Become a good listener LESSON PLAN / MARCH 2015 SPONSORED BY

WHO KNOWS WHAT HEARING IS? Hearing, auditory perception, or audition is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations, changes in the pressure of the surrounding medium through time, through an organ such as the ear.

HOW YOUR EARS WORK (HEARING) OUTER EAR MALLEUS INCUS STAPES INNER EAR EAR CANAL COCHLEA EAR DRUM MIDDLE EAR EUSTACHIAN TUBE 1 2 Sound waves travel into our ear canals and cause a tiny membrane to vibrate. This vibration in our eardrums make tiny little bones (malleus, incus and stapes) in our ears move which causes fluid in the inner ear to move as well. 3 4 The fluid movement stimulates tiny sensory hair cells (stereocilia) that translate into electrical impulses. The impulses are transmitted to out brain and then interpreted to what we hear.

DID YOU KNOW?! Did you know that 46% PERCENT OF OUR YOUTH might suffer from one symptom of noiseinduced hearing loss by the age of 19! SOURCE: Siemens Hearing Study 2015

WHAT IS NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS? Caused by a one-time exposure to an intense impulse sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time. THIS HEARING LOSS OCCURS WHEN THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE INNER EAR OR THE AUDITORY NERVE. THIS TYPE OF HEARING LOSS IS USUALLY PERMANENT AND COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED!!! Hearing loss can greatly affect the quality of life. Unmanaged hearing loss can have an impact on employment, education, and our kids general well being. / CLASSROOM EXERCISE / Try this classroom exercise while teacher is talking have students cover and uncover their ears with their hands.

SOME SCARY FACTS: 88% OF KIDS ENGAGED IN HABITS THAT COULD CAUSE HEARING LOSS 21 % Children help parents with lawn mowers and other loud power tools Kids listen to loud music, games or videos with headphones 81 % Kids Play with Noisy Toys 16 % / CLASSROOM EXERCISE / Have kids raise their hands if they participated in one of these habits. SOURCE: Siemens Hearing Study 2015

RECENtly reported DID YOU KNOW CHILDREN ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO LOUD NOISES? Exposure to loud music or videos puts more than 1 billion at risk for hearing loss. FACT: Rapper Plan B and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin both suffer from hearing loss that could have been prevented SOURCE: World Health Organization

HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD? OSHA SAYS: (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) any sound above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss over time. DECIBEL is degree of loudness (intensity of a sound). 40 60 85 90 105 110 115 120 140 RAIN DROPS NORMAL CONVERSATION BUSY CITY TRAFFIC HAIR DRYERS ROCK CONCERTS CHAINSAWS MP3 PEAK VOLUME JACK HAMMER GUNSHOT FIREWORKS

78% OF said that if their parents or teachers actually knew how loud they listened to their movies, music and games - They would make them lower the volume immediately! SOURCE: OSHA Pocket Guide & US Department of Health & Human Services

LOuder is NOT BETTER!!! bet ter is bet ter There are technologies that could help prevent noise induced hearing loss. Unfortunately these technologies are not available on devices yet. ): One such technology is MAX-D. MAX-D makes everything sound better! MAX-D resynthesizes audio and restores the sound, that there is no reason to turn up the volumes to unsafe levels. IN A 2015 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDY, PARTICIPANTS PREFERRED LISTENING WITH MAX-D AT SAFE VOLUMES LEVELS RATHER THAN NO MAX-D AT HIGHER VOLUMES. HMMM??? SOURCE: University of Florida MAX-D Study

what can be done to prevent this hearing loss epidemic? practice safe listening 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Get a MAX-D device (when available) Turn down the volume Always use headphones over earbuds Reduce loud noise exposure Avoid sitting next to speakers Use ear protection when ever possible Visit a hearing care professional once a year BECOME A GOOD LISTENER

SOUND ADVICE (LISTEN WITH YOUR BRAIN) WHAT PARENTS CAN DO: Parents need to play an active role in educating their children about safe listening and monitoring their exposure to loud noises; they also need to be role- models of safe listening for their children. WHAT TEACHERS CAN DO: Children and adolescents must be educated about the possible dangers of exposure to loud sounds from the misuse of personal audio devices and encouraged to develop safe listening habits. WHAT DOCTORS CAN DO: Physicians have a significant opportunity to educate and counsel adolescents and young adults regarding hearing protection. WHAT MANUFACTURERS CAN DO: Realize device manufacturers have created this problem. Newer devices should incorporate safety features or better technologies such as the MAX-D Technology. WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO: Governments should raise awareness about this epidemic, through targeted public information campaigns highlighting the potential consequences of hearing loss and make sure newer devices come equipped with technologies such as MAX-D. SOURCE: World Health Organization

WHO s ready to be a good / CLASSROOM EXERCISE / Who promises to be a good listener, raise your hand. Teacher hands out stickers to those who promise.

Cut out stickers and distribute to class I m A good I m A good I m A good I m A good I m A good I m A good

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH

you can be heard!!!! CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN or CONGRESS WOMAN. LET S TELL WE CARE ABOUT HEARING THE FUTURE!! Dear, My name is. I m years old and I go to school. I m signing this petition because my friends and I are taking a pledge to end premature hearing loss and we need your help to stop this epidemic! Did you know that one billion people are at risk of premature hearing loss and we need your help you can stop it! Please goto mymaxd.com/prevent hearing loss and learn what my teacher taught me today. THANKS FOR LISTENING!!! Name (FUTURE VOTER) Date

Thanks for listening!!! THERE S A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE TO HEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MAX-D PLEASE VISIT mymaxd.com STOCK SYMBOL: MAXD TO SET-UP A MAX-D PREVENT NOISE ENDUCED HEARING LOSS ASSEMBLY CONTACT INFO@MAXSOUND.COM