If you’ve spent any time around a grain bin, a combine, or a tractor running full tilt, you already know: farming is loud. As harvest season ramps up across Nebraska, we wanted to take a moment to talk about something that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough on the farm: wearing hearing protection while you do the work that keeps this state running.
At Huskerland Hearing, we serve communities across Nebraska, from Grand Island and Kearney to Gothenburg and McCook, where agriculture isn’t just an industry, it’s a way of life. That means we see the effects of farm noise on hearing health more often than most people realize.
Noise-induced hearing loss happens when the tiny hair cells inside your inner ear get damaged from prolonged or repeated exposure to loud sound. Once those cells are gone, they don’t grow back, which is what makes this type of hearing loss so different from other conditions: it’s almost entirely preventable, but not reversible once it happens.
Farm equipment is some of the loudest machinery most people are regularly exposed to. A few examples of just how loud things get:
For comparison, hearing damage can begin with repeated exposure to sound at just 85 decibels. Many farm tasks blow well past that threshold, often for hours at a stretch during planting and harvest.
What makes farm-related hearing loss tricky is that it rarely happens all at once. It builds gradually, season after season, until one day you notice you’re asking people to repeat themselves at the dinner table, turning the TV up louder than you used to, or struggling to follow conversations at the co-op or the coffee shop. By the time it’s noticeable day-to-day, meaningful damage has often already occurred.
The good news is that hearing protection during farm work doesn’t have to be complicated or get in the way of the job:
With seven locations across Nebraska, Huskerland Hearing is built to serve the communities that keep this state moving, including the farmers and ag workers who make up so much of who we are. Our team of hearing care professionals can help with everything from a straightforward hearing test to custom-fit hearing protection designed for long days in the field.
If it’s been a while since your last hearing check, or if you’ve noticed changes creeping in after another busy season, we’d love to see you. Reach out to your nearest Huskerland Hearing location to schedule a visit. We’re proud to serve our Nebraska neighbors with the same honesty and care we’d want for our own family.
Ready to schedule a hearing test or ask about custom ear protection? Call us at (866) 395-8107 or complete the form on our contact us page!
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Chelsie was born and raised in Southwest Nebraska. She is married and has one beautiful daughter. Before joining McCook Hearing Aid Center she spent 17 years as a Chiropractic Assistant and has been in customer service for 29 years.
She has always had a passion for helping others and is excited to start this new chapter to continue helping people and see them improve. Everyday is a learning experience and Chelsie has already learned so much about hearing healthcare through fellow team members. She looks forward to passing on the knowledge she has gained to help patients with their hearing needs.
When she is not working she loves cooking and the outdoors. She spends her free time traveling, riding horses, gardening and going to her daughters tennis matches.
Gary is a Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist and has been in the hearing industry for 30 years. From the first day he opened his doors, he has been serving the people of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas areas. Gary loves to give back to his community, and one of those ways is to ensure that everyone has a place to go for their hearing needs.
During his time supporting his community, Gary has worked with hearing aids of all shapes, sizes, and from all manufactures. He has built a vast knowledge of how each device is different, and how it solves the unique needs of the patient.
Dr. Kristy M. Kurtz earned her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida in 2004. She also holds a Master of Science in Audiology and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders. Dr. Kurtz is licensed to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids in the states of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
Dr. Kurtz possesses extensive experience across multiple facets of audiology, including hearing aid manufacturing, clinical practice in collaboration with otolaryngology physicians, and private practice settings. This breadth of experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of both the clinical and technological dimensions of hearing healthcare.
She is dedicated to delivering individualized, patient-centered care and is committed to improving quality of life through effective hearing rehabilitation. Dr. Kurtz utilizes her in-depth knowledge of advanced hearing aid technologies to develop tailored treatment recommendations designed to meet each patient’s unique needs and desired outcomes.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Dr. Kurtz enjoys trail riding, spending time with her horses and golden retrievers, reading, and supporting her children through their musical and athletic pursuits.
My name is Kerrie Kirkpatrick I was born in Bismarck, N.D. but raised in central Nebraska. I have a strong history in healthcare from holding an esthetician license, dental assisting certification and a registered nursing license. Curatating creative content from photography to graphics and applying the end result to marketing has always been a passion of mine and lead to the pursuit of social media marketing management.
In my free time I enjoy sharing my passion of the equine industry with my two little girls, ages 3 years and 11 years. I grew up showing western and English riding, recently I have been dabbling in reining, lessoning in working cow and with goal of roping as well. I look forward to promoting the compassionate professionals behind HuskerLand Hearing and educating you on the best options available for your hearing health!
Caleb is a Hearing Instrument Specialist who focuses on helping people hear clearly and feel more confident in everyday situations. He takes a straightforward, no-pressure approach and makes sure his patients actually understand their hearing and the options available to them. His goal is to keep the process simple and deliver real results that improve day-to-day life.
Outside of the clinic, Caleb enjoys playing guitar and getting outdoors, especially hiking. He is married and values spending quality time with his wife, which helps him stay balanced and focused in both his personal life and his work with patients.
Meet Vivienne! She is a creative person who likes art, writing, and fashion. She often draws or sews to express her creativity. She also enjoys spending her free time learning languages, such as Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Meet Corey! She is recently married and loving life with her husband and their sweet dog and cat. She is all about being outdoors, whether it's hiking, rock climbing, or kayaking somewhere beautiful. She loves traveling, finding new adventures, and soaking up as much nature as she can along the way.
Mickaela is the Patient Care Coordinator who keeps the billing and insurance process running. Away from the office, she loves reading, butchering Mandarin Chinese, having casual hangouts with friends, and anything to do with giraffes.
Maria is a Colorado transplant who has happily made the Midwest her home. When she's not behind the front desk chatting away with anyone who will listen, you can find her behind a camera, hanging with her husband and two sons (a German Shepherd and tuxedo cat), or cozying up with a book. Her favorite part about her job is being part of a team that helps people feel cared for through hearing care experience, support, and kindness.
Madison was born and raised in Nebraska. She is fortunate to work alongside her mother, Darci, as they do what they love. She comes from a line of hearing specialists, as her grandfather owned his business for over 35 years. Helping people hear runs in their blood. In her free time she loves spending time with her husband and their 3 cats. She finds joy in traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Darci has been in the business of helping people hear for over 35 years, working with her father in his private practice for most of that time. To Darci, what she does isn't a job, it's something that she loves. It's a passion that was handed down to her from her father that she now gets to share with her daughter. Outside of work she loves spending time outside and with her three kids and their spouses.
Cameron Ellison is the owner of Huskerland Hearing Center. Cameron and his staff absolutely cannot wait to get you living a more healthy, more engaged lifestyle through better hearing!
They are ready to handle whatever hearing issue you may be experiencing. Please feel free to reach out to Cameron or any of his staff with any questions you may have. For more of a background on Cameron and his WHY, please click the link below. Helping People Communicate Again