Fireworks have potential to blast hearing health.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

The boom from Fourth of July fireworks may send shivers down a person's spine, but for a Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., audiologist, the sound rings of potential hearing impairment. "People generally underestimate the effect loud noises have on their hearing, and they do not realize that if they are relatively close to a fireworks blast, it may take only one blast to cause permanent hearing damage," cautions Robert Novak, director of clinical education in audiology and associate department head.

Novak recommends people bring disposable ear plugs to any fireworks show and use them when noises get so overwhelming that they no longer can carry on a conversation without yelling to someone who is standing less than three feet away...