Exposure to environmental noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss throughout the world. Every day, we are flooded with all kinds of noises. The excessive noise in the workplace, like a vehicle repair shop, poses an added hazard of a construction site.
The constant exposure to noise “wears down the delicate nerve hairs in the inner ear in the same way toothbrush bristles wear down over time,” says Tom Buske, vice president, brand strategy for ToughTested (www.toughtested.com), a leading provider of mobile power accessories that devotes special attention to hearing protection in a variety of industries.
“That damage is irreparable,” Buske says. “When it comes to hearing, once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
How can we protect our hearing and preserve it, regardless of environmental noise? Buske says hearing loss can be prevented by simply wearing good quality noise protection.
“If you are one of the 30 million workers exposed to hazardous levels of noise on the job, hearing loss is likely already happening,” he says. “While you can’t always control the noise, you can control how you protect yourself. Protective ear buds, plugs or earmuffs that provide Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 20 or more can block out a significant percentage of damaging noise.”
Sound Intensity
To best understand what damaging noise is, Buske says it’s important to understand decibels (dB), which is how sound intensity is measured. 0 dB is barely audible sound. A normal conversation hovers around 55 to 65 dB.
Here are some other sound intensities:
- Highway traffic noise, around 75 dB.
- A typical hairdryer, 85 dB.
- A lawnmower, 95dB.
- Jackhammers, around 130 dB.
- Firearms or a jet engine, up to 140 dB.
Too Loud?
How loud is too loud?
“If you are exposed to levels at or over 85 dB, particularly for a prolonged time or on a regular basis, you’re at a high risk of hearing loss,” says Buske.
He recommends using audio lines audio that incorporate noise control technology that offer benefits to keep one’s hearing safe.
Most importantly, he notes that this technology can help to protect against hearing loss, tinnitus and the daily stress of excessive noise by dampening loud environmental noise vibrations before they can damage a person’s hearing.
