By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Farmers and ranchers are frequently exposed to loud noises from equipment, which can lead to hearing loss.

It is estimated that 22 million workers, including farmers and ranchers, are exposed to harmful noise levels every year.

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may be as subtle as a buzzing in the ear or difficulty in hearing people clearly, asking them to repeat themselves constantly or difficulty hearing on the phone or television.

“Symptoms can be very subtle,” Waco physician Dr. James Sharp said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “If you find that you’re having difficulty understanding people’s speech in a room that doesn’t have a lot of background noise, you might be having some hearing loss. Maybe if you are in a very quiet room, you might notice a little ringing in your ears or a buzzing sound all the time, but those are the subtle things.”

Hearing loss is permanent, but it can be prevented.

The potential of hearing loss for farmers and ranchers can be caused by how loud equipment is and the length of exposure.

“It’s a factor of two things. It’s how loud things are and how long you’re exposed to them. So, there are two major ways to limit the damage that can happen,” Sharp said. “One is to limit your time. The other is limit how loud it is.”

While spending less time inside the cab of a tractor is not an option, there are other options to decrease the exposure. Sharp recommends wearing earplugs or earmuffs. This helps lower the decibel level.

“They (experts) say that you should only be in there one-and-a-half hours. That’s really cutting into your workday,” Sharp said. “But wearing earplugs or earmuffs that cover the ears can decrease the decibel level 15 to 30 points. That makes a huge difference. That takes something from a dangerous level to a safe level.”

It can be helpful to monitor the decibel levels of your workplace. Applications that help measure decibel levels and exposure can be downloaded to cell phones.

Decreasing exposure minimizes the risk of hearing loss. Other ways to prevent hearing loss can include distancing yourself from the source of the noise and being familiar with noise hazards you are exposed to every day.

The Great Plains Center for Agriculture Health provides resources and guides for preventing hearing loss at www.gpcah.org.