On most occasions, it’s easy to know when the noise around you is too loud and could potentially cause long term hearing loss. An indoor concert, for instance. Using a power tool. Watching a wailing ambulance go by, or a plane flying too close overhead.
Then there are less obvious situations, like sporting events, a busy city street, certain restaurants, and watching TV at your parent’s house. (That last one is based on personal experience.)
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), any noise above 85 decibels (dB) is considered “hazardous” to your hearing. So that’s the gauge everyone can go by.
But how do you know if a sound has entered that hazardous range?
Lucky for us, there are two easy ways to tell. One is today’s Hearing Fact Friday and, again, is from the CDC: “When a person needs to raise his/her voice to speak with someone at arm’s length or about 3 feet away, a person is likely being exposed to noise that can potentially damage his/her hearing over time.”
The other is Starkey’s SoundCheck Hearing Test app. This free app lets you measure the decibel level of any environment you’re in, so you’ll be able to know if you’re in the clear or if you should take measures to protect your hearing. Download it on iTunes or Google Play.
Noise-induced hearing loss is the second leading cause of hearing loss and not something any of us wants. To help prevent it, here are 10 tips to protect your hearing.