Certain Professionals Should Take a Hearing Test Several Times a Year

Many people shy away from certain jobs because of the danger that could be caused. For instance, some people would never choose to work as a coal miner. That may be due to a lot of the recent news stories that have shown coal miners trapped underground for days. Then, there are those who swear that they will never work as police officers, because of the many dangers that they are faced with everyday. Just think about it, police officers are many times victims of shootings themselves. Yet, they have to deal with criminals, con artists and all kinds of dangerous people. The thing is, they can't run away from them. Their job is to run into danger, in order to protect others in the community. This also goes for firefighters, who must go into fires to save others. Many times this happens at the expense of their own lives. So, these are just a few examples of the jobs that some people just aren't willing to take because of the dangers that can come along with it. However, other jobs can cause danger and sometimes bodily-harm, yet many people may not even realize it. Of course, these particular jobs may not be as harmful as becoming a police officer, firefighter or coal miner. However, they can cause great damage to one part of the body and that is the ear. Some of the people who may experience damage to their hearing ability are those who work in large factories or on a railroad. That's because they are constantly exposed to loud and piercing noises. This can sometimes go on for 8 or even 12 hours a day, for 5 to 6 days a week. This can really take a toll on someone's eardrums. That's why people who work in these types of settings should get a checkup by an audiologist and request to take a hearing test at least 2 to 3 times per year. Of course, this may be too many visits for the average person. However, the average person is usually not exposed to as many loud noises as this particular group of people. Therefore, extra precautions should be taken. Other than going to take a routine hearing test several times a year, there are also things that these workers can do to help preserve their ability to hear. One of the easiest things they can do is wear earplugs to work. There may be times where they may need to take them out to hear the instructions of their supervisor or other co-workers. However, for the most part, they should make sure they keep them in their ears for most of the workday. So, a hearing test and earplugs are two of the best things that a factory worker, railroad worker or anybody who works on a job where they are exposed to loud noises, should have.