Do you know that ten million Americans have already suffered irreversible hearing damage from noise, and thirty million more are exposed to dangerous levels of noise each day?

Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. There are three things to consider about noise: How loud. How long. How close.

How Loud Is Too Loud?  

Sound is measured in decibels (dB).  Prolonged (long or repeated) exposure to noise above 85dB can cause hearing loss.  At:

• 110 dB – regular exposure of more than 1 minute risks permanent hearing loss. Noise above this level includes rock concerts and firecrackers (140 dB), and boom cars and snowmobiles (120 dB).
• 100 dB – no more than 15 minutes unprotected exposure recommended. Noise at this level includes wood shop tools (100 dB).
• 90 dB – prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 decibels can cause gradual, irreversible hearing loss. Noise at this level includes the lawn mowers and motorcycles.
• 80 dB – city traffic
• 60 dB – normal conversation
• 40 dB – Refrigerator humming

 Explain to Your Children How Noise Can Damage Hearing

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.

Protect Your Hearing

Be aware of damaging noise and protect your ears against it.  The safest way is to always wear hearing protectors—earplugs or special earmuffs—anytime you are around loud noises

Riddle: What is painless, odorless, tasteless, invisible, and toxic?

Answer: Noise-induced hearing loss. 

Remember to protect your ears to maintain your hearing for a lifetime!

Source:  WISE EARS Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.