Our sense of hearing evolved over millions of years, most of which included relatively little exposure to extreme volume. Fast forward to our current, post-industrial society that is much noisier due to mechanization and amplification. The marvel of the current hearing system is that it allows us to hear a whisper and a rock concert — those sounds span a very wide spectrum!
Our ears are so well-equipped to handle these extremes that we hardly give them a second thought. While it’s true that our ears and hearing systems are flexible, they do take a hammering from prolonged exposure to extremely loud noise.
Hearing Loss Due To Loud Noises
Although aging remains the best predictor of hearing loss, exposure to loud environments or excessive noise is a close second. Both of these factors contribute to acquired hearing loss for many people.
The delicate hair cells of the inner ear play a crucial role in our ability to hear. They pick up environmental sounds, turn noise into sound information, then relay those electrical signals to the brain for processing. Because of their fragility and inability to regenerate after being harmed, these cells must be treated with care.
An exceptionally loud event, such as an accident or explosion, can cause instantaneous noise-induced hearing loss. Continued exposure to very loud sounds might also have a cumulative effect over time. In all circumstances, noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and progressive. However, it’s also highly treatable.
How To Define Too Loud
We measure volume in units as decibels, or dB as an abbreviation. Sounds with a dB rating of less than 85 are considered safe for human ears. A normal conversation registers at around 60 dB, whereas a quiet whisper registers around 30. From inside your vehicle, the decibel level of heavy traffic around you is roughly 80–90, while the decibel level of a lawnmower is 90. This can give you an idea of the daily sound levels we exist within.
Exposure time plays a significant role alongside loudness in this equation. As decibels levels climb beyond 85 dB, our window of safe exposure time narrows. So while you might safely listen to 86 dB for up to eight hours, experts advise limiting exposure to noise levels of 100 dB to just fifteen minutes. For context, that’s the level of a typical school dance.
Noise In The Workplace
Standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) come to mind when discussing noise-induced hearing loss. This federal agency ensures that workers are protected against hazardous noise levels in the workplace, such as those that exceed 85 dB, through federal legislation and oversight.
Workers in noisy environments, such as factories, farms, and the military, need hearing protection, regular breaks, and/or the erection of sound barriers.
Risky Recreation
Unfortunately, we unknowingly partake in activities that cause significant amounts of noise pollution. Outside of workplaces, there are few oversight mechanisms in place to regulate volume. You might be paying both the price of admission and a portion of your hearing health, rock concerts to reach decibel levels of 120, and even symphony performances can easily top 100.
The loudness of sports arenas made recent headlines when they added a new entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. A crowd in Kansas City recorded a din of over 140 dB! Fans with season tickets should be aware that a boisterous crowd regularly raises the decibel level to well over 120.
The Dangers Of Earbuds To Your Hearing
It’s possible that a new threat to people’s hearing is on the rise. More individuals than ever before are constantly connected to their electronic gadgets, and most do so while wearing earbuds. On average, earbuds can deliver volumes between 90 and 100 dB directly into your ears.
A simple way to get a handle on your personal noise exposure is to begin moderating the volumes on your personal devices, especially when wearing headphones or earbuds. Keep your volumes at halfway most of the time and never exceed two-thirds of maximum.
Schedule A Hearing Exam
If you’re concerned about your hearing health, schedule a hearing consultation today. We’ll lead you through a simple exam and customize a better hearing plan, just for you.