| The good news is that you don't have to lose | | | | interferes with telephone |
| your hearing as you age. The bad news is, you | | | | conversationAverage city traffic, alarm |
| will - unless you limit your exposure to high | | | | clock, 80 dB - Annoying, |
| noise levels. The most preventable cause of | | | | |
| hearing loss is the cumulative effect of | | | | intrusive, interferes with |
| noise. The following suggestions and decibel | | | | conversationElectric razor, many industrial |
| (dB) chart will help you gauge your exposure | | | | work places, 85 dB - Level |
| to noise and reduce your risk of hearing | | | | |
| loss:* Wear ear plugs when operating noisy | | | | at which hearing damage (8 hours) |
| equipment (i.e. lawn mower, motorboat or | | | | beginsSubway, motorcycle, lawn mower, 90 dB - |
| power tools).* Set car, home and portable | | | | Very annoying |
| stereos to below half volume. | | | | |
| | | | Average portable cd player set above half |
| Beware of music levels in exercise classes, | | | | volume, 95 dB - |
| concerts and bars.* Look for a product | | | | |
| recommended for quiet operation when shopping | | | | Repeated exposure risks permanent hearing |
| for a fan, air conditioner or other household | | | | lossChain saw, subway train, garbage truck, |
| appliance.* Don't buy noisy toys. Some toy | | | | 100 dB - Damage |
| musical instruments emit dangerous sound | | | | |
| levels, while cap guns and firecrackers, | | | | after 15 minutes exposureInboard motorboat, |
| exploding near the ear, can damage hearing | | | | power saw, highly amplified rock music, |
| even if you only hear them once.* Any noise | | | | |
| which makes your ears ring, a condition | | | | pneumatic drill, 110 dB - Regular exposure |
| called tinnitus, is too loud.* Protect your | | | | of 1 minute risks |
| ears if you hunt or shoot guns. Acoustic | | | | |
| trauma - immediate, severe and persistent | | | | permanent hearing lossThunderclap (nearby), |
| hearing loss - is directly linked to | | | | jet engine (at take off), very loud |
| gunfire.* If your workplace is noisy, ensure | | | | |
| that ear protectors are provided, and wear | | | | nightclub, 120 dB - Threshold of painShotgun |
| them.* Make sure printers, copiers and other | | | | firing, air-raid siren, 130 dB - May cause |
| noisy office | | | | acoustic |
| | | | |
| machines aren't grouped together.* Wear ear | | | | traumaChart Source: Canadian Hearing Society |
| plugs at rock concerts.* Avoid places where | | | | FoundationNoise pollution is increasing, with |
| you cannot talk comfortably with another | | | | city noise doubling |
| person who is three feet away.* Wear ear | | | | |
| protectors for loud hobbies like snowmobiling | | | | every decade. However, by limiting the noise |
| or woodworking.How Loud is Too Loud? Use this | | | | that you and |
| Decibel Level Chart to Gauge Noise | | | | |
| EffectsNormal breathing, 10 dB - Just | | | | your children are exposed to, you can help |
| audibleQuiet office, refrigerator, 50 dB - | | | | protect yourself, |
| ComfortableVacuum cleaner, hair dryer, inside | | | | |
| a car, 70 dB - Intrusive, | | | | and them, from future hearing loss. |
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