![]() ![]() Safe listening predominantly depends on three factors, i.e., intensity, duration, and frequency of one’s exposure to loud noise. Inadequate hearing protection during certain activities, such as shooting firearms or listening to loud music during adolescence, increases the possibility of communication difficulty in the later years of life. Scientists have also revealed that exposure to chronic noise in classrooms inhibits academic performance related to reading ability, short- and long-term memory, and comprehension. In younger children, noise-induced hearing loss hinders their language acquisition ability. Some of the common outcomes of hearing loss are learning disabilities, attention-seeking behaviors, psychological stress, and anxiety. Hearing loss impacts an individual’s social and educational growth. Some conditions that increase the possibility of acquiring noise-induced hearing loss include genetic predisposition, cigarette smoke, and chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes). Studies have shown that some people are at a greater risk of suffering noise-induced hearing loss than others. Hearing loss affects the overall quality of life of an individual. Scientists observed that continued exposure to this frequency of sound could lead to a steady progression of hearing loss, which may ultimately affect speech comprehension. The impact of a high-frequency range, i.e., a high-pitched sound, might not be realized immediately. These damages could cause permanent hearing loss. However, in other instances when a person is exposed to a loud, persistent, regular, or prolonged noise, it causes severe damage to sensory cells and other structures. When a person is subjected to loud music, such as in a concert, they often experience tinnitus and this condition improves as the sensory cells recover. Image Credit: WAYHOME studio/ Can Loud Sound Cause a Loss of Hearing Ability? Safe listening ensures sound-related entertaining activities without harming one’s hearing. The hearing improves as the sensory cells recover. When an individual is exposed to loud noise for a brief period, many times, they experience temporary hearing loss or a ringing sensation in the ear, which is referred to as tinnitus. This is because exposure to loud sounds for a substantial period causes fatigue of the ear’s sensory cells. Scientists have revealed that noise-induced hearing loss is irreversible. It’s best to avoid loud everyday sounds, like yelling, and to wear ear protection around sounds you cannot avoid, like a leaf-blower, a concert, or an airplane.By Dr. ![]() Prolonged exposure or even brief exposure to extra-loud sounds can permanently damage hearing. It is incredibly important to protect your hearing, even when sounds have not reached intolerable or painful levels. A nearby helicopter can easily reach 105 dB-while most people are not near helicopters very often, 105 dB can also be produced by a large drum, which is a serious hazard for musicians. Most people do not have prolonged exposure to the sound of a subway train, but many face occupational noises that are equally as loud all day long.Ī lawnmower can be anywhere from 60 to 90 dB and are often in use for several hours. It can be helpful to use normal sounds you encounter every day as a rough scale for decibel levels:Īs you can tell from this brief scale, noises can reach unsafe levels rapidly. These numbers don’t mean much, however, if you don’t have a frame of reference for them. Any exposure to sounds over 140 dB is considered unsafe for humans, and continued exposure to noises over 85 dB also will put your hearing in danger. Test My Hearing with free Online Hearing Test How loud are everyday sounds – in decibels?Īs previously mentioned, 0 dB is the softest sound a human ear can hear-something almost inaudible, like a leaf falling. A sound that is 10 times more powerful is 10dB, a sound that is 1,000 times more powerful is 30 dB, and so on (it helps to count the zeroes in the scale to keep track!) The decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning it increases by the power of 10 each time. The decibel scale is incredibly large because ears are so sensitive to sound-people with normal hearing can hear anything from a light touch on skin to the roar of a plane’s engine. A decibel is a unit of intensity of sound, abbreviated dB. It is important to understand exactly what a decibel is. Let’s take a look at some common sounds to gain a better understanding of safe noise levels and just how loud a decibel really is.Īre you ready to make a change? Watch our latest video: This information can be confusing or overwhelming because most people are not familiar with sound levels and how loud a decibel sounds, or at what point noise exposure could lead to the need for hearing aids. If you’re just starting to research hearing loss or suspect you suffer from it, you have probably encountered a lot of statistics about dangerous noise levels and decibels. ![]()
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