Your hearing health can be seriously affected by extended noise exposure, chiefly in settings where noise intensity surpasses safe limits. It is essential to shield your ears, not just to avoid hearing damage, but also to help you concentrate in loud environments. What is the most effective way to choose the amount of hearing protection that is suitable for you?
How noise levels impact your hearing
The harm caused by noise exposure is a function of both its intensity and the duration spent in that environment. dB’s are the essential measurement unit for noise, quantifying the strength of sound. When sound levels get to 85 dB or higher, they can begin to injure your hearing, especially with sustained exposure.
For comparison, 85 dB is comparable to the noise level of city traffic experienced from inside a car. While this may not seem too loud, non-stop exposure for eight hours can start to harm your hearing. As the sound gets louder, the duration of time you can be exposed securely decreases:
- Damage can occur with up to 4 hours of exposure at 90 dB (Lawnmower).
- Keep your exposure to 100 dB (Power tools) to less than 1 hour.
- 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.
- Immediate pain and damage are possible at 140 dB (Jet engine).
Determining dangerous levels of noise
If you are frequently around noise at 85 dB or higher, hearing protection becomes an essential requirement. The need for protection is heightened in work settings, including plants and construction, or in any place where engines, equipment, or tools create excessive noise.
You can encounter hazardous noise levels even in recreational hobbies—such as attending shows, utilizing leaf blowers, or shooting sports—making hearing protection wise outside of a job setting.
Using the NRR to choose the best hearing protection
Hearing protection performance is measured using the Noise Reduction Rating (the NRR) scale. Expressed in dB, this figure indicates the level of sound blockage the protective unit is able to block. The greater the NRR, the better the protection against noise. To give a concrete example, a 30 dB NRR on earplugs would lower an 85 dB noise down to 55 dB, which is a sound level far below the unsafe limit.
When choosing hearing protection, consider the exact noise levels you’re exposed to and verify your choice delivers enough blockage to stay below the 85 dB limit.
Comfort matters: the secret to steady protection
While the NRR is a vital factor, comfort plays an equally significant role in guaranteeing sustained use. You might be tempted to take off the protection if it is uncomfortable or cumbersome, thereby exposing your ears to hazardous sound.
Choosing comfortable hearing protection ensures consistent wear, thus reducing the risk that you will be exposed to noise intermittently. If, for instance, earmuffs feel ill-fitting or weigh too much, you are inclined to take them off occasionally, resulting in dangerous noise exposure.
A look at the different types of hearing protection
There are several different forms of hearing protection, and each has its own advantages and cons:
- 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.
- Resting right outside the ear canal, Pre-Molded Earplugs are reusable and thus a more eco-friendly choice. They are simpler to take out and put in than their foam counterparts.
- Earmuffs enclose the ear completely; they are best for varying noise environments because of their ease of removal and donning. A common disadvantage is that they can feel warm or heavy with continuous wear.
The best choice of protection is dependent on your personal preferences and the specific demands of your surroundings. An illustration is construction workers favoring earmuffs for their simple convenience, while factory workers may choose earplugs for a full day of wear.
Ensuring steady use
The most reliably effective hearing protection is the one you’ll wear without fail. Taking off the protection for even a few minutes can lead to long-term harm to your hearing. A product that successfully merges convenience, protection, and comfort is, therefore, critical.
Taking steps for long-lasting hearing protection
While noise is ever present in our daily lives, using the correct hearing protection allows you to safeguard your ears and continue to appreciate the sounds of the world.
Call us today to review your likelihood of hearing loss from noise and the best ways to protect your hearing.
