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Now Hear This Late Breaking Health News from House Ear Institute    

17 January 2000

Now Hear This Late Breaking Health News from House Ear Institute    

Loud Noise Levels of Music from Custom Car Stereo Systems is Here to Stay ...
                        Make Sure Your Hearing is Too

    LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 14 /-- Specifically installed to be
loud, custom car stereo systems blast out lyrics:  "A little knowledge is a
big mistake," and the excessive beat goes on!  The House Ear Institute
confirms that "a little knowledge is a big mistake."  While AOL and Time
Warner are certain that our starvation for information insure their continued
success, "ignorance is bliss" when it comes to knowledge about the need to
protect our ears from permanent hearing damage.  In keeping up with the
information-super-highway, here is a health tip from The House Ear Institute:
Whenever you and your children are in an environment where you must raise your
voice to be heard, you are in a potentially hazardous-hearing area and hearing
protection is recommended.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991122/LAM029 )
    Attendance at car shows, races, drags, concerts, special events, and
tradeshows like the Los Angeles Auto Show is often a family affair.  Moms and
dads carry small children on their hip or walk around with strollers, unaware
of the sensitivity of little ears.  Andy Vermiglio, a researcher and
audiologist at the House Ear Institute, says,  "When sounds are louder than
90dB there may be a potential hearing hazard and the damage may be even more
susceptible for children whose inner ears are not fully developed."

    Brief facts about how we hear sound:

    -- From birth over 13,000 sensory hair cells live within the cochlea of
       each ear.
    -- Exposure to extremely loud noise may permanently destroy sensory hair
       cells.
    -- Within the cochlea of a normal ear sound is transmitted by sensory hair
       cells.
    -- Sensory hair cells transform mechanical vibrations into electrical and
       chemical signals and send them to the brain.
    -- Over time, continuous exposure to loud sounds may affect an
       individual's ability to hear normal conversation in a crowded room.
    -- Over time, continuous exposure to loud sounds may affect an
       individual's ability to decipher consonants and high frequency sounds
       making normal conversation difficult.
    -- Tinnitus or "ringing in the ears" is a typical complaint of individuals
       exposed to hazardous sound levels.

    Brief facts about noise levels:
    -- OSHA has established guidelines for safe noise environments
    -- Sound levels are measured in decibels referred to as dB
    -- The dB level of fire crackers ranges from 80 to 100 dB
    -- The dB level of an extremely loud rock concert ranges from 110 to
       130 dB
    -- The dB level of a jet airplane is 140 to 170 dB

    The sale of custom stereo systems for cars is a multi-billion-dollar-a-
year business for manufacturers who actually endorse, advertise, and support
car stereo competition drags known as dB Drags.  The winner in last November's
Louisville, Kentucky dB Drags won the competition with a dB level of 171.  At
the L.A. Auto Show, Alpine Exhibitor Jim Dolan, who has been a car stereo
competition judge for the past 16 years, pointed to a little child in a
stroller who was within very close range of the loud music booming from the
custom stereo Alpine truck.  For exhibit safety Dolan stated that the Alpine
truck is maxed at 120dB.  "If that were my kid, I would make her stay home ...
that little person should not even be here," Dolan said.
    Researchers at the House Ear Institute recommend hearing protection such
as earplugs or earmuffs whenever you know you are going to be exposed to
excessive noise.  Numerous protective devices are available over the counter
at nearby drug stores manufactured in various colors and designs.
    Providing the public with awareness on hearing, the House Ear Institute is
a private, non-profit organization uniquely dedicated to improving the lives
of all who suffer from hearing related disorders through research and
education.  For information on hearing, hearing loss, coping with hearing
loss, ear disease or a balance disorder, contact the House Ear Institute at
(213) 483-4431 or visit our website at http://www.hei.org.