Commack Students Learn How To Protect Themselves From Hearing Loss

By Brenda Lentsch

Parents have been asking their children to “turn down that music” for generations. “You’ll ruin your hearing!” messages were mostly ignored. Currently, earbuds are included with almost every purchase of a cell phone, and the increased risk of hearing loss from pumping high decibel music into our ears has greatly increased.

Music students in Mark Burr and Michael Abrescia’s seventh grade classes learned how to protect themselves from hearing loss. They watched a video released by Etymotic Research, Inc., and then entered the company’s “Generation Hear” contest. The contest sought to raise awareness of how to “hear for a lifetime” and the possible damage that may be caused by harmful listening habits. The classes earned national recognition for Commack Middle School, receiving an honorable mention in the contest. Both classes were awarded free high fidelity ear plugs from the company.

In photo, from left to right: Paul Infante, Director of Fine and Applied Arts, Jessica Holmgren, teacher Michael Abrescia, Emily Lupo, Andrew Silverman, Cameron Reese, Ricardo Brown, Michele Martin, and music teacher Mark Burr.