Hearing and Hearing
Conservation
A classroom curriculum for 4th graders
developed by Longwood University
Communication Sciences and Disorders
for the Farmville Lions.
(View “Notes” for information on materials and
directions for presentation.)
Contact Lissa Power-deFur, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
(powerdefurea@longwood.edu) for information about content.
© 2011
© 2011
A partnership between the Lions
and Longwood University
The Lions Goal is to serve all
people around the world. Our
main role is to help people see
and hear better and assist those
that have an illness called
diabetes. We educate people
about sight and hearing, provide
eye glasses and hearing aids to
those in need, and aid people
with visual or hearing
impairment.
We Serve
Hearing and Hearing
Conservation
© 2011
Listen Up!
How to Protect your Hearing!
© 2011
Hearing Conservation Cycle
Preventing damage to your hearing by protecting your ears
get educated
use hearing
protection
devices that
fit well
turn down the
volume or get
away from the
noise
Cycle of
hearing
conservation
learn about
different loud
noises
get your
hearing tested
regularly
© 2011
What are our senses?
Hearing is one of our 5 senses!
What are some sounds that we hear every day?
© 2011
How do we hear?
We use our ears to hear different sounds in the
environment.
© 2011
Parts of the Ear
Outer Ear
© 2011
Parts of the Ear
Middle Ear
The middle ear is made up of the ear drum and three bones called the
malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup).
© 2011
Parts of the Ear
Inner Ear
The inner ear is made up of the cochlea and the auditory nerve.
The small hair cells inside the cochlea help us hear the sounds.
© 2011
The Ear
Outer Ear
Middle Ear
Inner Ear
© 2011
What is sound?
Sound travels in waves, called vibrations.
These vibrations hit the different parts of the ear
and help us hear all the different sounds!
© 2011
Sound
Sound vibrates at different frequencies.
Frequency is how fast a sound wave vibrates
through the air.
© 2011
Frequency of Sound
The vibrating frequency can be fast or slow.
Fast frequencies make high sounds.
Slow frequencies make low sounds.
© 2011
So How Do We Hear?
We hear when sound waves travel through our ear
and vibrate the hair cells in our cochlea.
How the ear works...
© 2011
Sounds can be Loud or Soft
• Sounds are measured in Decibels (dB)
• Low dB = Quiet sound
• High dB = Loud sound
© 2011
Sound Level Meter
• Measures the dB in the environment
Let’s see what different dB readings we can get!!
© 2011
Sound Level Meter - Quiet
© 2011
Sound Level Meter – “Shhh”
© 2011
Sound Level Meter – “Ahhh”
© 2011
Sounds can be Loud or Soft
• Sounds start to become harmful when they
reach:
A. 30-35 dB
B. 55-60 dB
C. 85-90 dB
D. 125-130 dB
© 2011
Hearing Loss
You can get a hearing loss when a part of your ear
does not work the way that it needs to for
hearing all the sounds in the environment.
© 2011
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be:
Slight/Mild: have a hard time hearing soft
sounds or whispering
Moderate: have a hard time hearing someone
talking beside you
Severe: have a hard time hearing all talking
Profound: can only hear the loudest sounds
© 2011
What noises CAN’T we hear?
If you have a mild hearing loss, you couldn’t
hear…
 Whispers
 A fan blowing
 A clock ticking
If you have a moderate hearing loss, you couldn’t
hear…
 Normal conversation
 A dishwasher
 A clothes dryer
© 2011
What noises CAN’T we hear?
If you have a severe hearing loss, you couldn’t
hear…
 Almost all conversation
 Music
 A hand drill
If you have a profound hearing loss, you couldn’t
hear…
 A chainsaw
 A lawnmower
 A siren
© 2011
How Well Can You Take A Spelling
Test When You Have A Hearing Loss
This is just for FUN! Listen carefully and spell the
words the best you can on your paper.
© 2011
How Can You Get A Hearing Loss?
1. You can be born with it
2. Illnesses like meningitis or ear infections
3. Being hit in the head or sticking things in your
ears
4. Listening to too many loud sounds
© 2011
You Might Have Hearing Loss if..
• You ask people to repeat themselves because you
can’t hear them.
• You can't hear someone who is 3 feet away.
• People talking near you sound fuzzy.
• It is hard to hear after you leave a noisy area.
• You have pain or ringing in your ears after
listening to loud noise.
© 2011
Ear Infections (Otitis Media)
• What is an ear infection?
• What does it look like when this happens?
© 2011
When you had an ear infection,
what did the Doctor do?
• Antibiotics
• Tubes
© 2011
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Loud noise can be very damaging to hearing
The hair cells in your ears become damaged and if
they become damaged they don’t grow back.
© 2011
What noises are too loud?
• 150 dB = fireworks at 3 feet
• 140 dB = guns/gun fire, jet engine
• 130 dB = jackhammer
• 120 dB = siren
© 2011
What noises are too loud?
• 110 dB = loudest volume on iPods, chain saw
• 106 dB = gas lawn mower, leaf blower
• 100 dB = hand drill
© 2011
What noises are too loud?
• 90 dB = subway, passing motorcycle
• 80–90 dB = blow-dryer, kitchen blender,
© 2011
What sounds are safe?
• 60 dB = typical conversation, dishwasher,
clothes dryer
• 50 dB = moderate rainfall
• 40 dB = quiet room
• 30 dB = whisper, quiet library
© 2011
How long can we listen to other
sounds?
•
•
•
•
•
85 dB (kitchen blender): 45 minutes
100 dB (hand drill): 1 minute and 30 seconds
115 dB (siren): 3 seconds
130 dB (jackhammer): less than 1 second
140 dB (guns/gun fire ): NO TIME
© 2011
Ear Buds
Listening to music with ear
buds can be harmful to
your ears.
Ear buds take the sound
directly into your ear,
causing more damage than
regular headphones
© 2011
What can we do to protect our hearing?
Avoid loud noises when possible.
Turn down the volume on your iPod.
If you know you will be around loud noises, wear
hearing protection.
© 2011
60 for 60
You can listen to your iPod at 60% volume
for 60 minutes.
60% for 60 minutes.
© 2011
Types of Hearing Protection
Ear plugs
Earmuffs
© 2011
Wear Earmuffs When Hunting!
A gunshot is a very loud sound!
Protect your ears by wearing earmuffs to prevent
damage to your ears!
© 2011
Wear Earplugs When at a Concert!
Concerts are also VERY loud! Try and stay away
from the speakers, and always wear earplugs to
protect your hearing!
© 2011
Tips for Helping your Hearing
Remember:
E= Ear plugs or ear muffs
A= Avoid Loud Sounds
R= Reduce Volume
S= Shorten time in Noise
© 2011
Tips For Helping Your Hearing
E=
A=
R=
S=
© 2011
Arm’s Length Rule
• Use the arm’s length rule! If you have to yell to
be heard from 3 feet away, the noise is too loud.
© 2011
Hearing Screenings
Get your hearing checked regularly.
Ask your parents and ask your doctor.
Get your hearing checked if you think you’ve been
around a lot of noise!
© 2011
Sounds can be Loud or Soft
• Sounds start to become harmful when they
reach:
A. 30-35 dB
B. 55-60 dB
C. 85-90 dB
D. 125-130 dB
© 2011
Review
Today, we learned about…
The parts of the ear
Facts about sound
How sounds travel
What sounds are too loud
What sounds are safe
How to protect our hearing
E-A-R-S
© 2011
Special Thanks To:
Ms. Beth Fitts
Mrs. Gloria Eiban
Dr. Bill Schall
Dr. Lissa Power-deFur
Allison Chaplin
Andrew Hockenbery
The Farmville Lions Club
Prince Edward Elementary School
Longwood University and the Longwood Center
for Communication Literacy and Learning
© 2011
References
American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2011). Communication for a
Lifetime. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/
American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2011). Hearing and Balance.
Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/
American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2010). Listen To Your Buds.
Retrieved from http://www.listentoyourbuds.org/
Bauman, N.Ph.D. (2007, January 21). What are safe sound levels? Retrieved
from http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/what-are-safe-sound-levels.php
Collins, S.H. (1989). Sound hearing or.. Hearing what you miss. Eugene, OR:
Garlic Press.
Moyer, R., Daniel, L., Hackett, J., Prentice-Baptiste, H., Stryker, P., &
Vasquez, J. (2004). Science. (Virginia ed). New York: Macmillian/McGrawHill.
© 2011
Images Retrieved From:
Slide 1: http://technorati.com/technology/article/social-media-listening-tools-are-the/
Slide 2: Lions Club Logo: http://winnebago.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={8583B20E-C1B3-46AD-8B72-F35B4C2268F0}&DE={53FA5380-7235-4CCD96AE-82E76A9E0763}
Slide 3: Longwood logo
Slide 6: http://www.infj.ulst.ac.uk/~pnic/HumanEar/Andy's%20Stuff/MScProject/workingcode_Local/EarChapter.html
Slide 7: http://www.polyvore.com/human_ear_clip_art_vector/thing?id=17604682#
Slide 8 & 9: http://picture-book.com/taxonomy/term/4232
Slide 10: see slides 7-9
Slide 11: http://robcubbon.com/how-to-design-sound-waves-in-illustrator/
Slide 14: http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com/2011/04/further-proof-that-us-suburbia-is.html or
http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/city_managers_office/child_and_youth_services/default.asp
Slide 21: http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAY07/nf050207-7.htm
Slide 25: http://www.computerclipart.com/computer_clipart_images/pencil_cartoon_character_student_gets_an_a_on_test_0521-1001-2611-1703.html
Slide 28:
Diagram: http://healthmetz.com/2011/06/04/methods-for-diagnosis-of-ear-infection.html
Healthy TM: http://www.florencechamber.com/business-directory/hearing-loss.shtml
Infected TM: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/slideshow-anatomy-of-an-ear-infection
Slide 29: http://drugster.info/ail/pathography/1127/
Slide 30: http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Noises_6788#
Slide 31
Gun: http://www.arthursclipart.org/weapons/weaponscol/shotgun.gif
Rocket: http://www.wpclipart.com/toys/assorted/assorted_2/rocket.png.html
Slide 32
iPod: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-classic-Black-Generation-MODEL/dp/B000JLKIHA
Lawn Mower: http://chestnuthilllocal.com/blog/2011/05/05/lawnmower-recycling-drive/
Slide 33: Motorcycle: http://freeclipartpicture.blogspot.com/2010/04/free-motorcycle-clipart-pictures.html
Slide 34: Kids talking: http://trifitt.nl/talking-clipart-free&page=3
© 2011
Images Retrieved From
Slide 35:
Pistol: http://kentuckystatepolice.org/conf_weapons/index.htm
Ambulance: http://www.clipartof.com/gallery/clipart/ambulance_driver.html
Hand drill: http://www.sencan-tools.com/Electric-Hand-Drill-36.html
Blender: http://latinosdedallas.com/site/hello-world/
Slide 36:
Ear Buds: http://osx-e.org/ipod-nano-accessories/
Headphones: http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/nokia-to-extend-earphone-series-with-stereo-hs-81and-headphones-hs-61/
Slide 37:
Loud Noise Sign: http://www.worldmarketmedia.com/779/section.aspx/1519/hearing-loss-concern-amex-ear
Earplugs: http://www.sleepearmuffs.com/Foam-Ear-Plugs.html
Slide 38: Volume Meter: http://digitalspyeye.com/jaws-now-terrorizes-the-beaches-on-the-virtual-iphone-ipod-touch/
Slide 39:
Earplugs: http://taobaofieldguide.com/cool-stuff-to-buy-on-taobao/china-is-noisy-buy-earplugs
Earmuffs: http://www.clearhearingtx.net/page5.html
Slide 40:
Hunter: http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/news/BRAND+NEW+Deerhunter+Stock+Arriving+soon/
Earmuffs: http://jainsonssafety.tradeindia.com/Exporters_Suppliers/Exporter13563.194836/Safety-Ear-Muffs.html
Slide 41:
Justin Bieber: http://www.wallpaperhd.org/wallpaper/759/Justin-Bieber-concert-widescreen.html
Earplugs: http://www.sodahead.com/living/do-you-wear-ear-plugs-at-concerts/question-1937319/
Slide 42: Lion: http://oz.plymouth.edu/~jwcampo/fun%20facts%20about%20lions.html
Slide 43: http://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/lion.html
Slide 44: http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/EDG2701%20All%20Classes/New%20Essay%209a1.htm
Slide 45:
Audiometer: http://www.angelusmedical.com/AudiometersSpirometers.htm
Screening: http://www.entkent.com/glue-ear-grommets-adenoidsmod.html