No one wants to lose their hearing. Even if you already have some hearing loss, you want to do all you can to preserve the hearing that remains. For this reason, it’s always important to be aware of the dangerously loud sounds you are exposed to every day. Once you know where the potential dangers are, you can then take steps to reduce you exposure to them.

Many people mistakenly think that only excessively loud sounds can cause hearing loss. The truth is that continued exposure to even lower decibel sounds can also cause hearing loss.  Sound is measured in decibels (Db) and noises in the range of just 70-90 Db can cause damage to your hearing over time. Below is a list of some common noises associated with a variety of professions:

  1. Ambulance and fire truck sirens often times produce 110 – 140 Db.
  2. Musical instruments can generate between 110-140 Db.
  3. Pilots or air traffic controllers can experience 110-140 Db.
  4. Garbage trucks can generate between 85-100 Db.
  5. Construction equipment between 85 -140 Db depending on the tools used.

As you can see, many occupations have the potential to cause hearing damage. Some of these sounds are loud enough to cause damage just after one exposure.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a study which suggests that 25% of hearing losses are due to noise exposure at work. Just becoming aware of these hazards goes a long way. Please call or e-mail us if you wish to know more about types of hearing protection.