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ENPREVENTION OF NIHL (NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS)
NIHL is a preventable condition caused by both one-time and
extended exposure to excessive decibel (dB) levels. This harm to
sensitive inner ear structures is irreversible and people of all ages
can be affected. Damage can happen in a single event or gradually
over time. One-time exposure to an intense "impulse" sound, such
as an explosion, or by continued exposure to loud sounds over 85
decibels can cause harm. Indicators of NIHL include hearing loss and
tinnitus, a condition of sensing constant ringing, buzzing or roaring.
The NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders) offers this simple rule of thumb: avoid sound exposure
that is “too loud, too close or too long.” Here are some general
references to sound levels that occur in everyday life: refrigerator
humming (45 dB); normal conversation (60 dB); city traffic (85 dB);
motorcycles (95 dB); an MP3 player at full volume (105 dB); sirens
(120 dB); firecrackers (150 dB).
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