From cars honking in traffic to people talking over one another during dinner at the Smoke House Restaurant, our lives are full of more noise than we might realize. Learning about the impact of noise pollution can help you care for your hearing and lower your risk of hearing damage in the long run.
How Do You Hear?
When you listen to your favorite song, the music travels from its source to the auditory center of your brain through the following series of steps:
- Music generates sound waves that travel through the ear canal to the eardrum.
- The sound waves vibrate the eardrum.
- Bones in the middle ear, known as ossicles, amplify and carry the vibrations to the inner ear.
- The vibrations travel into the cochlea (a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear).
- The vibrations move the tiny hair cells lining the cochlea.
- As the tiny hair cells move, they transmit signals to your auditory nerve.
- The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
How Loud Does Noise Damage Your Hearing?
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). For instance, a normal conversation registers at about 60 dB and shouting or barking measures around 110 dB. The Centers for Disease Control defines the threshold for hearing loss as exposure to noise over 70 dB for a prolonged period or over 120 dB immediately.
When exposed to noise above the threshold for hearing loss, the tiny hair cells in your ear responsible for transmitting sound can become overworked. When they work too hard, permanent hearing damage can result.
How Can You Protect Against Noise Damage?
You may not be able to lower the volume of traffic, construction or other sources of noise in your life, but there are a few ways you can reduce its impact on your hearing health, including:
- Carry earplugs. Earplugs are an excellent option to dampen the force with which sound hits your ears. Carry a pair of earplugs for concerts, construction sites, blaring traffic and any other instance of noise pollution you may find yourself in.
- Take breaks. If you are attending a concert or other loud event, give yourself a break from the noise every once in a while. Try walking out of the venue or moving to a quieter area to give your ear a chance to rest.
- Lower the volume. Set a volume limit between 70 and 80 dB for your personal audio devices to help prevent hearing damage.
By carrying earplugs, taking breaks from loud noise and lowering the volume on your personal devices, you can help protect your hearing from noise pollution. To learn more about how you can care for your hearing, contact Sound Advice today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.