Hearing Loss Prevention Tips
Every day we experience sound in our environment such as the television,
radio, washing machine, automobiles, buses and trucks. But when an individual is
exposed to harmful sounds-sounds that are too loud or loud sounds over a long
time-sensitive structures of the inner ear can be damaged causing
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).
NIHL is serious. Some 30 million people are at risk in the workplace, in
recreational settings, and at home. In fact, it is the most common work-related
disease. Already, 10 million Americans have permanently damaged their
hearing.
Riddle:
What is painless, odorless, tasteless, invisible, and toxic?
The following tips may help save you or your childs hearing. Share these tips
with your family so they too will be aware of the dangers of NIHL.
- Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable.
- There are three things to consider about noise: How loud. How long. How
close.
- Workplace noises contribute to noise-induced hearing loss.
- An extreme noise like a firecracker, experienced at close range, can
damage hearing permanently in an instant.
- Repeated exposure to engines and machines like motorcycles or chain saws
can erode hearing more slowly. The result is the same: irreversible hearing
loss.
- Be aware of damaging noise.
- Be prepared to protect your hearing. Carry earplugs or other protection.
- Help your kids understand how hearing works and how it can be damaged.
- If you are standing next to a person wearing a personal radio with
earphones . . . and you can hear the lyrics to the song . . . damage.
- If your kids are watching you cut wood with a power saw to build a
bookshelf in your basement and you're not wearing protection . . . you are
all experiencing damage.
- If your teenager is doing lawn work for the summer, using a gasoline
engine and not wearing hearing protection, hour after hour, it's doing
damage.
- If anyone in your family uses a firearm for recreational shooting, and
does not use hearing protection . . . damage.
Know which noises can cause damage and wear ear plugs when you are involved
in a loud activity:
NIHL (Noise-Induced Hearing Loss) can be caused by a one-time exposure to loud sound as well as by repeated
exposure to sounds at various loudness levels over an extended period of time.
The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels.
- Regular exposure of 110 decibels (and higher) for more than one minute
risks permanent hearing loss.
- No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure of 100 decibels is
recommended.
- Prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 decibels can cause gradual
hearing loss!
- Rock concerts and firecrackers are 140 decibels!
- Loud bass in cars (when other cars can feel the vibration and
hear the noise) and snowmobiles are 120 decibels!
- A chainsaw is 110 decibels
- Wood shop is 100 decibels
- Lawn mowers and motorcycles are 90 decibels
- City traffic noise is 80 decibels
- Normal conversation is 60 decibels
- Refrigerator humming is 40 decibels
Answer to riddle: What is painless, odorless, tasteless, invisible, and
toxic? Noise-induced hearing loss.
For additional information, please visit the MedicineNet.com
Hearing Center.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (www.nidcd.nih.gov)
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2002