As we go about our daily activities, we are exposed to all sorts of sounds from our environment: music from the radio, television or laptop, traffic and vehicle noise, a child crying or the din of machines. These sounds help us make sense of the world around us, but when they are too loud, they can damage our hearing and cause other health problems. Recent studies show that approximately 26 million adults and 5.2 million children suffer from permanent hearing loss due to excessive noise exposure. Exposure to loud noises can damage the hair cells and auditory nerves in the inner ear and trigger sensorineural hearing loss. Because our hearing matters, the consequences of hearing loss should not be ignored or underestimated. Damage to any part of the ear can lead to hearing loss and affect our ability to communicate with friends and loved ones. This article discusses dangerous sound levels, noise-induced hearing loss, and how to prevent it.
Hearing, Sound Level, and Hearing Threshold
The cochlea houses the sensory organ of hearing and plays a key role in people with normal hearing. When our cochlea functions perfectly, it receives sound waves, converts them into signals, and transmits them to the brain. Our brain analyzes these signals and interprets them as sounds that we hear and understand: a human voice, soft music, rock or metal, or even a car horn.
How are sound waves created?
Sound waves are created when an object vibrates or moves. For example, when your favorite musician plucks the strings of their guitar, blows into their trumpet, or sings into their microphone, the strings or speakers vibrate and generate sound waves. Whether or not we hear these sounds depends on two factors:
The sound pressure level, i.e., the power of the sound, and
The vibration, i.e., the frequency of the sound
Sound Level and Sound Frequency
The sound pressure level determines the intensity, or loudness, of the sound. The higher the sound level, the louder the sound. Sound pressure levels are measured in decibels (dB). On the decibel scale, a 10 dB increase means a sound is ten times more powerful or intense. Under normal conditions, a person with normal hearing should perceive sounds between minus 10 and 15 decibels. The sound frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) and corresponds to the speed of sound vibrations. It also determines whether the sound will be high-pitched or low-pitched. Our ears detect sounds with frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Below 20 Hz, however, we are deaf to sounds. If you have any doubt about the sound levels in your environment, you can measure them with a sound level meter. Knowing the sound levels around you will help you determine whether or not they are safe for your ears.
The Hearing Threshold
A sound must exceed a certain level for us to hear it. This level is called the hearing threshold. Below this threshold, our ears do not detect any sound. In adults, the reference level for the hearing threshold is zero decibels. Above this threshold, sounds become increasingly louder. Let's review some sound levels that surround us. A whispered conversation reaches 40 dB, while an ordinary conversation is between 50 and 60 dB. City traffic noise can go up to 80 dB, and industrial areas up to 100 dB. The deafening music in a nightclub or at a rock concert is around 120 dB, the sound level of a clap of thunder. Aircraft engines reach 140 dB. Sound levels above 85 dB are considered dangerous: prolonged exposure can cause chronic ear damage. Above 130 dB, noise can lead to acute hearing loss. When the sound pressure level exceeds 110 dB, you reach the discomfort threshold, and listening becomes unpleasant. Similarly, above 130 dB, you reach the pain threshold, and hearing simply becomes painful.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when the tiny hair cells in the inner ear suffer irreparable damage due to exposure to loud sounds. When this happens, you can lose hearing in one or both ears. Hearing loss can result from a single traumatic exposure to a violent sound: explosives, bombs, firecrackers. The louder the sound, the less time it takes to lose hearing. It can also stem from damage caused by prolonged or repeated noise exposure. The longer you stay in a noisy environment, the higher the risk of hearing loss. The situation worsens if you do not wear hearing protection or do not take breaks away from the noise. Sounds between 0 dB and 70 dB are safe and can be listened to for as long as you wish. Vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, group conversations, and dishwashers are between 70 and 75 dB: they can be annoying, but nothing more. However, sounds exceeding 80 to 85 decibels pose a serious threat to your hearing after just two hours of exposure. A 95-decibel noise can damage your hearing after 50 minutes of exposure. Sounds from sporting events and concerts, between 100 and 110 decibels, are extremely loud and can affect your hearing after only ten to fifteen minutes. Sirens, jackhammers, and airplane takeoffs (120 to 130 decibels) are continuously painful noises, dangerous regardless of duration. Similarly, firecrackers, firearms, and fireworks produce painful impulse noises that cause sensorineural hearing loss in seconds.
Degrees of Hearing Loss
Not all people with hearing loss have the same hearing threshold. In some, the loss is mild; in others, it is severe. The severity of your hearing loss depends on how loud sounds need to be for you to perceive them. So, if you notice changes in your hearing, your audiologist can perform hearing tests to determine whether your loss is mild or severe. You can also use a noise measurement app to check the sound level and estimate the degree of your hearing loss. Here's a simple way to classify hearing loss.
Normal Hearing
Your hearing is normal if you hear sounds between minus ten and 15 decibels. If you fall into this category, take preventive measures to preserve your hearing health.
Mild Hearing Loss
If you only hear sounds between 16 and 25 decibels, your hearing loss is very mild. People with mild hearing loss perceive sounds only from 26 to 40 decibels. Unfortunately, they cannot hear a whisper, or even the hum of a refrigerator.
Moderate Hearing Loss
You suffer from moderate hearing loss if sounds must be between 41 and 50 dB for you to hear them. People with moderately severe loss detect sounds only between 56 and 70 decibels. Those in this category generally have difficulty hearing in the presence of background noise. Most often, they have to turn their ear towards the sound source or ask you to repeat.
Severe Hearing Loss
If you only hear sounds between 71 and 90 decibels, your hearing loss is severe. You will undoubtedly need hearing aids to hear and communicate with your loved ones.
Profound Hearing Loss
People with profound hearing loss only hear sounds above 91 decibels. In most cases, hearing aids are not enough to restore hearing: it may then be necessary to learn sign language or lip-reading to communicate.
When is a sound too loud?
Hearing loss develops so gradually that you may not notice it until it's there. And the more you ignore dangerous sound levels around you, the closer you get to hearing loss. You probably don't walk around with a sound level meter in your pocket. And even if you do, you may not bother to check if the ambient noise is safe. Here are some common signs that the sound or noise is too loud.
If you have to shout at the top of your lungs to be heard, or if you cannot hear or understand someone a few meters away from you, then the sound levels are dangerous for your ears.
If you experience tinnitus (unpleasant ringing and buzzing in the ear) after leaving a noisy place, this noise is likely to damage your hearing.
Finally, if the sounds or voices around you seem muffled, dull, and unclear after you've been in a noisy place, then you shouldn't go there without hearing protection.
What are the common causes of noise-induced hearing loss?
Household appliances and everyday noise
Every day, we are exposed to the noise of household appliances: blenders, dishwashers, lawnmowers, snow blowers, leaf blowers. Some of these appliances have sound pressure levels ranging from 70 to 106 decibels. When we stay near them for long periods without taking a break, our auditory nerves can be damaged and cause sensorineural hearing loss. These devices may not cause immediate damage to your ear, but hearing loss can be gradual. As we age, the risk of hearing loss increases, as the hair cells in your ear weaken and are less able to withstand high sound pressure levels.
Workplace Noise Exposure
Sound levels in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, mining, or steelmaking are dangerous for the human ear and can damage our auditory nerves in a fraction of a second. These industries use machines and processes that generate sound levels above 85 decibels, coming notably from:
Power tools
Drills
Rotors, stators, and fans
Chisels
Jackhammers and mowers
Turbulent fluid flows
Vibrating panels
Electric machines and,
Internal combustion engines, etc.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), approximately 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous sound levels each year. The first symptoms appear as tinnitus (annoying ringing and buzzing in the ear). Then, after continuous exposure, they progress to severe, even profound, hearing loss. If you work in a noisy environment, hearing protection will reduce the noise that reaches your ear.
Recreational Noise
Some sounds you hear during your leisure and enjoyment can put your hearing at great risk, perforate your eardrum, or cause you to lose your hearing. Here are some common examples.
Sporting Events and Competitions
Sporting events such as football matches and athletics championships attract huge crowds. If you are a football fan like me, you will agree that nothing beats the experience of a live match. But the shouting, booing, cheering, and whistling can damage your hearing. If you are a motorsports enthusiast and attend Formula 1, NASCAR, or MotoGP races, the roar of the crowd and the engines is enough to damage your hearing. Sports cars, powerful motorcycles, and jet ski engines produce sounds above 100 dBA. Such sound levels can trigger sensorineural hearing loss after 20 to 30 minutes of exposure.
Speakers and Personal Listening Devices
Speakers and personal listening devices are one of the main causes of hearing loss in young people. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.1 billion young people are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss during their leisure time. It is common to see children and adults turn up the volume on their phones, radios, televisions, or portable players while listening to their favorite playlist. Entertainment venues such as bars, nightclubs, and concert halls also play music at dangerous levels. The sound level of music at full volume on these devices is between 100 and 110 dB. At concerts, parties, or nightclubs, the levels are even higher. And when they reach the ear for long hours, they weaken the auditory nerves and eventually damage them. Most musicians and artists have had to face the consequences of prolonged noise exposure during studio recordings, rehearsals, and concerts. Eric Clapton attributes his hearing loss to turning up amplifiers in his youth. He regrets not having listened to those who advised him to wear earplugs or turn down the volume. Other musicians also suffer from hearing loss, including
Chris Martin, from Coldplay
Pete Townshend
Phil Collins
Neil Young, and many others
Music is a pleasure. But there are ways to protect yourself from hearing loss.
Turn down the volume on your listening devices
Buy and use noise-canceling headphones.
Take regular breaks without headphones.
Firearms and explosives
Generally, handgun use falls into one of these five categories:
Recreation
Sport,
Hunting,
Metallic silhouette shooting, and
Protection.
Whether used for hunting or target shooting, firearms produce sound pressure levels above 132 dB. It is therefore unreasonable to fire any shot without wearing hearing protection. Exposure to such sound levels can cause acoustic trauma and sensorineural hearing loss.
Military Service Exposure
Hearing loss is the most common service-related disability among veterans and former service members. In 2012, approximately 5.8% of veterans received compensation or benefits for hearing loss. During their service and peacekeeping operations, military personnel are exposed to intense noise from weapons, bombs, grenades, and other explosives, gunfire, and heavy military equipment. Close-range gunfire can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Ship engine rooms and aircraft, patrol boats, missile boats, and flight decks have dangerous sound levels, from 98 to 160 dB. Prolonged exposure can stretch the inner ear cells beyond their elastic limit and permanently damage the ear.
How to Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss has no known cure. Therefore, it is essential to take prevention seriously. Here's how you can avoid noise-induced hearing loss.
1. Get away from dangerously loud noises. If you have to shout to be heard or if you hear ringing after leaving a noisy place, you should avoid such places. We know that getting away from noisy environments may seem like a lot to ask. But if you can, do it. Also, use your headphones carefully by
Keeping the volume at a moderate level and
Removing the headphones at regular intervals
2. Wear hearing protection. If you work in a factory, industrial site, airport, bar, or nightclub, you should wear hearing protection such as earplugs or earmuffs. When attending noisy events or engaging in noisy activities, consider
Moving away from the direction of intense noise.
Taking breaks away from the noise at regular intervals.
Wearing earplugs that reduce the intensity of the sound.
3. Measure the sound pressure level of your environment
As we discussed, everyday noises can gradually damage your hearing. You may therefore need to measure sound levels at home or at work using apps like the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App.
4. Follow workplace safety guidelines. If you are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work, you may need to
Wear hearing protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs
Move away from the noise at regular intervals.
Avoid prolonged exposures and
Switch to quieter equipment, if possible.
5. Have your hearing checked regularly
Frequent hearing tests and check-ups are essential, especially if you work in an environment with excessive sound levels. A comprehensive hearing assessment will provide baseline data on the state of your hearing, any deficits, and their evolution over time.
Treatments for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Dangerous sound levels can trigger sensorineural hearing loss in both adults and children. Unfortunately, there is no curative treatment. However, some solutions can improve your hearing and mental well-being. Let's review them.
Wearing Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are sound amplification devices that allow people with mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss to hear and communicate better. The device captures sounds from the environment, amplifies them, and transmits them to the inner ear so you can perceive them. After a hearing assessment, your audiologist will recommend the hearing aid best suited to your hearing profile and lifestyle.
Cochlear implants
Cochlear implants also help improve hearing for people who have lost it. Unlike hearing aids, which are worn, cochlear implants are surgically implanted in the ear. They are mainly recommended for patients who cannot benefit from hearing aids.
Sign language and lip reading
People who do not benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants may need to learn lip reading and sign language. You can express yourself through hand signs or read the lips of your interlocutors to understand what they are saying. You can hire a sign language teacher or learn online at your own pace, by taking courses or watching video tutorials.
In conclusion
There you have it. We are surrounded by noises that can affect our hearing. These sounds may seem harmless, but prolonged exposure can trigger sensorineural hearing loss. As the famous activist and educator Helen Keller said, "Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people." Hearing loss can deprive you of the joy of exchanging with your loved ones and seriously harm your quality of life. If your hearing is still normal, or if your hearing loss is mild, take prevention seriously. If you work in a noisy environment, be sure to wear hearing protection or take breaks away from the noise. And if you notice any hearing discomfort, consult an audiologist, who will recommend the most suitable solution for your situation.
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