Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains the most preventable form of hearing loss. Yet millions of Americans accumulate hearing damage every year from sources entirely within their control.
How Noise Damages Hearing
Loud sounds damage the microscopic hair cells in the cochlea that convert sound waves into nerve signals. Unlike many types of tissue damage, these hair cells do not regenerate. Once gone, the hearing loss they cause is permanent — occurring from a single loud impulse or from repeated exposure over time.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers 85 decibels the threshold for potential damage with extended exposure. A lawnmower runs around 90 dB, a rock concert around 110-120 dB, and a gunshot can hit 140-165 dB. At 110 dB, damage can occur in under two minutes of unprotected exposure.
Protection Is Simple
Foam earplugs provide 20-30 dB of protection and cost almost nothing. Custom-fitted hearing protection offers superior comfort and is worth the investment for anyone regularly exposed to noise. The best protection is the kind you’ll actually wear.
Contact Revolution Hearing to ask about custom hearing protection options and to schedule a hearing evaluation if you work or play in noisy environments.
