How loud is too loud?
We measure sound in decibels (dB), and it’s commonly known that noise over 85 dB can damage our hearing when listened to for a long time. The louder the noise is, the less time we can listen to it without damaging our hearing.
For example, rainfall only registers at 50 dB, so it won’t damage our hearing to listen to it for too long. However, a crack of thunder registers at 120 dB, so if you’re outside during a thunderstorm, make sure you’re wearing hearing protection under your umbrella!
You might be surprised to find how many “everyday” noises can be harmful to our hearing; even some of our home appliances, like the coffee machine or the blender, can damage our hearing when listened to for too long.
Think about all the noise you listen to on a daily basis. The car humming, the phone ringing, the radio blasting, the kids yelling – it all adds up to hurting our hearing (as well as our heads!).
Without proper hearing protection, you could accidentally do some serious damage to your hearing by listening to these everyday noises for a prolonged period.
Motorcycles & Other Vehicles
This may not come as a surprise for the more savvy bikers out there, but riding motorcycles without hearing protection will not only expose you to the loud engine (averaging a range of 95 dB-110 dB) but also to the harsh winds from driving the bike at high speeds. With earplugs in, you’ll protect yourself from both.
Even regular cars or trucks can pose problems to your hearing without moderation; most heavy traffic registers at around 85 dB, but your car’s radio can reach incredibly high volumes of 125 dB when not moderated.
Don’t be that person on the highway with the booming bass – you might come to regret it later!
Home Appliances
Even your home isn’t regulated from super loud noise – while we may think the doorbell is jarring at first ring, it can be chaos if you have a loud dog barking to accompany it.
Common appliances like blenders, garbage disposal, coffee makers, and even your hairdryer can reach a maximum of 95 dB. Outdoors, gardening tools like lawnmowers and leaf blowers can reach anywhere from 95 dB to 110 dB, so make sure that you’re wearing hearing protection while mowing the lawn to ensure your hearing safety.
Concerts & Music Players
Music players like speakers, record players, and your TV can get to pretty loud volumes themselves, so getting into the habit of turning them down if you’re having a particularly loud jam session.
The Apple AirPods Max can reach max volumes of 120 dB – just twenty minutes of listening at maximum can cause damage to your hearing without moderation.
How many concerts and live events have you come away from with ringing ears? We’ve all been there! Make sure you have proper hearing protection when you’re enjoying live music so that you can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
Safeguard Your Hearing with Custom Hearing Protection
Over-the-counter earplugs can help in a pinch, but the problem with these one-size-fits-all earplugs is that they often don’t fit all – from that uncomfortable plugged-up feeling to a constant fear of them falling out. Store-bought earplugs can work, but they’re not the best.
If you’re concerned about your hearing, whether you work in entertainment, construction, or gardening and landscaping, or would like to keep your hearing safe from damage, you can feel the difference with our custom-fitted hearing protection that fits snug to your unique ears and keeps you safe from hearing damage.
To explore hearing protection or schedule an appointment, please feel free to request a callback, and we’ll get in touch as soon as we can to help. For a more immediate conversation, please call us at 510-841-0681.
