Most people would agree that it’s a good idea to wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle, or a life jacket when you go waterskiing. Even more people would say that it’s smart to take appropriate precautions to avoid sickness and disease.
But did you know that it is equally important to protect your ears from hearing problems and occupational hearing loss? Sounds such as gunshots, large motors, and loud music can cause serious damage to your hearing.
Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.
It’s easy to say “loud noises”, but what’s more difficult is understanding exactly what those sounds could be. We know that any sounds louder than 85 decibels can cause permanent damage and hearing loss, but what ARE those sounds?
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NIOSH/CDC) has provided a list of some common decibel ratings and how long the permissible exposure time is for each.