For some reason CBS reporter Marcia Kramer thinks it cute/clever to open this story with a dickish, mocking tone, even though the experts they consult fully back up Mayor Bloomberg's initiative:
"There is a real threat for noise exposure ruining hearing. This will occur gradually over time. But what you're looking at is a series of young people that may be experiencing hearing loss and the need for hearing aids at a much earlier age than any of their family members," said Dr. Jayde Steckowych of New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Presbyterian Center."I'm seeing a whole host of young teenagers who are coming in with early signs of noise-induced hearing loss," audiologist Dr. Won Choe of ENT& Allergy told WCBS 880′s Wayne Cabot. "These kids are bombarded by media."
I see these kids every day on the subway, blasting their ears with music I can hear. I'm 50% deaf and I'll tell you, it sucks. And there's nothing you can do about it but get hearing aids, which are expensive and an imperfect substitute. In my case I believe the damage resulted from a lot of lawn mowing without ear protection*. I wish someone had told me or my parents the risks when I was twelve years old and unwittingly doing permanent damage to my ears.
* I had chronic bronchitis and terrible resultant earaches when I was a toddler (thanks for smoking indoors, mom and dad!). Burst both eardrums. I always assumed that was the reason my hearing was poor. But as an adult I learned from ear specialists that the damage was actually consistent with noise trauma.
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