Do you know how noisy the world around us is? It’s much louder than you think. As technology has advanced, our world has been filled with so much extra noise that we don’t even notice it anymore.
Most of our cars, trains, heavy machinery, phones and gadgets weren’t around 100 years ago. The world is much louder than it used to be and the rate of hearing loss has skyrocketed. We need to understand how these new sounds affect our hearing, in order to protect ourselves from hearing loss.
Noise can damage hearing health
Noise-induced hearing loss used to be most common in certain industries such as construction, music and transportation. Construction workers, theatre musicians and train conductors are all educated on – and provided with – hearing protection.
But what about the people who live or work near construction zones, the patrons at the theatre, or the people who wait on the platform and take the train? They are exposed to the same loud sounds, without any hearing protection and often without any warning about how their hearing is being affected.
Everyday noise causes hearing loss
Research has shown that continuous exposure to sounds over 85 decibels can cause hearing damage. But exposure to loud noises for even short periods of time can cause hearing loss, or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Without protection, you should limit exposure to noises above 100 decibels to no more than 15 minutes. More than one minute of exposure to noises of 110 decibels or more, puts you at risk of permanent hearing loss.
The incidence of noise-induced hearing loss is on the rise, and it has become more and more common. It stems not only from occupational hazards, but from everyday activities such as going to a loud pub, listening to music with headphones, or riding a motorcycle.
Loud noises are everywhere
Many of the everyday sounds we’re exposed to are much louder than we realise.
Did you know that the sound of today’s titanium golf club hitting a golf ball is twice as loud as the sound an old steel club would make? Do you consider the noise of the wind as you’re driving with the windows down, or the sound of the jackhammer repairing roads outside your office. All of these sounds can contribute to noise-induced hearing loss – and we don’t give them a second thought.
Everyday noises that can harm hearing
1. City noises: Heavy traffic, public transport, motorcycles, sirens
2. Garden tools: Lawnmowers and leaf blowers
3. Power tools: Drills, chainsaws and jackhammers
4. Music: Portable music devices with earphones, rock concerts, cinema and theatre outings
5. Household appliances: Blenders, food processors, blow dryers
Noises to watch out for
- Hair dryer: 80-90 decibels
- Kitchen blender or food processor: 80-90 decibels
- Heavy city traffic: 85 decibels
- Lawnmower (power or fuel): 90-105 decibels
- Motorcycle: 90-95 decibels
- Hand or pneumatic drill: 100 decibels
- Rock concert: 105-110 decibels
- Chainsaw: 105-110 decibels
- Music at full volume with headphones: 105-110 decibels
- Sirens: 110-140 decibels
- Jackhammer: 130 decibels
- Firecrackers and gun shot: 140-150 decibels
Education is needed
What is missing most right now in the world of hearing health is education. People learn to play the drums and ride motorcycles, but their instruction rarely includes a lesson in hearing protection. We ride trains and work around loud construction noise and attend concerts and dance clubs, but we’re not warned about the threat to our hearing.
If you are concerned about hearing loss, or preventing noise-induced hearing damage, please make an appointmet to talk to one of Audiology Medical Services’ clinically trained professional audiologists, available at clinics nationwide. Call 1800 501 501, or see
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