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