Hearing Related Articles
- Preventing Music Based Hearing Loss
- Law aimed at curbing ear-piercing 'tin noise' in French Quarter, CBD is passed by City Council
- Even moderate noise may harm hearing
- Working or Playing Indoors, New Yorkers Face an Unabated Roar
- Prevalence of high frequency hearing loss consistent with noise exposure among people working with sound systems and general population in Brazil
- Control of noise exposure for employees in the music sector
- Sound Advice: Control of noise at work in music and entertainment
- Music as an Input to a Hearing Aid
- Hearing Loss and Musicians
- Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.)
- How to wear foam earplugs
Save New Orleans Sounds Initiative
Beware
Although ear pain may not begin until 125 dBA, permanent damage and hearing loss begin with regular, sustained exposures at 85 dBA
or louder.
Since 1971, OSHA has required that excessive sound be monitored, and limited at 90 dBA for an 8-hour workday. (In fact, the original noise limits were set in 1969, predating OSHA.)
Environmental Decibels (dBA)
|
Sound
|
Noise Level (in decibels)
|
||
 |
normal conversation at 3-5 ft. |
60-70 dBA
|
|
 |
dial tone of a telephone |
80 dBA
|
|
 |
city traffic inside a car |
85 dBA
|
|
 |
train whistle at 500 ft. |
90 dBA
|
|
 |
power lawn mower |
85-95 dBA
|
|
 |
power saw |
110 dBA
|
|
 |
Saints Game in the Superdome |
105-119 dBA
|
|
 |
shotgun blast or thunderclap |
130-150 dBA
|
|
 |
jet engine at 100 ft. |
140-150 dBA
|
|
Musical Decibels (dBA)
|
Sound
|
Noise Level (in decibels)
|
||
 |
piano/keyboard practice |
60-70 dBA
|
|
 |
chamber music |
75-85 dBA
|
|
 |
violin/fiddle |
84-103 dBA
|
|
 |
clarinet |
92-103 dBA
|
|
 |
trombone |
85-114 dBA
|
|
 |
average personal music player |
94 dBA
|
|
 |
timpani & bass drum rolls |
106 dBA
|
|
 |
amplified rock music at 4-6 ft. |
120 dBA
|
|
 |
rock music peak |
150 dBA
|
|
The Facts
- Although we think of hearing loss as something which occurs with age, a lot of that loss may be due to noise and other exposures. Noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable.
- Because the loss is gradual, we may not notice until considerable damage has occurred. Even mild hearing loss (30 dB HL) may significantly affect how we understand speech.
- Hypertension, heart disease, stress, and various psychological difficulties can be related to
noise exposure.
Sources
NIDCD:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/ruler.aspx
CDC:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-sound-vibration/
Howard Leight’s Noise Thermometer:
http://www.hearforever.org/blogs/07/08/2010/the-howard-leight-noise-thermometer
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/ruler.aspx
CDC:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-sound-vibration/
Howard Leight’s Noise Thermometer:
http://www.hearforever.org/blogs/07/08/2010/the-howard-leight-noise-thermometer
