If you’re one of the thousands of Virginia residents who struggle to hear conversations, don’t fret! Hearing damage is common in the state of Virginia, with numerous reported causes. For example, roughly 430,000 Virginia residents hunt at least once a year, logging 10 million hunting days in the process. One 2016 study found that 95% of American hunters had not worn any hearing protection in the previous year.
Without the proper protection, one gunshot close to the ear can result in permanent hearing damage! Of course, hunting isn’t the only way to damage your hearing in Virginia. Sometimes, the damage is done at work—on the farms of the interior, or in the state’s coal mines or aerospace factories.
It could be sustained on a tour of duty with the military, or from a lifetime of driving trucks. Even loud music can be a cause of hearing loss in middle age, and everyone knows that Virginians love their country and folk music! As with any state in The Union, Virginia has its fair share of hearing risks.
However, as we age, these hearing risks can cause moderate to severe hearing loss, making it harder for you to comprehend the announcers on TV or your colleagues at work.