Music to Your Ears May Leave Ringing for Years - Clarity and The Ear Foundation Work to Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Chattanooga, Tennessee (PRWEB) September 21, 2006 -- Whether we’re blasting car stereos, rocking out at concerts or lying around the pool listening to our MP3 players, music, particularly loud music, is a staple of the American way of life. However, most people are unaware that by indulging in these high volume pastimes they may be irreversibly damaging their ability to hear.

In recent years, musicians like Sting, Pete Townshend and Neil Young have admitted experiencing varying degrees of hearing loss due to high music volumes. Although their public acknowledgments highlight the threat posed by concerts and loud music, many Americans continue to subject themselves to deafness-inducing volumes.

Fortunately, many musicians - like ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons - are now more conscientious about protecting their own hearing health and that of their fans. “From the beginning, we played just about as loud as we could; that’s just part of the essence of rock ‘n roll, isn’t it? But there did come a day when the realization dawned that maintaining one’s hearing is important and how exposure to high decibel sound levels puts things at risk,” explained Gibbons. “Taking precautions to minimize exposure to extremely loud sounds is critical for both artists and audiences, alike.”

According to a 2004 Hearing Loss Study conducted by Clarity, a division of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) and the nation’s leading supplier of amplified telephones (www.clarityproducts.com), and The Ear Foundation, 51 percent of respondents who reported difficulty hearing blamed their hearing loss on exposure to loud noises either on the job or from recreational activities and hobbies.

“It’s unfortunate that so many musicians and vocalists have lost their hearing because of their livelihood,” said Suzanne Wyatt, executive director of The Ear Foundation. “We can only hope their experiences will encourage the average American to take extra precautions when they find themselves around loud music.”

Individuals can easily monitor and control exposure to loud noises recreationally, especially at concerts, in the car and through MP3 players. The cheapest, easiest way to protect ears during concerts is to use ear plugs. Thanks to bands like Coldplay and Dave Matthews Band who now wear ear protection during shows, ear plugs are increasing in popularity. Reducing stereo and MP3 player volumes is also necessary for hearing loss prevention. Clarity and The EAR Foundation have also joined together to raise awareness of hearing loss causes and solutions among professional musicians by conducting outreach work backstage at music industry awards shows.

For people who have a hearing loss, due to noise or just the normal affects of aging, there are solutions available that can significantly improve hearing. For instance, Clarity has developed a number of products to help combat hearing loss. Products like the Clarity C200™, Clarity’s first corded trim line telephone, and the C4105™ offer consumers telephone options that can be personally customized for ideal comfort.

Clarity and The EAR Foundation, a national non-profit organization devoted to education, prevention and treatment of hearing loss, hope that efforts to raise awareness of noise-induced hearing loss have convinced at least some people to lower the volume.

“At Clarity, not only are we concerned about creating products for individuals currently experiencing hearing loss, but we also want to educate people on how to protect themselves while their hearing is still strong,” said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity. “Our partnership with The Ear Foundation helps us raise awareness of the dangers of loud noises and also warn people to protect their hearing when enjoying loud music this summer.”

For more information about Clarity and its hearing loss communication products, call 1-800-426-3738 or visit www.clarityproducts.com.

About Clarity
Clarity®, a Division of Plantronics Inc. (NYSE:PLT), is a leading supplier of amplified telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices and other communications devices for the hearing loss and deaf markets. A leader in sound amplification, Clarity’s patented technologies, Clarity® Power™ and Digital Clarity Power™, provide customized solutions for customers who otherwise could not communicate easily and effectively with the outside world. As more people begin to address their hearing needs, Clarity will continue to provide effective technologies that are simple and easy to use. The company began in 1969 as a telecommunications manufacturer, and was acquired in 1986 by Plantronics, Inc., a leading provider of headsets to business and individual consumers worldwide. For more information about Clarity and its products, please call 1-800-426-3738 or visit www.clarityproducts.com.

About Plantronics®
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation™ is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and Volume Logic. For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Altec Lansing, Amplifying Your Life, Clarity, Clarity Power, Digital Clarity Power, the logo design, Plantronics, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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