Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common workplace injuries in the United States. Speak Up When It Gets Too LoudĮxposure to loud noise isn’t always a personal choice. If listening on a mobile device, consider setting a volume limit (if your device supports this), or set a timer so that you know when to give your ears a break. While it can be enticing, it’s not worth the risk of permanent hearing damage that comes from prolonged exposure to loud music. When listening to music, be mindful of the volume, and avoid turning the song up during your favorite part. Turning the volume too loud, especially while using earbuds or headphones, can be a major source of hearing damage. That’s because the sound level while doing this is almost completely dependent on the user. One area not covered on our list: recreationally listening to music. Given that sounds during these activities can easily exceed 110 dB, these environments can be incredibly harmful to hearing if protection is not used. This is equally important for those attending a stock car race or going target shooting. Extended exposure to these environments will result in permanent hearing loss if steps aren’t taken to mitigate the damage. For those who work in loud environments and industries such as construction or air traffic control, hearing protection should be considered part of the job. Earplugs and earmuffs are essential tools for preventing hearing loss in loud environments. The most obvious case of this is to utilize hearing protection. There are steps to take that will help you protect your hearing while enjoying the things you love. Just because a rock concert can be loud enough to cause immediate hearing damage doesn’t mean you can’t go see your favorite band play. Informing yourself on common decibel examples is only half the battle. Sounds above 110 dB can cause hearing damage almost immediately. Per NIOSH, a person reaches maximum daily exposure at the following times:Īs you can see, each interval of 3 dB results in half the time needed for hearing loss to occur. Organizations such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have set permissible daily exposure times based on decibel level to help protect workers who are exposed to loud sounds. Guidelines have been issued for total noise exposure. As mentioned, it’s as much about the distance and time exposed as it is about the intensity.

120 dB: ambulance siren, chainsaw, rock concertīecoming informed on common decibel levels can help you keep your hearing safe, but it’s equally important to know how long it takes for hearing loss to occur.

110 dB: power saw, jackhammer, motorcycle.

90 dB: lawnmower, shouting conversation.

In addition to decibel level, the risk of damage will depend on two main factors: distance from the sound source and time exposed. Sounds exceeding 85 dB can lead to hearing damage.

80 dB: noisy restaurant, vacuum cleaner, garbage disposal.

60 dB: normal conversation, electric toothbrush.

40 dB: quiet office or residential area, light rain.

20 dB: leaves rustling, mosquito buzzing.

Let’s take a look at a few common decibel examples that fall below the threshold. Sounds under 85 dB are generally considered safe. Therefore, these examples should be used as estimations rather than exact measurements. The actual sound produced may vary slightly depending on the source.

Keep in mind that these examples are general guidelines. Prolonged exposure to these loud sounds and environments can lead to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss. Understanding the intensity level of everyday sounds can tell you when you’re in a situation that may cause hearing damage.

That’s why it can be helpful to learn the noise levels of common sounds. However, unless you’re carrying a decibel meter with you, it can be difficult to know exactly how loud sounds are-and if they are at damaging levels. For example, a 90 dB sound will be more damaging from a foot away than a 100 dB sound would be from 50 feet away. In addition to the intensity, the distance from the sound also plays a major factor in hearing damage. Given the exponential nature of decibels, the risk of hearing damage increases rapidly as the decibel level rises. In general, sounds over 85 dB can lead to hearing damage. A 20 dB sound is 100 times louder than silence. A 10 dB sound is 10 times louder than silence. This means that the intensity of the sound doubles every 3 dB. Instead, decibels increase exponentially. However, decibels are logarithmic, meaning they don’t increase at a steady rate. The higher the decibels, the louder the sound. Sounds are measured in a unit called decibels (dB).

Let’s take a look at how sound is measured and some decibel examples you’re likely to come across. Knowing the dB levels of these noises can help us protect ourselves from hearing loss. We are exposed to a wide range of dB level examples in our everyday lives.

Decibel scale examples rf