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When someone drives down your street with the speakers in their car blasting music, it's more than just an annoyance for the neighborhood. Loud music like that is also dangerous to the hearing health of anyone who is exposed to it, and similarly to second-hand smoke, you can't always prevent yourself from having your health damaged by those who chose to engage in behavior that is known to be dangerous. When people recklessly crank the music up in their car, that noise can lead to hearing loss not only for the people in the car, but also for the people around it. That's why it's important to educate people about how how to take care of their own health and to think about the ways you can protect your own.

Scientists have determined that noises over 80 decibels damage the ears of people who are exposed to them. While people have the ability to control what noises they hear when they're in their own homes, that control disappears as soon as you step outside. The problem is that loud music that people play in their cars can often fall in the range of 110-130 decibels, which is louder than a helicopter and as loud as a shotgun! It is way too loud to be safe. Sounds of that magnitude will seriously damage the long-term hearing of anyone who is exposed to them. Because the danger is so great, many people have lobbied to criminalize playing loud music at that level, but it seems that that proposal will never get enough popular support to be put into action. As a result, people have to do the best they can to protect their ears instead of relying on the government to help them do so. In order to protect your hearing health, you should always carry earplugs with you. That way if you come into contact with someone who is playing music at a dangerous level, you can use your earplugs and reduce the level of noise you are unwillingly exposed to.

If you are worried that your ears have already been damaged from loud music, visit your local doctor to get help. Your doctor will have you take a hearing test, which will help determine the extent of any hearing loss you may be experiencing. Tests like these are very reliable and are not scary at all, so don't shy away from making an appointment. If you are having trouble being able to hear, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a hearing aid to augment the noises you are currently able to hear. Many people are worried about using an aid because they think it will be uncomfortable and will embarrass them when their friends and family notice it. Yet the reality is that aids have become much more technologically advanced in recent years so they are smaller and less obtrusive than ever. New aids are so comfortable and discreet that it's a shame when people are afraid of trying them because they really can improve the quality of many peoples lives.