Excessive Noise
The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) considers sounds at or below 70 decibels (the volume of office noise, shower, or dishwasher) to be safe for human hearing.
Any sounds above 85 decibels for an extended time can contribute to permanent noise-induced hearing loss.
To put that into perspective, a hair dryer and a power lawnmower are around 90 decibels while an ambulance siren is 120 decibels and a jet engine is around 130 decibels. Regular and prolonged unprotected exposure above 85 decibels is considered hazardous.
Noise-induced hearing loss can occur in everyday life, including work environments such as manufacturing, construction and any environment that uses heavy machinery. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for hearing loss to occur.
Schedule a consultation with our audiologist, Dr. Kim Scriven
(242) 702-9310 / 702-9312
www.familymedicinecenter.org
Source: Hearing.org