Blow dryers, iPods, booming car stereos. Traffic noise, blaring TVs, sirens. We're assaulted by more and more high decibel noise every day, noise that can insidiously damage our hearing. And once the damage is done, there's no reversing it.

For those interested in learning more about preventing and caring for hearing loss, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Audiology and Hearing Aid Department is offering free informational sessions about options in hearing health care.

The sessions are on the second Thursday of each month at the Eye and Ear Institute, 203 Lothrop St., Oakland. Each session consists of three, one-hour classes.

Topics include:

Understanding your hearing loss: For people with a hearing loss or their family and friends. This class will cover the anatomy of the ear, how we hear, types of hearing loss, understanding hearing loss, understanding hearing tests and communication difficulties associated with hearing loss.

Understanding hearing aid technology: Participants will learn about the different styles and technologies used in hearing aids, as well as where to find professionals who can fit them.

Telephone options and other assistive technology: This class covers telephone use with hearing aids and cellular phones and communication devices available to people with hearing loss.

Classes continue through the year and times vary. The next session begins on March 9. To register, call the Audiology and Hearing Aid Department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at 412 647-2030