Sounds like a problem.
A one-time, obvious burst of sound — like an explosion — can result in immediate hearing loss. Background noise from your day-to-day life, particularly in certain occupations, may gradually harm hearing over time. Even noise from your rush-hour commute has potential to cause hearing damage through regular, extended exposure. Sounds measuring less than 75 decibels are likely safe, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. However, sustained listening to sounds at 85 decibels or more can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Here’s why you should lower the volume on insidious, everyday noises.
Machines pounding
As if being a miner weren’t hazardous enough, it’s also the No. 1 occupation for high noise exposure, followed by construction and manufacturing. Unfortunately, workers in these jobs face the highest risk of developing hearing problems later in life, according to Capt. Chuck Kardous, a senior electrical research engineer with the Division of Applied Research and Technology of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Kardous, who specializes in hearing-loss prevention, says people whose work involves mining machines, chainsaws, jackhammers or factory equipment should wear earmuff headphones or earplugs. Extremely loud noises require double protection. For instance, he says, police officers training at firing ranges should wear headphones on top of earplugs.
Earbuds blaring
Your favorite music shouldn’t threaten your hearing. However, continually listening to personal music via earbuds or headphones at too-high levels can do just that, says audiologist Jason Wigand, an assistant professor and clinical director of the cochlear implant program at the University of South Carolina. Music-blaring earbuds are definitely among the top three everyday noise hazards, he says. Ironically, people often turn up the volume to drown out environmental noises around them. People who continually wear headphones on the job, such as call-center operators, air-traffic controllers or 911 dispatchers, sometimes approach unsafe noise-level limits.
Music making
Music thrills audience members even though they sometimes leave concert venues with temporary ear ringing. Unfortunately, musicians, sound technicians and band roadies can suffer from permanent hearing loss. Tolerating loud music may seem like second nature to lifelong entertainers, who assume that it’s just part of the job and they can’t do anything about it, Kardous says. Using hearing-protection equipment is one thing they can do. For example, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app is free to the general public and occupational safety and health professionals.
Traffic rumbling/sirens shrieking
Driving for a living or heavy commuting could potentially take a toll on your hearing ability. Motorcycles alone emit an average of 95 decibels on the street, according to the NIDCD. A November 2017 study tracked average sound levels experienced by Toronto commuters over a four-month period. Peak noise exposure during rush hour, particularly on buses and subway platforms, exceeded recommended safe levels. Being on and off public transit for 15 to 45 minutes at a time is probably OK for most people, Wigand says. However, he adds, for workers constantly exposed to high-level transit noises — think train conductors — that could be an issue.
Restaurants buzzing
A steady diet of restaurant or nightclub noises probably isn’t great for servers, host staff or bartenders. Reassuringly, though, it would take unusually prolonged exposure to pose a hearing risk. “When we did some preliminary testing in restaurants and establishments like that, the noise levels were not really above the limits,” Kardous says. “People move around. So they’re not really exposed to years and years [that it would take] for someone to develop hearing loss.” Even so, customers yearn for quieter restaurants, if only to carry out conversations. A desire to create literal buzz and contemporary restaurant acoustics contribute to noxious noise levels. High ceilings, flat, shiny surfaces and open-space concepts from bars to kitchens serve to accentuate sound, Wigand says. Multiple turned-on TVs make it worse. Whenever you have to raise your own voice to communicate, in any setting, that’s a sign of unacceptable noise levels, he adds: “We should not have to shout to be heard.”
Jet engines blasting
Air traffic controllers and airport tarmac workers deal with never-ending jet-engine roar. Meanwhile, pilots and flight attendants hear airplane noises from within. In health-hazard evaluations with NIOSH, the highest noise levels they measured on airplanes were during takeoffs — from about 85 to 105 decibels, Kardous says. Pilots and copilots wearing headphones have more protection than other flight-crew members, he points out. As decibels rise, exposure time should be cut. “At 100 decibels, you should only be exposed for 15 minutes a day,” he says. “So if [crew members] do two or three takeoffs a day, they reach their limit. More often than not, they’re below that limit.”
Sport venues roaring
The better the game, the louder the crowd at sports stadiums and arenas. But referees on the field and vendors in the stands face the roar of the crowd all too often. Racetracks take occupational sound exposure to another level. “A couple major NASCAR drivers who have lost their hearing have been great advocates for protecting younger folks’ hearing,” Kardous says. Jeff Gordon, Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty are drivers he lists in the NIOSH Science Blog. Race fans certainly receive a high-decibel, painful dose of noise, too. “You can see folks just covering their ears,” Kardous says. However, sticking fingers in your ears doesn’t get the job done when it comes to protecting your hearing. Wearing earplugs or headphones can help.
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7 Health Hazards of Everyday Noise originally appeared on usnews.com
