Can You Hear This?
Hearing Test: http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/can-you-hear-this-hearing-test/
Sound Levels: http://makeitlouder.com/Decibel%20Level%20Chart.txt
Listen Smart- Safely Handling the Power of Sound
- We want to still be able to listen to music, but be safe and not suffer from hearing loss
- Long term exposure to loud music/sounds can cause hearing loss in the future
- Young people often think only older people suffer from hearing loss, and it is only because they are old
- You don’t think about the damage you may suffer going to a concert, especially when you are young
- No pills, no operations, hearing loss is irreversible
How the Ear Works
- Sounds is bounced off your eardrum, transferred into vibrations, and it is interpreted in the end by the cochlear hair cells
- If cochlear hair cells die, no new ones grow back, they are never replaced
- The more hairs die, the more hearing loss you suffer
Say What??
- 10-15% hearing loss = sound is slightly muffled, mild hearing loss
- 40-50% hearing loss = sound is more muffled, moderate hearing loss
- 75-80% hearing loss = sounds like hearing underwater, severe hearing loss
- 28 million Americans hearing impaired
Look for the Signs
- Ears ringing+ muffled for up to a week = noise hangover, short term damage, “temporary threshold shift”
- Ringing in the ears can be temporary or permanent
- High frequency hearing loss is the most common
- Loss on hearing certain consonants or syllables also common
What you can do
- Musicians earplugs lower sound evenly
- Earplugs that lower decibels are also good
- Lowers sound volume, not quality
- Cotton and toilet paper do not work
- Earplugs only take away pain, nothing else
- Do not get too close to rock band
- 10 ft between you and speaker
- Take a break from exposure
- Avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol, etc.
SoundAdvice.info For Audio Career Tips
- soundadvice.info
- In any career, know what levels are safe
- Everyone needs to help manage noise
- Employers must comply with noise regulations
- Make sure legal noise limits are not exceeded
- It is very easy to buy and wear hearing protection
Chart of Sound in the Environment
