Many things can cause hearing loss, including genetics and normal aging. However, one of the most common and preventable causes of hearing loss is loud or excessive noise exposure.

Audiology is formally defined as a branch of science and medicine concerned with the sense of hearing. As an audiologist, it’s my job to help those with hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing-in-the-ears), and balance disorders.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a hearing disorder caused by repeated exposure to sounds that are unsafely loud.

You can choose to ignore it you want, but the facts don’t lie: noise-induced hearing loss is a serious problem, with over 26 million Americans suffering from some form of hearing loss due to noise-exposure.Luckily, noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable. Here are five tips to making sure you and your family stay safe.