One in six Australians suffer from hearing loss. The leading cause of hearing impairment is aging, but excessive noise exposure is the second most common cause. But how many decibels is loud, and what is considered to be a safe noise level?
The impact of noise adds up over a lifetime. Regular exposure to high decibel levels could contribute to lasting damage.
Let’s take a look at how many decibels is loud enough to cause damage and what you can do to protect your hearing long into the future.
A safe decibel level is only part of the equation. Other factors determine whether noise will lead to hearing damage. Decibels continue to be important, however. Generally, any noise 70 dB and below is perfectly safe to listen to for any length of time.
But how many decibels is loud when the length of exposure is taken into account?
Anything above these safe hearing levels is likely to cause damage to your hearing. Of course, if you exceed these limits, you’re not going to go deaf instantly. Hearing damage adds up over time.
While it may take years to see the consequences of excessive exposure to loud noises, millions of people have premature hearing loss as a result.
It also depends on how close you are to the sound. A firework is extremely loud, but if you’re a mile away from the sound, this is unlikely to cause significant hearing damage.
Arguments over safe dB levels have plagued the world for years. Experts argue that although 85 dB is considered safe, we live in a noisier world, and so these recommendations should be scaled down to 70 dB.
Hearing damage is possible from a high decibels sound because it causes damage to the cells and membranes inside your ear’s cochlea.
Loud noises for long periods of time overwork hair cells inside the ear. When this happens, these cells begin to die. Known as sensorineural hearing loss, this is irreversible as once the cells are gone, there’s no turning back.
Naturally, the progression of hearing loss depends on how often you’re exposed to high decibel levels, how close you are to loud sounds, and the measure of the decibels themselves.
Understandably, it can be difficult for the average person to understand what a safe noise level is. When someone talks about an 85 dB sound, what does that actually mean?
Let’s list a few examples of what safe hearing levels sound like, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
These sounds cause no lasting hearing damage and tend to fade into the background unless you focus on them.
The body has natural defenses against loud sounds. Have you ever felt annoyed and irritable when hearing certain sounds for too long? There’s a reason for that. It’s your brain telling you to move away.
Here are some examples of noises that typically don’t cause hearing loss but will make most people feel irritated:
Humans are programmed to find noise levels this high annoying because it’s the brain’s way of defending the integrity of your hearing.
While it’s important to know what a safe noise level is, it’s even more important to take a look at the noises that could cause lasting damage to your hearing.
Here’s an idea of how loud is too loud:
These sounds can be heard for short periods, but not prolonged amounts of time.
Finally, some sounds cause physical pain inside the ear. Hearing damage can occur instantaneously. These ear injuries result from excessively loud sound levels:
According to most experts, a major issue is that there’s no legislation dictating maximum volume levels for most electronic devices. This means that many people are unwittingly not hearing sounds at safe dB levels and are, instead, listening to extremely loud sounds for long periods.
Protecting your hearing is critical. Hearing impairment tends to sneak up on people and is explained away by aging. The fact is that hearing loss is something that happens in most people over a lifetime.
By taking steps to protect your hearing now, you make it less likely that you’ll experience significant hearing impairment in the years to come.
With how common personal media streaming devices are, this is the main threat to hearing faced by younger generations today.
Just because a device can reach a deafening volume doesn’t make it safe. Try lowering the volume by a few notches.
In the beginning, it can be difficult to get used to quieter sounds if you’ve been listening to louder sounds for an extended period. You will get used to it over time.
It’s impossible to avoid loud sounds your whole life. Sometimes, you may find yourself exposed to them in your everyday life.
For example, maybe a builder is using a jackhammer on the road. Perhaps you are attending a rock concert with extremely loud music.
Take action to move away from loud sounds, such as avoiding the area directly in front of the speakers at a show or crossing the street to get away from the jackhammer.
Most guides on protecting your hearing will focus on safe hearing levels, but this is only part of the equation. As already mentioned, it’s not just the decibel levels that influence whether hearing damage occurs.
Sometimes, a 15-minute break from a noisy environment can give your ears a rest and limit potential hearing damage.
This doesn’t need to be as tricky as it sounds. Go to the bathroom, venture to a quieter part of the bar, or go outside to get some air.
In the majority of developed countries, employers are required to take steps to protect their employees if their jobs involve regular exposure to loud sounds.
Anyone who works in a factory, or the building trade may regularly be exposed to the noise from heavy machinery. Employers will usually have a range of regulations they need to adhere to prevent hearing loss.
Steps could include:
If your employer is not providing protective equipment or working to protect your hearing, you may be able to take action through your union or by pursuing legal action.
Music is by far one of the biggest causes of gradual hearing loss. Both earphones and headphones are the top culprits of hearing loss.
Whenever you listen to music, follow these tips:
This is not an exact science. We all listen to music at loud volumes sometimes. As long as you don’t do this excessively, it shouldn’t cause too much damage to your hearing.
Our bodies are amazingly adaptable, and so is our hearing. If you regularly listen to loud sounds, it will eventually stop feeling uncomfortable, and you’ll start needing to hear sounds at higher and higher levels to hear them clearly.
If you believe you’re experiencing problems with your hearing, get tested early. Hearing tests don’t have to be expensive, and if you book through EarPros, we can get you a free hearing test.
Spotting hearing loss early can help you to take preventative action now.
Figuring out how many decibels is loud doesn’t have to be rocket science. Anything above 85 dB is unsafe, but you should make an effort to keep sounds below 70 dB if you can.
If you’re worried about long-term hearing loss, follow these preventative steps now. Alternatively, if you have already experienced some form of hearing impairment, don’t suffer in silence.
Schedule your free hearing test with a licensed audiologist via EarPros. We can help you choose the best hearing aids for your specific needs. Start your journey to better hearing today!
