Brochure

The Sound Around Us
Noise is everywhere. It is the most pervasive environmental pollutant on the
planet. Virtually everything we do makes noise, and the more we do it, the faster
we do it, and the more of us there are - the more noise is made. In fact, silence, by
which we mean complete absolute quiet, is so rare that few of us have had the joy,
or perhaps even the possibility to experience it. If we have, it is so unusual that we
can likely cite the time and place of its last occurrence. The opportunities to savor
such tranquility are rapidly vanishing.
Not only is noise present in our daily routines and recreational activities,
but upwards of 5 million Americans, possibly as many as 30 million, work in
hazardous noise on a daily basis. Estimates from the National Institutes of Health
suggest that hearing loss aficts 28 million Americans. About 1/3 of those cases
are at least partially attributable to noise. Later in this booklet we’ll tell you how
the ear works and how noise can affect it, so you will understand why you should
protect your ears from too much sound today in order for your hearing to serve
you tomorrow.
In a world as noisy as ours we frequently tune out. Moreover, our culture is so
visually dominant that often sight overwhelms the other senses such as audition
(the hearing of sounds), which is habitually relegated to second-class status. The
purpose of this pamphlet is to address these issues – to increase your appreciation
and awareness of the sounds around you and to provide some tools to help you
protect yourselves from loud, annoying and/or hazardous sound.
Pain threshold
Dual protection
may be needed
Short exposures
can cause perma-
nent hearing loss
Prolonged exposure
causes moderate to
severe loss. Wear
hearing protectors
with extra care
Prolonged exposure
causes mild to
moderate loss.
Hearing protectors
required
Prolonged exposure
causes slight
hearing loss.
Hearing protectors
recommended
Residential
boundary-noise
limit
Sleep disruption
may begin
Threshold of
Hearing
Jet Takeoff
Basketball
Game
Crowd Noise
Large
Stamping
Press
Chain Saw
Vacuum
Cleaner
Inside Mid-
Size Auto
(65 mph)
Drilling Concrete
Leaf Blower
Conversation
Floor Fan
Quiet Library
Rice Krispies
Watch
Ticking
Quiet
Wilderness
(no wind)
Measuring Noise
Noise hazard depends on the level
(sometimes called intensity) of the noise,
its duration, and how often the exposure
occurs. The point above which regular
exposure to sounds becomes hazardous is
a level of about 85 decibels (abbreviated
dB, or sometimes dBA which is the value
that more closely corresponds to human
hearing). Noise is measured using a sound
level meter.
You Don’t Get “Used to Noise”
Noise does not have to be uncomfortably
loud, or even painful, to be damaging. You
may think your ears are “used to the noise,”
but what has probably happened is that
your hearing has been temporarily dulled
or that hearing loss has already begun.
A Rule of Thumb
When you feel the need to shout in order
to be heard three feet away, the noise levels
are probably 85 dBA or more and hearing
protectors are recommended.
Using Your Ears to Assess
Noise Risk
If, after the noise stops, you notice a ringing,
buzzing, or whistling in your ears that wasn’t
there before, this is a warning indicator.
Called tinnitus, this is like a “sunburn”
of the nerve cells of your inner ear,
indicating that they have been irritated and
overworked. Tinnitus is especially noticeable
in a quiet place, such as when you are trying
to go to sleep at night. If you don’t protect
your ears from noise, tinnitus can become a
permanent, constant annoyance in your life.
Apparent mufing or softening of sounds
after noise exposure is a warning sign that
your hearing is affected by a temporary
threshold shift. Repeatedly exposing your
ears without protection can cause the shift to
worsen and become permanent, resulting in
untreatable damage to your hearing ability.