Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention

Protect Your Hearing

Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Here are four ways to protect your hearing.

Stay Informed

• Learn about how loud sound affects your hearing.
• Think about sound in your daily life: at work, at school, during recreation, and when using headphones.
• Explore smartphone applications that can measure the sound in your environment and alert you if the volume isn’t safe.
• Talk to children about listening safety and preventing hearing loss.

Avoid Loud Sounds

• Move away from the source of the loud sound.
• Take listening breaks in quieter areas at concerts or other loud events.

Turn It Down

• Keep your devices at 60% volume or lower.
• Use noise-canceling headphones so you don’t need to turn the volume up to hear over background sounds.
• Set volume limits on children’s devices.

Wear Hearing Protection

• Use earplugs and/or noise-canceling earmuffs in loud environments like concerts or sporting events, or while using power tools.
• An audiologist can recommend various hearing protection devices and fit you with personalized earplugs that help you hear clearly while reducing volume.

An audiologist can provide hearing testing and treatment options for hearing loss.

What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud sounds. These sounds can be prolonged—like at a music concert—or brief, like gunfire. Noise-induced hearing loss often happens painlessly and over time, and it can be permanent. Your risk of noise-induced hearing loss depends on:

• Intensity—How loud is the sound?
• Distance—How close are you to the sound?
• Time—How long are you being exposed to the sound?

Loud sounds can cause hearing loss by damaging hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea). These cells send signals to the brain that are recognized as sounds. There is no way to fix these hair cells once they are damaged.

What Is a Safe Sound Level?

Do you have to raise your voice to be heard because of background noise? Do sounds seem muffled after you leave a noisy area? Do you have pain or ringing in your ears after hearing a loud sound? These are signs that the sound is too loud.

We measure sound levels in decibels (dB). The term “dBA” describes the way human hearing perceives sound. The higher the dBA, the louder the sound—and the shorter the amount of time you can safely listen to it without risking damage. You can use a sound level meter or a sound level meter application (e.g., on your smartphone) to measure sound levels.

The noise chart below lists average decibel levels for some common sounds.

Painful impulse noise (measured in dBP)—Not safe for any period of time

a single loud blast or explosion

• 150 dBP = fireworks at 3 feet, firecracker, shotgun
• 140 dBP = firearms

Painful steady noise—Not safe for any period of time

• 130 dBA = jackhammer
• 120 dBA = jet plane takeoff, siren, pneumatic drill

Extremely loud—Dangerous to hearing; wear ear protection

• 112 dBA = maximum output of some personal audio devices (e.g. smartphone with earbuds), music concert, chainsaw
• 106 dBA = gas leaf blower, snow blower
• 100 dBA = tractor
• 94 dBA = hair dryer, kitchen blender, food processor

Very loud—Dangerous to hearing; wear ear protection

• 91 dBA = subway, motorcycle, gas mower

Moderate—Safe listening for any amount of time

• 70 dBA = group conversation, vacuum cleaner, alarm clock
• 60 dBA = typical conversation, dishwasher, clothes dryer
• 50 dBA = moderate rainfall
• 40 dBA = quiet room

Faint—Safe listening for any amount of time

• 30 dBA = whisper

(The noise chart includes information from Noise Navigator and Dangerous Decibels)

To find an audiologist near you, visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Occupational Noise Exposure
• WHO-ITU Global Standard on Safe Listening: Devices and Systems
• World Health Organization: Deafness and Hearing Loss Safe Listening