For children, the level is reduced to 120 dB. With the Fourth of July upon us, common concerns arise:Īccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should not be exposed to sounds with a peak sound pressure level above 140 dB. As sounds get louder, the amount of time that is considered “safe” to listen to it becomes shorter. For reference, the chart below shows varying sounds and what decibel range they are in. Sounds are measured in decibels (dB), and research shows that sounds at or above 85 dB for extended periods of time require use of hearing protection. Difficulty hearing in noisy environments.Decrease in hearing immediately following exposure to loud noise.Use hearing protection (options include: foam earplugs and/or earmuffs) whenever around excessively loud noise.Move away from areas/devices with loud noise.Ways to protect your/your child’s hearing If you answered YES to any of these questions, then your child may be exposed to sounds that could result in noise-induced hearing loss. Can you hear (and even more concerning, can you understand the words of) your child’s music when they are using earbuds/headphones?.Does your child have difficulty hearing or complain of decreased hearing sensitivity after the loud noise has stopped?.Does your child complain of ringing in his/her ears even after the noise has stopped?.When your child is wearing headphones, do you find yourself raising your voice so they can hear what you are asking them?.When exposed to loud sounds, these hair cells are damaged and do not grow back. Hair cells in the organ of hearing (fun fact: the organ of hearing is shaped like a snail) are responsible for converting sound to an electrical signal so that the hearing nerve can send the sound to the brain. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is irreversible, but also preventable. If you find yourself without access to hearing protection, cover your ears with your hands.An estimated five million children between the ages of 6 and 19 have hearing loss resulting from either a one-time exposure to a loud sound or continuous exposure to loud sounds for long periods of time. Wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs.Some music devices have the option for users to set volume control limits.ĭon’t sit or stand right in front of concert speakers. Noises are more likely to damage your hearing if they are: Sounds at or below 70 dBA are usually considered safe, even if they last a long time. Even a single but long-lasting loud event can cause damage. If you are exposed to loud sounds on a regular basis, your risk for permanent damage increases over time. The impact of noise adds up over a lifetime. At concerts, for instance, sitting away from the speakers will reduce your risk. If you are far away from the sound, the risk of damage to your hearing is much lower. DistanceĪ sound gets louder as you move closer to the source and softer as you move away from it. Fortunately, many devices do have volume limiting controls, which allow you to set the maximum volume to a safe level. Manufacturers are not required to limit the maximum sound output of music devices. For reference, 110 dBA is more than 100 times as intense as 85 decibels! For example, music played through headphones at the highest volume is often 94-110 dBA. Many devices that children use today have noise levels much higher than 85 dBA. That’s why some workers are required to wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs, while they are on the job. Researchers have found that people who are exposed over long periods of time to noise levels at 85 dBA or higher are at a much greater risk for hearing loss. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are generally considered safe. Any sound at or above 85 dBA is more likely to damage your hearing over time. Because people can’t hear all frequencies, or pitches of sound, A-weighted decibels (dBA) can be used to describe sound based on what human ears can actually hear. Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB), just as height is measured in feet or inches. The louder the sound, the more damage it can cause to your hearing, and the quicker this damage will occur. Time: The length of time you are exposed to the sound.Distance: How close you are to the source of the sound.The extent of damage to your hearing caused by noise depends on:
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