What Level of Hearing Protection Do I Need?

There are several types of hearing loss. The bad news is that the most prevalent–and non-reversible–kind of hearing loss is because of prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels. The good news is this type of hearing loss can be prevented.

Exposure to loud noise kills the nerve endings in your inner ear. More prolonged exposure results in more dead nerve endings, resulting in permanent hearing loss that cannot be cured with medicine or surgery. Hearing affects your ability to detect high-frequency sounds and understand speech. This severely impairs your ability to communicate. Hearing aids are helpful, but will not cure your hearing loss.

Many people work in industries where loud noises are the norm. They are at risk of permanent hearing loss. It’s estimated that nearly 22 million employees are exposed to noise that meets or exceeds the threshold for damaging hearing. Whether you work at an entertainment venue, at an airport, or operate a jackhammer—hearing loss is preventable with the proper hearing protection.

What’s Too Loud?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates employers form a hearing protection program when employees are exposed to noise levels at or above 85 decibels during eight working hours.

So what do 85 decibels mean to you? We measure sound in units called decibels. These units are technically called A-weighted decibels, but we refer to them as dBA for short. Sounds below or at 70 dBA are comfortable for our ears. Prolonged exposure to sounds at this level won’t harm our hearing, but when levels get to 85 dBA or above, that’s when it’s harmful.

While a sudden loud noise above 85 dBA can be disastrous, a lesser sustained noise can also cause hearing loss. A general guideline to follow is that the louder the sound, the less time it will take to cause harm to your hearing. Here are some sounds we encounter often and their average decibel range:

• One-on-one conversation– 60-70 dBA
• Movie theater sound– 74-104 dBA
• Motorcycles and off-road bikes– 80-110 dBA
• Concerts, sporting events, or AirPods at high volume– 94-110 dBA
• Emergency sirens or jackhammer-110-129 dBA
• Fireworks or airliner taking off– 140-160 dBA

Noise-induced hearing loss can be instantaneous when exposed to sounds above 140 dBA. In some cases, both ears can be affected at the same time.

Types of Hearing Protection

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize exposure to excessive noise and avoid hearing loss by using personal protective equipment designed to block the harmful noise levels. Here are the four main types of hearing readily available protection.

Expandable foam plugs

This is the most common form of disposable hearing protection. These foam plugs come in various sizes so that those with smaller ears can use them. The formable material they’re made from allows users to insert the plug into the ear canal, where it will expand and fill the canal, blocking most sound from entering.

Pre-molded, reusable plugs

The pre-molded earplugs are made from rubber, silicone, or plastic. They are known as cheap reusable earplugs. And once again, because not all ear canals are the same size, and a tight fit is critical, these come in small, medium, and large sizes.

Sometimes, people may need a different-sized plug from one ear to the next. An ear plug should never be so tight as to cause discomfort but not loose enough where it will be less effective.

Some advantages to using pre-molded earplugs are that they are cost-effective, reusable, easy to carry, come in different sizes, and can be washed.

Canal caps

Canal caps resemble molded earplugs at the tips, but they are attached to a plastic or metal band joining them together. This material joining the two plugs or caps acts as a headband worn behind the neck, over the head, or even under the chin.

This type of hearing protection is excellent for situations where the need for hearing protection is erratic. Taking foam plugs in and out can be annoying and in some dusty environments, continually rolling the plugs just gets them dirty and can introduce debris into the ear canal.

The most significant advantage of using canal caps is their convenience. When the loud noise finishes, you can quickly pop them out of the ear, and they will dangle on the band, which is around the neck. When the noise returns, they can easily be put back into use.

Earmuffs

While wintery weather may pop into your head when you see the word earmuffs, these are a heavy-duty way of blocking out some of the loudest noises we come in contact with. These are made of sound-attenuating material, which will muffle sound and can be used with earplugs to protect the ear’s mechanisms further.

These come in different models and sizes to fit just about anyone. Since they completely cover the outer ear, earmuffs are great for infants, small children, and those with communication issues. The earmuffs can be placed, and visually you’ll know they are protected. Some models even have speakers and a microphone to assist with communication in a noisy environment.

What Can You Do?

You may be exposing yourself to too much noise if you:

• Consistently hear a ringing or humming in your ears.
• Find yourself shouting to be heard by people who are close by.
• Have temporary hearing loss like when you’ve left a concert.

If you’re having any of the symptoms above, take precautions now to protect your hearing by wearing earplugs or earmuffs. We carry a wide range of hearing protection in our office. Come in for a consultation to help you find the appropriate hearing protection for your situation.

If you are afraid that you already suffer from hearing loss, make an appointment for a hearing evaluation and consultation so we can help you hear better now and prevent further damage.