Hearing Impairment  affects   40% of people  over  55  years of age.

All acute  hearing loss should  be  medically reviewed  especially if  associated  with  pain .

Insidious  progressive  hearing  loss  may be  related  to environment   noise  damage  ,  medication  side effects, chemical exposure -solvents , dyes or  poisons ; or  inherited characteristics.

Discussion with  your GP,  simple  clinical tests  and  subsequent pure tone  audiometry are the  initial steps  in evaluating    hearing loss and determining  treatment.

Hearing aids for sensorineuronal   presbycusis  (age  related hearing loss) and  occupational hearing loss are a common solution  and  for some consideration of  cochlear  implant .

Cumulative  hearing loss commonly occurs  after   prolonged  exposure to sound levels  greater than  85 decibels. The  acceptable  save exposure   time  decrease  by half  for  every 3  db  increase  in  sound intensity eg 88db + 4  hours  91 db = 2 hrs. Ear muffs  or plugs  reduce  sound  intensity by 15-25 db

A cord electric  drill is  about 91 db , a  cordless drill about  78 db and a petrol  chainsaw about 120 db. Noise is compounded by use of tools  indoors and reduced when  used outdoors . Rule of thumb  if  you have to raise  your voice above conversational to be  heard at  arms length away you probably need  hearing protection. Occupational hearing loss is cumulative.