How Loud Is Too Loud?
After being exposed to loud music for too long, you can eventually lose some hearing. One of the main causes of this hearing loss comes from loud music, in particular headphones or concerts. The best way to not develop noise-induced hearing loss is to keep away from loud noise as much as you can. The following is a guide to some typical noise levels:
- normal conversation: 60-65dB
- a busy street: 75-85dB
- motorcycles: 100dB
- nightclub/bar: 100dB
- headphones on loud: 112dB
- chainsaw: 115dB
- rock concert/ambulance siren: 120dB
Unsafe levels of sound from headphones, concerts, and club music
The 2 main factors to hearing damages are how loud and how long. If there is a ringing in your ear after listening to loud music for too long, then you have been around loud music for too long. However, even without this symptom or ear pain, there still may be potential hearing loss.
How to prevent hearing loss
There are obvious solutions to hearing loss, such as abstaining from loud music or using earplugs, but there are other simple alterations that make it easy to protect your ears.
- Only listening to your music at 60% volume 60 minutes a day at the most
- Wearing noise-canceling headphones, rather than typical earbuds. Bigger headphones are much better for your ears because they block out background noise and allows you to have the volume lower
- After spending two or more hours around 100dB sound, you should rest your ears for the next 16 hours to reduce the risk of hearing loss
- Examine the setting beforehand to try to stay away from the speakers
- Go to an outdoor concert venue. When you listen to your favorite band outdoors, the noise isn’t highly concentrated, which is better for your ears
Have a question about testing for hearing loss and hearing aids?
Call the Shea Clinic today to set up an appointment with our experts. Call now locally at 901-761-9720 or toll-free at 800-477-SHEA.