Frequently Asked Questions

Noise & Hearing Loss

(click to display information regarding each question)

• How much worse will my hearing loss get?
  • Unless the hearing loss is a result of a cause that is known to be progressive, there is no way to predict how much hearing will decrease over time. In most cases, hearing changes vary gradually over time. Most people do not completely lose their hearing.

• How much noise can I be around before I get a hearing loss?
  • According to OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Association) requirements, workers who are exposed to eight hours of noise at 85dB(A), need to be included in a hearing-conservation program. Workers whose exposure exceeds 90dB(A) must wear hearing protection. With each 5dB of increase in noise level, the length of time that the employee may not safely work in noise (without the benefit of hearing protection) is halved. For example, in 95dB(A) of noise, exposure is not to exceed four hours, in 100dB(A), two hours, 105dB(A), one hour, 110dB(A) 30 minutes and a maximum level of 115dB(A), 15 minutes.
    
    
  • Examples of environmental sound: 90dB (garbage disposal, noisy restaurant), 100dB (electric drill, snowmobile), 110dB (power saw, video arcade), 120dB (rock concert, chain saw) and 130dB (jackhammer, Walkman set on high)
    
    
  • Susceptibility to hearing loss from noise exposure varies among individuals. Although a hearing loss may not be noticed right after noise exposure, the damage to the ear builds up over time, so the hearing loss may occur at a later age. If you've ever been to a concert where, when you left, your hearing sounded muffled, you experienced what is called a temporary threshold shift, or a temporary change in hearing. After hours or sometimes days, hearing generally returns. With more exposure, the ear does not recover as much. It does not take another concert to cause further damage. Common activities, such as lawn mowing, snow blowing, motorcycling, etc., do have the potential to cause hearing loss. Suseptibility varies among individuals. There is no way to determine your susceptibility to damage from noise exposure. Therefore, it is best to wear ear protection whenever exposed to hazardous noise levels, even for short periods of time.