Hearing Hazards in Everyday Life
According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders nearly 28 million Americans are experiencing hearing loss, and 500,000 to 750,000 suffer with severe hearing loss or deafness.
It doesn't take a thunderous rock concert to cause noise-induced hearing loss. Any repeated high-volume experiences or one-shot booms can damage the delicate nerve cells of your inner ear. And once damaged, these cells do not--we repeat, do NOT--grow back. A good rule of thumb is that damage is occurring if you have to shout to be heard over the racket.
Here are some everyday activities that carry with them possible hearing loss due to damaging noise levels. You should consider using earplugs when you engage in them.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has done a good job of setting safe noise levels in industry, but no such guidelines exist for at-home equipment. Although many people use ear protection at work, they often don't take the same precaution at home, experts say. A motorcycle, firecrackers, and small firearms all produce sound between 120 and 150 decibels (dB), enough to damage hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Shooters are exposed to extremely loud but short term sound when a weapon is fired. All shooters should wear hearing protectors even when shooting small caliber weapons such as a 22 rifle. The NIDCD reports that long and repetitive exposure to noise levels at 85 dB or higher can cause noise induced hearing loss. Sound levels of firearms may reach 120 or greater decibels during firing. Here are some examples reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association:
Toy cap gun fired near the ear, 155 dB
Shot gun, 160 to 170 dB
High powered rifle, 160 to 170 dB
Pistol shot, 160 to 170 dB
Kids' toys and portable media players
Shrill infant toys and bike horns can emit quick bursts of damaging noise when repeatedly pressed or squeezed. The American Academy of Pediatricians warns parents that media players--iPods, MP3 players--can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Ear phone or ear buds for these devices can reach a damaging noise level up to 130 dB.
Some hair dryers can damage your hearing as they blow dry your hair, especially at top setting for long periods, says Donna Wayner, Ph.D., an audiologist and author of several books on hearing loss. Over-the-head dryers in salons are even worse, she says. Avoid prolonged use.
Busy traffic and highway construction can cause ringing or a sense of fullness in the ears--key signs that hearing damage has occurred. When highway noise gets deafening, drive with the windows up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traffic sounds of 85 dB or greater for long periods of time can create permanent hearing loss.
Can you hear me?
If not, you're not alone. According to the American Hearing Research foundation, one in 10 Americans has a hearing loss that affects the ability to understand speech. It is difficult to understand consonants sounds in speech due to hearing loss resulting from damaging noise levels. Especially tough is deciphering consonants at the ends of sentences.
"Typically, hearing loss is painless, so we think we're not vulnerable," says Dr. Wayner. "It's not like one day you can hear and the next day you can't. It's all cumulative."
Can we adapt to a louder environment?
"No," says Dr. Wayner. "People tell me that a certain level of sound used to bother them but they got used to it. In reality they have reduced the efficiency of their hearing, and in time, the problem will spread."
Various sound levels in our lives (in decibels)
Sitting in woods, 20
Sitting in living room with TV off, 40
Average street traffic, 80-85
Personal stereo, volume turned up all the way, 96
Explosion effects at movie theaters, 100-106
Squeaky baby toys, 110
Band music, 120
Jet takeoff, power lawn mower, leaf blower, chainsaw or other power tools, 130
Source: OSHA and the Noise Center at the League for the Hard of Hearing