The National Center for Health Statistics says that fifteen percent of Americans less than the age of 19 suffer some measurable amount of hearing loss.

Yes, children are going deaf primarily from excessive noise.

And the noise is everywhere in our environment. Playing loud music can damage a young person's hearing. Like the toddler who turned the stereo up as loud as it would goonly for a few secondsbut his hearing was undoubtedly damaged before their aunt could get to the volume controls, as was hers.

But there are other potential dangers to our hearing. We all love our tunes and we are frequently listening to something.

Earphones, all types of them played louder than 80 decibels will damage our hearing. 140 decibels is really a serious problem.

And any event where loud noises occur, automobile races, fireworks, concerts, even cheering can all damage hearing.

You may have found your ears ringing after leaving a concert or even an action movie.

It's a sure indication of hearing loss. A modern hearing device will probably play a part in your future if you want to stay in contact with people and the world and still get pleasure from music.

Many musicians have hearing problems caused by the amplifiers that make music so stunning at concerts. The big sounds of rock bands are truly deafening, especially to the folks onstage. And the enormous speakers pumping music out to the audiences are truly a danger to everyone's hearing in the audience.

Nobody who is in the music business wants to end up deaf. It's practically impossible to sing harmony if you have significant hearing loss. Just ask some of the members of some of the old heavy metal and rock bands how grueling it is to perform live these days. They were the first to kick up the volume and the noise in concerts, but the noise lives on in more modern music.

A significant number of military veterans, even young ones, have significant hearing loss from gunfire, cannon fire, explosions and concussions, all of which can damage hearing. In modern firing ranges soldiers may utilize hearing protection, but it is not effective in many cases.

Gun hobbyists also have hearing problems connected with gunfire.

This variety of hearing impairment is "sensorineural" or nerve damage from noise resulting in deafness. It can vary in seriousness and maybe result in out-and-out deafness.

Noise is a brutal enemy of good hearing. Once someone's hearing is damaged by noise, regardless of the source, it's never going to be the same.

Get some ear protection and turn down the music. You'll be glad you did.