Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can happen when you listen to noise that's too loud, for too long, and too often. Loud noise is everywhere and some sounds can be harmful to your hearing health. A good rule to remember is: the louder the noise, the less time you can listen safely.
Here are some tips to help avoid any damage to you and your child’s hearing:
Wear hearing protection during loud events (in and/or over the ears). This can be in the ear protection like ear plugs, over the ear protection like headphones, or both for double the protection!
Stay 500 feet or more from loud speakers. Staying a safe distance away from loud sound sources is an easy way to protect you and your child's hearing.
Keep the volume to half when using headphones or earbuds. Check the volume level of your listening devices to make sure it's at a safe volume for the length of time that you'll be listening.
Use a sound meter app to monitor noise levels. There are many apps you can add to your portable devices to check on the sound levels. Are they safe or are they harmful for the amount of time we'll be exposed to this sound?
Take listening breaks every hour (from headphones or earbuds or at loud events). This is a great break to incorporate into your daily routines, especially if you and your family are frequently exposed to sounds throughout the day (e.g., music, shows, sound machines, etc.) Take a movement break and go for a walk or take some time to be quiet and take deep breaths.
Here are some noise levels for reference:
70 decibels (dBA) or lower is generally safe for extended periods of time (70dBA=group conversation)
80 dBA for adults more than 8 hours at a time can lead to hearing loss (80dBA=city traffic (in car)
75 dBA for children more than 8 hours at a time can lead to hearing loss (75dBA=washing machine)
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