, OSHA is the go-to-gold standard in the U.S. for worker health and safety information. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/
SafetyWorks! A project of the Maine Department of Labor in Partnership with other workplace safety agencies, SafetyWorks! Provides resources for employers and employees. http://www.safetyworksmaine.gov
Disability Rights Center-Deaf Services. This organization supports individuals with many types of disability, including hearing loss. http://drme.org/deaf-services
The Hear in Maine program at Alpha One is, sadly, no longer in existence. But there is still good information on the program website, including contacts for assistance in obtaining low-cost hearing aids and other assistive devices. http://www.alphaonenow.org/hear_in_maine.htm
The Beltone Hearing Care Foundation. The charitable offshoot of the Beltone hearing aid company donates hearing instruments to those in need of hearing help who may otherwise be unable to access it.
A Guide to Services for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, from the Maine Department of Labor. The Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened compiles this list of resources. http://www.maine.gov/rehab/dod/resource_guide/index.shtml
