Volume levels are increasing and the increased background noise in our daily lives means we are constantly turning the volume up so we can hear what we are listening to more.
This has had a major effect on the lives on many with over 28 million Americans being deaf or living with hearing problems.
There is however, ways to prevent or delay a lot of hearing loss.
Thanks to hearing aids becoming more comfortable to wear and more technologically advanced more people are able to retain their hearing.
The increase in damaging levels of sound has meant that more and more young people are being diagnosed with hearing loss.
Roughly 10 million Americans have irreversible damage to their ears from dangerous noise levels and 30 million are exposed to damaging levels on a daily basis.
Men between the ages of 45 and 64 have the highest levels of hearing loss with 365% and women 85% for the same age group.
Hearing loss through ear infections including middle ear infections suffered by children, and loss due to noise levels is preventable.
Experts agree hearing tests should begin as early as possible straight after birth.
Otoacoustic emission testing for newborn babies can now accurately diagnose any hearing loss.
Early diagnosis means that a baby can make the most of the first six months of life which is when its language skills first start to develop.
We can hear because our ears are able to collect the sound in the air via the outer ear and channel these sound waves so that they strike the ear drum and vibrate the tiny bones of the inner ear.
The vibrations are converted into nerve impulses by hair like cells in the cochlea which are then processed by the brain.
These cells cannot grow back if they are damaged.
Tinnitus is a common symptom of damage to a person's hearing and can be in the form of constant ringing, clicks or buzzes in the ears.
Most people with tinnitus manage to get on with their daily lives including the majority of American sufferers which is estimated at 40 million.
Some tinnitus sufferers describe cricket like sounds which some can actually use to get them off to sleep.
But for others tinnitus can be simply maddening.
Fortunately 80% of the 10 million severe cases can receive some form of relief, but as of now, there is no outright cure.
Tinnitus caused the actor William Shatner, Captain Kirk in Star Trek, to contemplate suicide after being tormented by its effects.
The cause of his condition may have been the loud explosions that he was exposed to during the filming of the TV series.
Here are a few ways in which people can protect their hearing.
You can save your hearing by wearing protective earplugs.
Exposure to any sounds above 90 decibels from thing like electric drills and motorcycles for a long period can cause a temporary loss of hearing.
Unprotected use of equipment that produces over 100 decibels for a period of 15 minutes can cause hearing damage.
Permanent hearing loss can be caused by exposure to anything over 110 decibels, including chainsaws, music concerts and heavy industrial machinery.
Ear infections must be treated early to prevent damage to your hearing.
Ear infections are not necessarily accompanied by swelling or pain.
Sometimes a loss of hearing is the only symptom.
As soon as you discover any problems with your hearing, speak to a doctor and take a hearing test.