The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a Hearing Conservation Program that outlines safety information in the workplace and employee rights.įor yardwork and other regular activities (that don’t expose you to extremely loud sounds like explosions or jackhammers), earplugs are inexpensive and available at most drug stores. If you work somewhere like a construction site, your employer should provide hearing protection for you. If you work in a noisy environment or enjoy hobbies that involve noise exposure, it’s important to invest in hearing protection… and then actually wear it. Hearing loss caused by noise exposure, also called noise-induced hearing loss, is preventable in most cases. Here are some everyday sounds and their decibel outputs for reference: ![]() City traffic at 85 dB can damage your hearing after eight hours or more of exposure, while a 100-dB sound like a motorcycle engine can cause damage in just 15 minutes. The louder a sound is, the more quickly it can damage your hearing. What Level of Sounds Are Safe?Īny sound louder than 85 dB can cause hearing damage over time. Therefore, an 80-dB sound is 10 times louder than a 70-dB sound. This means that for every 10 dB increase on the decibel scale, there is a 10-fold increase in volume. The decibel scale is logarithmic rather than linear. ![]() The more amplitude a sound has, the louder it is and the higher the decibel rating. Another way to say this is they measure the amplitude of soundwaves. What Is a Decibel?ĭecibels measure the loudness of sounds. This information includes what the quietest sound that you can still hear is, which is measured in decibels. If you have any questions concerning the appropriate exposure levels or the level of hearing protection provided by DefendEar products, or if you have hearing loss or ear injuries, contact your local hearing professional before using.When you get a hearing test, your audiologist will show you your results on an audiogram, which is a chart that shows the exact specifications of your hearing loss. Your medical history, particularly any prior trauma to the ear or prior hearing loss, as well as the noise (decibel level and exposure time) the user will be exposed to should be considered prior to using DefendEar products. The user is responsible for determining whether the noise reduction provided by DefendEar products will provide adequate hearing protection based on the user’s unique medical history and exposure level. Hearing protection devices, including DefendEar products, do not eliminate sound. This product is designed for people with normal hearing only! The purpose of hearing protection is to reduce the impact of the sound and to reduce the potential for hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to noise levels 85dB and higher can result in permanent hearing loss.Ĭommon noise levels (dB), and their effect upon hearing. ![]() To protect your hearing, you'll want to limit your exposure to these moderately high noise levels and give your ears a chance to recover after any period of noise exposure. But hearing damage can also occur gradually at much lower levels of noise, if there is enough exposure over time. One way that noise can permanently damage your hearing is by a single brief exposure to a high noise level, such as a firecracker going off near your ear.
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