Just last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) devoted one of their monthly Vital Signs reports to noise-induced hearing loss. Each month, Vital Signs covers “an important health threat” and, as the CDC notes, hearing loss is the “third most common chronic health condition in in the U.S.”The report goes on to share more alarming facts and statistics. One that stood out is that nearly half of adults who reported trouble hearing had NOT “seen a healthcare provider for their hearing in the past 5 years.” This despite research showing links between untreated hearing loss and increased risk of falls, depression, anxiety, hospitalizations and even dementia. If you’re one of the 40 million Americans who has noise-induced hearing loss, do what the CDC recommends and get a hearing checkup ASAP. Call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today! If you’re not one of the 40 million and don’t want to be one, check out these tips for how to protect your hearing from noise.