The author states that noise is causing hearing loss much earlier in life than 30 years ago. Choose the two sentences that best support this claim. Apart from hearing loss, such noise can cause lack of sleep, irritability, heartburn, indigestion, ulcers, high blood pressure, and possibly heart disease. Of the 28 million Americans who have some degree of hearing loss, more than one-third have been affected, at least in part, by noise. And evidence is mounting that among young Americans, hearing sensitivity is decreasing yearly because of exposure to noise, including ear-busting music.
The two sentences that best support the claim that noise is causing hearing loss much earlier in life than 30 years ago are:
1. “Of the 28 million Americans who have some degree of hearing loss, more than one-third have been affected, at least in part, by noise.”
2. “And evidence is mounting that among young Americans, hearing sensitivity is decreasing yearly because of exposure to noise, including ear-busting music.”
Explanation: The first sentence indicates that a significant portion of the population with hearing loss is linked to noise exposure, suggesting a broader trend. The second sentence highlights a specific trend among young Americans, showing that their hearing sensitivity is diminishing due to noise, which directly relates to the idea that noise-induced hearing loss is happening earlier in life compared to the past.