Older Americans are becoming more aware of health issues as they age. Normal things that we take for granted like good eyesight and hearing is becoming more challenging as our bodies continue to degrade. In essence, as we get older we need to be more aware of ways to prevent things that can cause issues down the road.

One of the areas we took for granted as teenagers and young adults was our ability to withstand loud noises at events like rock concerts or playing our music so loud the car next to us could feel the vibrations. This continues today with the younger generations and is even more common with the use of iPods and Cell phones.

The world is getting louder and our ability to endure extreme noise levels over many years will eventually catch up to us and future generations. Loud music, machinery and other high volume sounds can contribute to a person's loss of hearing.

There are two basic types of hearing loss; conductive and sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is defined as hearing loss due to an obstruction in the ear. This obstruction can be earwax, or a foreign object of some sort that is preventing the sound from reaching the inner ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss is usually more permanent as the nerves in the inner ear are damaged and unable to function properly. Damage can occur through excessive noise or medical conditions attributed to high blood pressure or diabetes.

Common sense and a person's awareness to their environment is crucial in preventing damage to their hearing through external noise levels. Here are some things you can do:

o Lower the volume - Music and TV are common devices that can over time become detrimental to our hearing. Instead of increasing the volume on your plasma, install a surround sound system that can provide a rich sound experience without increasing the volume to damaging levels

o Where earplugs or headgear if working around loud machinery. Noise levels coming from lawnmowers can be just as damaging as manufacturing equipment

o Do not use foreign objects to clean your ears. A cotton swab can push material back toward the eardrum and inner ear. Ear canals can be cleaned with normal bathing routines.

Although the list is not comprehensive, do not wait until you are having issues before taking action in trying to prevent long term hearing loss as it may be too late. Boomers are living longer, but their ability to communicate and understand others will be impacted as they deal with permanent loss of their hearing. Overexposure to loud music, mega movies in the theater and loud machinery have become a part of our daily lives and the more aware of our surroundings, the better prepared we are in preventing issues like hearing loss.