As the primary organ for hearing and balance, your ears are not to be abused. Although like most of your body’s biological systems, they will experience wear and tear over the years, looking after your ears now will save you from a host of hearing problems in the future.
Lyric is a new model of hearing aid that has been compared to contact lenses, in that patients have the device inserted into their ear canal where it stays for weeks at a time, sitting invisibly and requiring no maintenance until it is replaced by an audiologist. As the device is in situ for extended periods and requires professional help to remove, it has several implications on medical practice. The Lyric Information for Doctors booklet covers these implications and can be found below.
Of course, if you live in a fairly bustling town or city like Perth, loud noise is hard to avoid. But, to define loud noise—the potentially damaging kind—you should steer clear of any sounds (speakers, amplifiers, construction or crowd noise, etc.) that cause you to shout. Make a habit of avoiding these noises where possible and if you are exposed to loud sounds frequently, invest in some quality ear plugs or protectors.