How Loud Sounds Can Cause Permanent Hearing Damage

Loud noise damages your hearing. At first, it might not be very noticeable — but if you continue to expose yourself to loud noises, permanent hearing damage can occur. This can eventually lead to hearing loss.

How loud is too loud?

The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels. Sounds below 85 decibels are usually safe, even if you have constant exposure to them for long periods of time. Sounds at 85 decibels and above can be harmful, but the amount of time you can listen to them safely varies depending on how loud they are. For example, a typical conversation occurs at about 60 decibels, and eight hours of noise at that level would not cause damage. With every increase by 10 decibels—to 70, 80 or 90—the safe listening time is cut in half.

Sounds above the 120-decibel range can cause immediate hearing damage. To give you an idea of just how loud (or quiet) different sounds are, here’s a list:

• Whispering: 30 dB
• Normal conversation: 60 dB
• City traffic (inside your car): 80 dB
• Lawnmower: 90 dB
• Rock concert/ambulance siren: 110 dB
• Threshold of pain/jet engine: 130 dB

Measuring sound in decibels (dB)

The first thing to understand is that it’s not the sheer volume of a sound that can cause damage, but the energy content. Take a moment to run through this thought experiment: you are standing in front of two speakers at a concert. One is blasting music at 85 decibels (dB) and the other at 95 dB.

They are both rock-concert-level loud, but which one is more damaging? Most people would intuitively think it would be the louder speaker, but this is wrong: an increase of 10 dB represents an increase in energy level by ten times. So if 85 dB is damaging then 95 dB must be far more so—but remember that each 10-dB increase represents ten times as much energy! Though it may seem counterintuitive, it turns out that this second speaker has only twice as much energy as the first one.

In reality, you probably wouldn’t want to spend any time with either of these speakers—85 dB is about equal to the noise made by heavy traffic—but for comparison purposes, these numbers show us how effects are related to increasing levels of sound pressure.

Effects of noise on hearing

• Exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing loss. The ear is fragile, and repeated exposure to very loud sounds can damage the tiny hair cells that allow it to translate sound waves into electrical signals. Once these cells die, they cannot regenerate.
• Loud sounds also can cause tinnitus. This condition is often described as a ringing in the ears, but some people hear buzzing or hissing noises instead or in addition to ringing. Tinnitus causes a great deal of discomfort for many, but there is no cure; it is not directly caused by exposure to loud sounds, but exposure certainly raises the chances of developing tinnitus.
• Children and young adults are particularly susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This is because their ears are still growing and developing (which means that there are more delicate hair cells), and because they have a greater tendency toward risky behavior (such as attending concerts without ear protection). Most NIHL occurs when someone has been exposed to over 85 decibels for an extended period of time

The health consequences of overexposure to noise

There are several physical health consequences that sound overexposure can cause. These include stress, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular problems, headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and increased blood pressure.

High blood pressure is of particular concern for those who are exposed to high levels of noise for extended periods of time. Studies have shown that those who work in environments with high noise levels are more likely to develop temporary hypertension than those who do not work in such environments. Additionally, they are at a slightly higher risk of developing ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Stress hormones. Noise affects the release of stress hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. The stress hormones act on the immune system, affecting the body’s ability to fight off illness. They also affect the brain’s ability to process information. That’s why it’s harder for you to learn when you’re under pressure – and why even a minor noise can distract you from your work. Noise can also affect how we sleep.

Noise-induced changes in the ear

To understand the effects of loud sound, you need to know a bit about how hearing works.

The ear is made up of three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear. Each part has a different function in collecting and processing sound.

The outer ear is a funnel that collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal. The ear canal leads to an eardrum—a thin piece of skin stretched across tiny bones called ossicles (oss-i-clees). Sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which causes the ossicles to vibrate, too. The vibrations travel from one bone to another until they reach a membrane called the oval window. This membrane separates the middle and inner ears from each other. When this window moves back and forth rapidly due to vibrations caused by loud sounds, it creates pressure changes in the fluid within your inner ear that are an integral part of normal hearing.

Hearing loss in children

Children are at risk for hearing loss from loud music. While this may be the first association that comes to mind when thinking about hearing loss in kids, it’s far from the only source of danger. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that a single night at a rock concert can cause lasting damage. Those who wish to protect their children’s hearing should understand how unsafe noise levels can affect them and what they can do to prevent it.

Hearing loss in children is irreversible; you cannot restore hearing to its former state once your child has been exposed to too much sound over too long a period of time or at high decibel levels. A noisy environment can even make it difficult for adults with normal hearing to understand words, so imagine the difficulty it must pose for those not yet fully equipped with the language skills necessary for comprehension! Luckily, many things parents and children use every day have built-in volume controls that easily limit their decibel output.

It is not a good idea to listen to loud music for long periods of time.

• It is not a good idea to listen to loud music for long periods of time.
• Listening to loud music on a regular basis can cause hearing damage, and in extreme cases, permanent hearing loss.
• Hearing loss can easily be prevented by listening at low volumes for short periods of time and by using earplugs at concerts and other loud events.

If you’re worried about your hearing or think that you may have suffered some kind of damage, consult a doctor. It’s important to protect your ears at all costs!

Preventing and treating noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a preventable type of hearing loss that occurs when exposure to loud noise damages the inner ear. NIHL can happen all at once, or it can happen gradually over time.

There are two types of NIHL: temporary and permanent. Temporary NIHL can heal on its own, but permanent NIHL is permanent.

The best way to prevent NIHL is to avoid loud noise when possible and to use hearing protection when you can’t. If you think you might have NIHL, see a doctor right away. There is no cure for NIHL, but there are treatments that can help you manage it.

If you have NIHL, you might have trouble hearing high-pitched sounds, understanding speech, or hearing in noisy environments. You might also have tinnitus, which is a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in your ear.

There are a few different treatments for NIHL, depending on the severity of your hearing loss. If your NIHL is mild, you might not need treatment. But if it’s severe, you might need to use hearing aids or other assistive devices to help you hear.

If you have NIHL, it’s important to avoid loud noise and to take care of your ears. You should also see a doctor regularly to check your hearing and to make sure your NIHL isn’t getting worse.

To avoid permanent hearing loss caused by loud noises, use earplugs when you’re at concerts, nightclubs, festivals, and other venues where the music is too loud. If you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone standing one meter away, then the noise level is above 85 decibels. Hearing damage can occur at levels of 85 decibels or higher if you’re exposed to those levels for longer than 8 hours a day. Therefore, it’s important to protect your hearing by using earplugs if you’re going to be in a loud venue for longer than 8 hours.

HearSafe earplugs

If you are looking for a way to protect your hearing, you may want to consider HearSafe earplugs. These earplugs are designed to reduce the amount of noise that you are exposed to, which can help to prevent damage to your hearing. HearSafe earplugs are also comfortable to wear and easy to insert, so you can use them for long periods of time without discomfort.

HearSafe earplugs are made from a soft, flexible material that conforms to the shape of your ear. This allows them to create a seal that helps to block out noise. The earplugs are available in different sizes to fit different ear shapes and sizes. They also come with a cord that can be used to keep them in place, or you can wear them without the cord for a more discreet look. HearSafe earplugs can be used for a variety of activities.

If you work in a noisy environment, such as a factory or construction site, you can wear them to protect your hearing. You can also use them if you are attending a loud concert or sporting event. Or, if you just want to reduce the amount of noise in your environment, you can wear them while you are studying or working at home.