Prolonged exposure to sound can take a severe toll on your hearing health, chiefly in settings where sound levels surpass safe thresholds. You must safeguard your ears; this is necessary for not just preventing hearing loss—it also helps you maintain focus despite noisy conditions. So, how do you find the appropriate level of hearing protection for your situation?
Understanding noise levels and their consequences
When considering the effect of noise, the length of exposure is as significant as the sound’s intensity. The main measurement for understanding noise levels is decibels, a unit employed to express sound volume. When sound levels reach 85 dB or higher, they can start to harm your hearing, particularly with extended exposure.
To provide a reference, 85 dB is equal to the sound of urban traffic when heard from inside a vehicle. An eight-hour period of non-stop exposure can begin to damage your hearing, even if the sound level doesn’t strike you as too loud. The more intense the sound, the shorter the safe exposure time:
- A sound level of 90 dB (e.g., a Lawnmower) can cause damage after 4 hours of exposure.
- Exposure to 100 dB (Power tools) must be restricted to a maximum of 60 minutes.
- Damage is possible after only 15 minutes at the 110 dB level (Leaf blower).
- Even momentary exposure to 120 dB (e.g., a Rock concert) is enough to cause hearing damage.
- A sound level of 140 dB (Jet engine) can cause instant pain and damage.
Pinpointing noise levels that are dangerous
It is necessary to use hearing protection if your routine exposure is to noise levels exceeding 85 dB. This holds chiefly true in work settings, such as factories, construction sites, or settings where machinery, tools, or gear generate significant levels of noise.
You can encounter unsafe noise levels even in recreational activities—such as attending shows, utilizing leaf blowers, or shooting sports—making hearing protection prudent outside of a job setting.
Choosing protection based on Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR)
Hearing protection efficacy is rated using the Noise Reduction Rating (the NRR) scale. Given in dB, this figure tells you the degree of sound blockage the protective device is able to block. Higher NRR values deliver better protection. To give a concrete example, a 30 dB NRR on earplugs would decrease an 85 dB noise down to 55 dB, which is a sound level well under the unsafe limit.
When making your choice, consider the specific noise volume you are facing and ensure that the protection reduces the sound below the 85 dB limit.
Comfort is vital: the essential to uninterrupted protection
Although the NRR is important, comfort is just as important for ensuring that the protection will be employed consistently over time. An ill-fitting or cumbersome protective unit increases the inclination to remove it, which exposes your ears to dangerous noise.
When the protection is easy to wear, it promotes continuous use and reduces the risk associated with removing it occasionally. If, for example, earmuffs feel uncomfortable or weigh too much, you are likely to take them off occasionally, resulting in harmful noise exposure.
The main categories of hearing protection devices
There are a few different types of hearing protection, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Foam Earplugs: These sit inside the ear canal and offer excellent noise reduction. They’re lightweight and disposable but may feel uncomfortable for some users.
- Pre-Molded Earplugs: These rest just outside the ear canal and are reusable, making them a more sustainable option. They’re easier to insert and remove compared to foam earplugs.
- Enclosing the whole ear, Earmuffs are perfect for settings where noise volume changes, as they can be easily removed and replaced. Their drawbacks include potentially feeling warm or heavy over a long period.
The perfect type of protection to select is dictated by your own preference and the demands of the environment you are in. An illustration is construction workers favoring earmuffs for their simple convenience, while factory workers may select earplugs for a continuous period of wear.
The importance of continuous protection
The protection that is used consistently is, by definition, the most effective kind. Even a brief time without protection can cause lasting negative effects on your auditory health. It is absolutely necessary to identify a solution that strikes a balance between comfort, protection, and convenience for this reason.
Safeguard your hearing for the long term
Noise is an ever-present presence in our lives, but with the right hearing protection, you can shield your ears while still managing to appreciate the sounds around you.
Contact us now to review your chances of hearing loss from noise and the optimal ways to protect your hearing.
