If you’re going to be spending time in a noisy area, then it’s important that you’re wearing hearing protection. Your ears are a sensitive part of your body, and if they’re routinely exposed to loud noises, then you’ll be increasing chances of experiencing damage to your ears which may result in hearing loss. There’s no specific noise that will cause the damage; it’s all about the overall volume. That could be in a factory or at a music concert.
Thankfully, you don’t have to avoid areas with loud volume. You just need to make sure that your ears are protected. In this blog, we’ll run through everything you need to know about choosing the right hearing protection for you.
Are You Exposed to More than 85 Decibels?
There’s a safe level of sound that your ears can tolerate and a not-so-safe level. In the danger area, we have anything over 85 decibels. That’s not to say that any sound over that level will cause damage to your ears, but that’s the level at which sound will begin to cause damage. If you were exposed to 85+ decibels for a consistent amount of time, then you’ll begin to face issues.
And 85 decibels are, of course, on the lower end of the scale. Ninety decibels are around the level of noise that a running lawn mower produces. At that volume, your ears will begin to experience damage after around four hours.
When you get to the 100-decibel level, your ears will be harmed after around an hour or so. At 110 decibels, your hearing is damaged after 15 minutes of exposure. Once you get to 120 decibels, which is the volume of a rock concert, then any amount of exposure can be damaging. At the top end, we have 140 decibels, which is about the sound produced by a jet engine. If you’re not wearing hearing protection at that level, then your ears will experience instant damage, and perhaps even pain.
This is all a roundabout way of saying that if you’re in an environment where you’ll be exposed to sounds above 85 decibels, then it’s important to wear hearing protection. And if you’re in a space with 110+ decibels, then you should have significant protection.
Different Types of Hearing Protection
There are several different types of hearing protection available for purchase. The most common types are earmolds, earmuffs and earplugs:
- Earplugs fit snugly inside the ear and come with a range of features that make them comfortable for long-lasting wear. They sit in the ear canal and are highly effective at blocking out sounds.
- Earmuffs are a step above earplugs in that they can block out louder sounds. They come with ear cups and sit on top of the head rather than inside the ear. If you’ve seen the type of hearing protection that airport workers wear when they’re near a plane, then you’ve earmuffs.
- Earmolds are, in effect, custom earplugs. They’re designed to the wearers’ specific ear specifications, ensuring long-term comfort.
How to Choose the Right One for You
It can be a little overwhelming to know that you need to protect your ears from damage. But the process of finding the right option for you is more straightforward than you might think.
First, you’ll need to know how much noise you need to reduce. You’d wear different hearing protection if you were exposed to 90 decibels compared with 120. Remember that the goal isn’t to completely eliminate sound. In fact, that could be just as dangerous, especially if you work in a dangerous work environment where it’s important to be aware of your surroundings.
It’s also highly important to think about the comfort levels of the protection. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing your hearing protection all day, then you’ll be more likely to take it off, which will leave you exposed to dangerous levels of noise.
Speak With an Audiologist
If you’re not sure what hearing protection is right for your needs, then it’s recommended that you speak with an audiologist. They’ll be able to run you through all of the options available to you, as well as ensure that your selection fits you well and will be comfortable for the duration of the intended use.
Contact Professional Hearing Solutions Today
If you’re looking for excellent hearing protection, or you want to check that your hearing has not been damaged, then be sure to get in touch with Professional Hearing Solutions by calling us today at (386) 478-7345.
